“The best moments of my time here at CCSJ are when I have the opportunity to see the light bulb go on, when they really get it,” Amy recalls with a smile. These moments of awareness and accomplishment are one of the things that propel Amy forward as the director of the tutoring center here at CCSJ. In the two years the tutoring center has been her hands, the center has grown in many ways. Amy has seen demand for the services continue to grow including more walk-ins and appointments. She has also seen the center grow from having only 2 computers and being very appointment driven, to an expansion including two rooms, (plus one for overflow) able to handle appointments and walk-ins with ease. The center also employs approximately 30 student tutors each year to assist fellow students with their studies. These tutors are spread out throughout the various class sections so that there will be a tutor available who is familiar with each professor and class section.
Additional resources have grown include the enhancement of Plato, a web-based based study aid originally used primarily to prepare students for Praxis, is now used as a study aid for many other classes as well. One college wide change that has driven growth at the center has been the advent of the learning communities this fall. “It is so helpful when the staff/faculty mentors physically bring their students up to the center to get help with their studies,” says Amy. In addition, she has seen a major shift in student’s attitudes the center. “It is no longer a place students are embarrassed to be seen, but many will just come, hang out and do their homework,” she observes. The tutoring center is just one aspect supporting the “family environment” here at CCSJ.
Amy has experienced this feel in many ways throughout her time here. A CCSJ graduate in 1999, Amy has served in the admissions office for 8 years before moving up to the tutoring center. “I have seen over the years and my time here that everyone really cares about the students, so many are on a first name basis, and no appointments are often necessary; you can just drop in to see someone,” she says when asked of her experience of CCSJ, culture. The tutoring center has evolved to serve this community based culture more and more effectively. Robert Torres, a student tutor here, finds great fulfillment in “helping students achieve success” and enjoys sharing his accounting expertise to help fellow students through their classes.
Additional resources have grown include the enhancement of Plato, a web-based based study aid originally used primarily to prepare students for Praxis, is now used as a study aid for many other classes as well. One college wide change that has driven growth at the center has been the advent of the learning communities this fall. “It is so helpful when the staff/faculty mentors physically bring their students up to the center to get help with their studies,” says Amy. In addition, she has seen a major shift in student’s attitudes the center. “It is no longer a place students are embarrassed to be seen, but many will just come, hang out and do their homework,” she observes. The tutoring center is just one aspect supporting the “family environment” here at CCSJ.
Amy has experienced this feel in many ways throughout her time here. A CCSJ graduate in 1999, Amy has served in the admissions office for 8 years before moving up to the tutoring center. “I have seen over the years and my time here that everyone really cares about the students, so many are on a first name basis, and no appointments are often necessary; you can just drop in to see someone,” she says when asked of her experience of CCSJ, culture. The tutoring center has evolved to serve this community based culture more and more effectively. Robert Torres, a student tutor here, finds great fulfillment in “helping students achieve success” and enjoys sharing his accounting expertise to help fellow students through their classes.
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