Support Programs & Services - Academic Support

Support Programs & Services

Academic Support

Tutoring Services

The following Colleges and Departments offer tutoring services:

Biology	Names of tutors are kept on file; each tutor sets own rates
Chemistry	Names of tutors are kept on file; each tutor sets own rates
Foreign Languages	Typically offers free tutoring in French, German, Russian and Spanish during Fall and Spring Semesters
Math/Statistics	Offers free tutoring to students through the Math/Statistics Lab (ILB 456, (251) 460-6264); tutors are available during scheduled hours throughout the semester except term breaks and the week of finals
Physics	Free tutoring available each semester including summer; times vary; students should contact the Physics Department ( (251) 460-6224)
Computer and Information Sciences	Tutoring available through the student chapter of ACM (Association for Computing Machinery); hours are posted at the beginning of each semester
Engineering	Free tutoring available through Tau Beta Pi Honor Society
Nursing	Professional students in the College of Nursing have access to the College of Nursing Learning Center; faculty are assigned to the Center to assist students with their learning needs

Writing Center

The University Writing Center, Alpha Hall East, Room 207, (251) 460-6480, provides assistance to any student enrolled in classes at USA. Students work with writing consultants one-on-one in a relaxed, informal setting to improve their writing skills.

The DS 014 course, DS Writing, 3 semester hours, is offered to all students wishing to improve their writing. The credit does not count toward a degree.

The Writing Center consulting schedule is printed in Write Now, which is sent to faculty and staff; and WRITERS BLOCK, which is sent to students.

Supplemental Instruction

USA has implemented a Supplemental Instruction (SI) model that began at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. SI helps students in historically difficult classes master the course content while they develop and integrate learning and study strategies. The goals are as follows:

•	Improve student grades in targeted historically difficult courses
•	Reduce the attrition rate within those courses
•	Increase the eventual graduation rates of students

All students are urged to attend SI sessions, and students with varying ability levels and ethnicities participate. There is no remedial stigma attached to SI since historically difficult courses rather than high risk students are targeted.

SI sessions have been offered in math, chemistry, biology, physics, biomedical sciences, psychology, engineering, and history courses. Students should determine SI availability and schedules from their instructors.