Students helping students
MSU's Center for Academic Success celebrates National Tutoring Week
by Dannie Higginbotham
Issue date: 10/7/08
Section: Campus News
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The CAS is Minnesota State's on-campus tutoring site that offers help to students in a variety of subjects, ranging from math to writing.
Bill Wagner, a peer tutor at the CAS, said he works as a math tutor because he enjoys helping others.
"It makes me feel good to help people understand things they were struggling with when they came in," Wagner said. "Sometimes classes are so big that it's hard for students to contact professors with questions, so it's good they have somewhere like here to go."
Hannah Winkler, a graduate assistant who works as a writing tutor, agreed.
"Many students either don't know about the center or are too afraid to come," Winkler said. "It can be overwhelming to come in and ask another student for help, but once people are able to get past that fear they can find we can be a lot of help."
Winkler said she believes her time tutoring will help her when she begins a career in social work.
"This is exactly what I'll do for a living," Winkler said. "Social work is all about helping people with their problems and finding resolutions."
Amber Stoltenburg, assistant director of math and science for the CAS, said the center hopes to get the word out about their services and the hard work the tutors do.
"We've been very busy," Stoltenburg said. "There are a lot of tutors and each of them get about five or six students a day."
"We really appreciate all the hard work our tutors do," Stoltenburg added. "It's been proven that students who use our services do get better grades, and we take that as proof that our tutors are doing a good job."
While many students think on-campus tutoring is a good idea, many of them don't visit the CAS.
"I think it's a really good program," said Jason Gallea, a senior psychology student. "I've never used it though because I don't really need the help."
"I know you can go there for help with homework and papers and stuff, but I've never been there," said Ashley Canchari, a music industry a freshmen. "I should go there, I think it's a good idea."
Other than tutoring, the center also offers mathematics placement testing and pre-advising for athletes to help them balance classes and athletics.
The Center for Academic Success is located in room 116 in the lower level of the Memorial Library. The tutoring schedule is located on the center's Web site, and students must have their Mavcards in order to receive help.
Dannie Higginbotham is a Reporter staff writer
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