Across the United States, a new stigma has arisen that seeking tutoring assistance in college indicates a lack of ability and skill, or that the student just “isn’t smart enough.” However, The Learning Center located in Rod Library is working to reduce this stigma. “I think one of the toughest things to overcome is the stigma of needing to get help is a weakness,” states interim executive director and associate professor of undergraduate studies at UNI, John Ophus.
The Learning Center, located in Rod Library, employs over 90 peer educators and, as stated on their website, “offers free peer-led tutoring, mentoring and academic coaching for students enrolled in 1000-2000 level classes across a wide variety of subjects.” According to Ophus, the purpose of The Learning Center is to “assist students making their way through college.” He goes on to state “We want to help people be as successful as possible.”
Studies show that students who receive tutoring consistently are going to see increased confidence, a better understanding of content and a better overall GPA. One specific study that the TLC did with their PLUS TAs showed that students who came to tutoring three or more times were projected to get a third of a better grade in their class than students who didn’t. Not only does The Learning Center offer tutoring, but they also offer skills and strategies that students can apply to all of their classes. “We really believe that we’re not just tutoring in content specifically … but you’re also picking up strategies that you can use throughout your time as a student,” states assistant director of undergraduate studies at UNI, Heather Asmus. “… We’re not just giving you strategies for the course you might come in for, we’re giving you strategies that you can use as long as you’re a student at UNI.”
The Learning Center collaborates with departments all across campus. According to Asmus, “Communication is key between faculty and The Learning Center.” The TLC specifically collaborates with faculty on peer mentor and TA courses and ensures that every instructor on campus is aware that they can send their students to The Learning Center for tutoring. Additionally, The Learning Center works with Student Accessibility Services to ensure that students with different abilities can still access tutoring services.
Before working for The Learning Center, Asmus worked in academic advising. She talked about how students who would come to her with struggles regarding their classes and once they got the help they needed to understand content in class they could do better in class. “Sometimes instructors use heavy academic language, and that’s not always making sense to the student,” stated Asmus. “If they [the student] can come in and get tutoring and hear someone else explain it [the content] in a different way that isn’t so academic based … I think that is a really beneficial piece.” Ophus elaborates on this idea, explaining that you can always do better in anything you do, including your academics, and The Learning Center is here to help you make it to that next level.
The Learning Center benefits not just students who come in for tutoring, but also the peer educators who work there. All peer educators must go through the College Reading and Learning Association training program, putting them on track to receive “Graduation with Distinction in Peer Education.” UNI is the only school in Iowa to offer this distinction to students. Additionally, Ophus says that being a peer educator is a great resume-building experience. “I think we’ve had people who have gone into med school, who’ve gone into law school, gone on to teaching. This gives them the experience.”
Sara Petersen, a senior majoring in communications, sciences, & disorders with a Spanish minor, works as a peer mentor and tutor for the Learning Center. She believes that working as a peer educator has been a big part of her time at UNI and has taught her valuable skills both in and out of the classroom. “I think my biggest takeaways aren’t necessarily academic,” states Petersen. “A lot of them [skills learned] are how best to work with people, how to be empathetic, understanding, a really good listener and being able to learn from people from all different perspectives and backgrounds has been really beneficial for me.”
In terms of the future of The Learning Center, Asmus and Ophus hope to continue to expand their courses and services to more areas of need on campus. They also want to continue to build a culture that emphasizes that it’s okay to ask for help, and feel that the peer-to-peer education model is important to achieving that. Asmus states, “We’re training them [peer educators] to be able to provide that [assistance] to their peers, and hopefully those peers can then turn around and teach others. That’s how the reach extends.” Ophus adds on to say that that is the reason they are located in the library, that asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of. The two agree that building that awareness and working to change the culture behind the stigma that asking for help is bad is a big part of what they envision the future looking like. As Petersen states, “It’s easily the best resource on campus, all students should use it.”
Students interested in working for the Learning Center can apply at tlc.uni.edu.
