Tutoring progams may be discontinued

Tutoring services, operating from the Gateway Center on the corner of University and Crisway Streets, offer three tutoring programs that may become obsolete if current trends of participation do not increase.

According to Lois Crans, the new Coordinator of Tutorial Services, this apathy is a problem that keeps students from reaching their full studying potential.

“The tutorial services are offered as a building block for superior studying skills,” Crans said.

The three tutoring services in the Gateway Center include the Writing Center in the Liberal Arts building, Math Drop-In meeting areas and scheduled tutoring services established for specific classes.

At the beginning of the fall semester, Crans expanded the Math Drop-In center from its previous location in Math/Geoscience building to two additional locations in both the Gateway Center and the Ed Peterson Learning Center in the Pavilion.

The program located in the Gateway Center has already been dropped in lieu of poor attendance.

Crans would like to keep the remaining two locations open, but without better attendance at the Peterson Center that location may be closed as well.

Misconceptions held by students regarding who can attend these tutoring sessions might be a reason participation is low, organizers say.

“The Ed Peterson Center is open to the entire student population not just the athletes,” said Crans.

The Peterson Center concentrates tutoring for classes ranging from Math 15 to Math 160, but all levels of academic success are welcomed, she said.

Tutoring in the Math/Geoscience classroom focuses on classes beginning from Math 143 and continuing up. Crans said those students not attending the higher math classes are welcomed to attend, and will receive as much help as possible.

She stressed that a teacher may begin a tutoring session for his or her class, but without the needed attendance the tutoring will no longer be offered. Classes without study sessions in need of extra study time can receive help from the tutoring center in coordinating midterm and final test reviews according to Crans.

Crans said the tutorial services are not typical ‘question and answer’ sessions. The tutors direct students in study habits, or review material important for the class.

Students who feel they need assistance in a certain subject can also hire a tutor. These tutors work outside the university, but are often associated with the tutors the Gateway Center employs.

Any student’s questions can be answered by visiting the Gateway Centers web site, http://gateway.boisestate.edu or stopping by the Gateway Center.

Tomas Hartman, Special to The Arbiter

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