The Learning Center
The goal of the UTRGV Learning Center (LC) is to assist students by promoting academic success at all levels from freshman core courses all the way through upper-level and graduate courses. Our tutors and peer leaders are recommended, and hand selected by our faculty based on their content knowledge as well as their ability to work with students who are at various levels of their academic career. The following academic support services are available for Tutoring and Peer Collaborative Learning programs: one-to-one, small group, study group, workshop, and online. The LC is made up of various units on both the UTRGV Edinburg Campus and Brownsville Campus which consist of the same services. These services include all tutorial centers, residence hall tutoring Unity Hall, embedded tutoring, online tutoring, Supplemental Instruction (SI), and Peer-led Team Learning (PLTL).
Our purpose is to help students work towards becoming independent learners. Everyone in The Learning Center works towards ensuring our students succeed by providing them with various support services in a welcoming friendly environment. What we enjoy the most is seeing the lightbulb in our students’ heads go off, that "AHA!" moment. To reach us for connections to any of these services in Edinburg please call 956-665-2585 or stop by our main office located in the Learning Center Building (ELCTR), Rm. 100. At the UTRGV Brownsville Campus, you may call 956-882-8208 or stop by our main office located in the Music, Science, and Learning Center (BMSLC) building A second floor Rm.2.118. Stop by at either location and let us know how we can help you reach your goals. Detailed information is also available on our website at www.utrgv.edu/tutoring.
The Learning Center
|
One West University Blvd. Music, Science, and Learning Center Bldg. A, (BMSLC) 2.118
Brownsville, TX 78520
Phone: 956-882-8208 |
1201 West University Dr. Learning Center Bldg., (ELCTR) Rm. 100
Edinburg, TX 78539
Phone: 956-665-2585 |
utrgv.edu/tutoring |
Tutoring
Working in a small group, on an individual basis, within selected classes, or online, tutoring helps students improve their comprehension of coursework and develop successful academic skills and practices by providing them with support provided by professional staff and peer tutors. Tutoring is available in the subject areas of:
- American Sign Language
- French
- Spanish
- History
- Political Science
- Psychology/Sociology
- Philosophy
- Statistics
- Engineering
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Math
- Accounting
- And more
Embedded tutors are available in some courses, such as developmental, large section College Algebra, Elementary Statistics, and the competency based BioMed courses. Embedded tutoring is oriented toward increasing student success in students’ courses so that they may successfully transition into their subsequent courses and program of study in a timely manner. This is accomplished by providing embedded tutors to improve the faculty-student course ratio and improve student engagement during class time.
Online tutoring is available for select courses and offers students the same benefits as traditional tutoring but is done in a technology-based learning environment, such as Blackboard Collaborate. Students can access highly qualified “live” online tutors from the comfort of their own homes or while they are on campus.
Residence tutoring is offered in a variety of courses at Unity Hall.
Peer coaching is also available to students who need help with academic preparation skills, such as time management, test-taking strategies, study strategies, and critical reading and thinking skills.
The Learning Center has 21st century technology that can be used to enhance learning, such as large screen TV’s for groups to work collaboratively on projects, tablets to record and review ASL and pronunciation in foreign languages or communication courses, Smartboards, and 3D-VR/AR for STEM.
Peer Collaborative Learning (PCL) programs
Supplemental Instruction (SI) offers weekly review sessions for students enrolled in historically difficult courses. These sessions, facilitated by trained SI Leaders, are opportunities for you to get together with students in your class to organize your material, compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for studying the subject, and be well prepared for taking your tests and exams.
Peer-led Team Learning (PLTL) is an embedded academic support model that encourages active and collaborative learning in a structured manner. PLTL involves mandatory attendance for all students below a predetermined cutoff. Unlike tutoring, PLTL targets courses rather than students. PLTL workshops are strategically paired with courses that have historically high rates of failure and withdrawal.