College classes can be difficult. Oftentimes, they can be much more difficult than anticipated. However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to excel in your classes.
Of the many helpful academic resources on campus, two of these resources, the Tutorial Learning Center (TLC) and Writing Center, are critical for helping Mavericks thrive at Colorado Mesa University (CMU).
The TLC is located in Houston Hall 113, where your fellow Mavericks are available to tutor for an array of classes taught at CMU, as well as aid in studying and organization skills.
“The obvious advantage [of the TLC] is you have people helping you and you get better at your classes and you pass them, or you get the ‘A,’ or you pass the exam, or whatever it is that you’re shooting for,” Fiona Richards, a sophomore and TLC tutor majoring in Applied Math & Chemistry said. “It helps you achieve goals.”
In addition to providing tutoring services, the TLC is created with student comfort in mind and boasts an area for studying with the option of asking for a tutor.
“We also have computers here, we have a printer here and students are welcome to come and sit here. It’s quiet and they can work on things,” Director of Developmental programs and Tutorial Services Christine Murphy said. “Sometimes it’s nice because if they get stuck, they can ask if there’s a tutor around. We want to make it a place where students feel comfortable coming. Both my tutors and the students feel this way.”
The Writing Center, located in Houston Hall 233, offers tutorial services similar to the TLC, but with an emphasis on editing and advising on essays.
“…Sometimes when [students] come in, they will have essays that they just want to go over grammar-wise, or sometimes they need help with a more specific assignment. So, we get a wide range. It is mostly online though.,” Pre-nursing sophomore and Writing Center tutor Kathryne Ellis said.
Essay submissions can be made to the Writing Center through the Writing Center’s page on the CMU website, which can also be found through the TLC & Writing Center app on D2L. All submissions must allow two business days for review.
“We usually, mostly, get online essays,” Ellis said, “And those are pretty much to make sure everything is clear and concise. Sometimes they send a rubric, so we have to make sure they hit the rubric points, and obviously, the grammar We get lots of [students] that need help with their MLA, and APA [citation styles].”
Though these centers are available to every student on and off campus, many students don’t use the free tutorial services because of nerves or shame. However, many Mavs don’t realize the TLC and Writing Center endorses a friendly and non-judgemental environment.
“I think it’s a little nerve-wracking sometimes to go to a professor’s office hours or just to tell a professor you don’t know what you’re doing. he TLC doesn’t have that because we’re all students,” Richards said. “We’re all struggling through the same college. So, there’s a lot more community and a lot more nonchalance; it’s a little more laid back and we all just get to help each other, which is really beneficial.”
At the end of the day, every Mav is bound to struggle at some point, so take advantage of the TLC and Writing Center, because there’s no reason to struggle alone. Mavs can also always utilize online tutoring services through the D2L app.
“I think that it makes us stronger if we ask for help, versus thinking we could do it all ourselves,” Murphy said.
