Do you know where the ASC is?

As midterm grades roll by, the semester nears leaving only about two months to earn the grades we hope for, as the ’07 – ’08 school year comes to a close. During this anxious time for students with finals on their minds and heaps of homework, the Academic Support Center (ASC) offers a solution to your worries.

Though the resources are in great supply at the ASC, some students seem unsure of how much help it can actually provide.

“I haven’t actually ever been there, but I know I could go there if I needed to!” says Abby Boone, a Castleton student.

Freshman Brooke Choiniere replies, “Never been there – only for the tour.”

Have you ever believed you may need some help, but don’t have extra cash to hire a tutor? The ASC provides one-on-one tutoring on a wide variety of subjects, completely free of charge to the student.

The tutor will work with the student to complete assignments, and provide tools for better organizational skills. Seemingly difficult papers may appear easier with the help of an excellent support center tutor.

Academic counselors also provide needed support for students.

Academic counselor Matt Patry considers the purpose of the ASC being, “to help students to be the best students they can be. A lot of students come here in need of help or support in understanding the way they address academics. We’re here to lend a hand.”

“We tackle issues that can hinder the student,” said Patry.

Castleton sophomore Becca Blust has experienced positive feedback numerous times at the ASC.

“I meet with Kathy (an academic counselor) and it’s really good motivation. She looks at my grades, and motivates me to do better,” said Blust.

“When I first came (before) freshman year, I did TRIO. I have Dyslexia and ADD, and I was nervous coming to college. The ASC prepared me for it,” said Blust. “I like that the staff are not judgmental at all. They wanna help you accomplish your goals.”

Not only is individual help made available, but clinics are provided for writing, math, and Spanish. The writing clinic works on a variety of grammar, punctuation, and paper development issues.

The math and Spanish clinics provide a wide range of help with questions ranging from generalized to topic specific and offer exam review help.

Deborah Jackson, who works at the ASC has tracked students’ progress over the last year, showing an improvement upon participation in a clinic. 57 to 58 percent of students who attended a math clinic earned either an A or B in their math course, according to Jackson.

“I’ve seen really positive results,” Patry said.

In addition to getting help in your courses, you can also become a peer tutor and get paid by the hour to help out fellow students! Work study eligibility isn’t required to earn wages as a tutor, though you must obtain an A or B in the courses you select to tutor.

If you are in need of a work study position, applications are available for Learning Center assistant positions.

“We want students to have the educational experience they expect. We work with all kinds of students. It doesn’t matter who you are, we’re here to help you,” Patry stresses to students who’ve never attended the ASC.

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