C.A.T. Center Helps Students Stay in School

In response to the increased attention focused on the issue of retention in the university, Western has formed the Catamount Academic Tutoring Center, which provides peer tutoring, study groups, workshops, and other resources to improve learning for students.

According to the C.A.T. coordinator, Chesney Reich, many people have expressed a need for the program.

This service is free of charge and is open to any student, including those who may be having academic difficulty in a course as well as those who just want to do their best.

Tutoring sessions are being held in McKee 60 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Small group or individual tutoring is being offered for lower-level courses in accounting, anthropology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, economics, geography, history, physics, and psychology. Tutors are needed for environmental health 130 and biology 141.

“Students who have good academic standing in a general education course and want to improve communication skills and get good work experience can come by and apply,” said Reich. “I will check with professors to verify that the tutors are proficient in the classes that they will be tutoring.”

Those students who provide tutoring receive $6.00 per hour.

Tutoring is available for additional courses depending on supply and demand. A minimum of three students is needed to organize a study group.

Students who are experiencing difficulties in subjects in which tutoring is not currently offered should visit McKee 60 and fill out a request for tutoring form.

Kirby Whitley, a senior and geography tutor at Western, believes the program is beneficial to both the tutors and the students being tutored.

“Tutoring makes me realize that I know more than I think I do,” said Whitley. “Students should take advantage of the service because they can get quality help from peers in a relaxed atmosphere for free.”

Students receiving tutoring should expect to be challenged to do their best and attend sessions prepared, focused, and directed.

Participants in the program, namely students, are responsible for making this program successful.

“Our overall goal is to help students meet professors’ expectations and increase overall retention rates,” said Reich.