It can be frustrating when you stay up all night studying for a test only to receive a 60 percent on it. It can be equally frustrating to have a paper due in two weeks and have no idea where to start. Longwood University's Learning Center can help students deal with those and other types of academic problems.The Learning Center has several options available to students. They have a tutoring, writing and speech centers. The tutoring and writing centers are permanently located in the Greenwood Library, across the back wall on the first floor. The speech center rotates locations. "We respond to what a student needs. We try to imitate the room that the student will be speaking in," said Director of the Learning Center Rebecca Sturgill.
The Learning Center is not strictly academic. They will also help students who are having trouble with learning strategies, time management or any other skills that can help the learning situation. The center can also help set up study groups. Sturgill explained that sometimes the study groups can be very beneficial but students need help setting them up.
There is also an early alert system that professors can utilize. When a student starts running into trouble a professor can alert the Learning Center. These can include, but are not limited to, skipping multiple classes, repeatedly showing up late, incomplete work and continually receiving low grades. The professors alert the Learning Center and they then "tag" the students.
The center works to identify what is going on that creates problems in class. Sometimes it is a case of needing additional help or being withdrawn from the class. Other times, the student just needs a bit of encouragement. Sometimes students will become ill or have sleeping problems that can also get in the way of their work.
The Learning Center never turns anyone away. Sturgill explained that if a subject is not listed on the tutoring schedule, then there is probably a reason for that. For example, a student struggling in a history class is probably having more trouble with studying strategies than with the actual content. The learning center will look to see what is happening with the strategies to see if any changes can be made to improve the situation.
The Learning Center tried to remind students that they are not a replacement for talking to faculty. "We try very hard to remind students that we not teach. It is more of a little 'twist' to the information," said Sturgill. The faculty is the best bet to contact if you are having a lot of trouble.
One of the Center's strategies is using reinforcement to help students. "You never know what is going to get a student," Sturgill said. She also said that the learning center is not there to beat down students. They are there to help in anyway they can.
"It's the hardest thing in the world to realize everyone needs help and you're not the only one," said Sturgill.
More information on all of the services offered can be found at www.longwood.edu/library. Links to all of the centers, the tutors and the tutoring schedule can all be found on the website.
