By Tyler Marioni
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – The Camden County College tutoring services moved from the library to the first floor of Taft Hall on the Blackwood campus in June 2016 and extended the hours of some services this semester.
Camden County College student Roseline Amgerville works at the sign-in desk at the Tutoring Center. By Tyler Marioni, CCC Journalism Program
The move was part of a plan to give students access to all student services in one building as well as to make room for a developmental studies center in the library.
The tutoring services have three facets – the Tutoring Center, the Math Lab and the Reading/Writing Lab. The front desk on the first floor of Taft Hall is designed to guide students to what they need.
Tutoring Center
The Tutoring Center is staffed by adjunct teachers and student tutors who have been recommended by a professor and received an A in the subject they are tutoring in.
Tutoring includes group study sessions, one-on-one tutoring and now workshops in the Taft presentation room. The new room has work stations with tables for all subjects. The computers are loaded with programs for different subjects and mobile white boards are located around the room.
This year, the number of tutors, subjects and operating hours have increased. “Students seem very happy with the accessibility of the new space,” said Barbara A. Palmer, acting coordinator of tutoring. Up to 72 students have been in the new tutoring facility at one time and students have been utilizing the facility more and more.
Math tutor and CCC graduate Zach Mena stated, “Consistent students see results.”
The Tutoring Center hours vary depending on the subject a student needs assistance with. This information can be found at the front desk on the first floor of Taft Hall.
Math Lab
The Math Lab has several math professors rotating through to accommodate students’ learning styles. They focus on students who are taking pre-algebra and elementary algebra, which are developmental math courses to get students up to college-level math courses.
The Math Lab is equipped with computers, handouts, supplies such as paper and pencils, and candy. The Math Lab offers Ipowers math, which is an online testing program that helps students practice for the college-level placement test, to incoming students.
The room has work stations with tables and the location in Taft Hall has windows, which the old location in the library did not. “Students should know it’s easy to get help in a comfortable environment whether it’s a quick question or spending an hour doing homework,” said Nancy Fischang, developmental math coach/instructor.
Business administration major Dannielle Chambers, who visits the Math Lab on a consistent basis, complimented the facility and said her test scores are going up in her classes. “Good help is hard to find, and in here they care,” Chambers said.
The Math Lab’s hours were extended this semester. They are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 2 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Reading/Writing Lab
The Reading/Writing Lab offers help to students in basic skills English, reading, and writing skills courses. The lab focuses on helping students with essay writing for classes and test preparation, as well as other assistance students might need to complete their work. The lab is equipped with computers and supplies.
This semester the lab is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 to 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays.