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 SI: 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 UTRGV Brownsville Campus which consist of the same services. These services include all tutorial centers, tutoring at residence halls - Casa Bella and Unity Hall, embedded tutoring, online tutoring, Supplemental Instruction (SI), and Peer-led Team Learning (PLTL).

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 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 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 in the evenings and on the weekends from the comfort of their own homes. The online tutors provide immediate feedback and work with students one-on-one or in small groups on similar problems in an online tutoring environment. Online tutoring is offered for a variety of general education courses.

Writing tutoring across the disciplines is available in the Writing Center.

All tutors are provided training throughout the semester on tutor pedagogy. Our Learning Centers’ training program is certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).

Course-based Learning/Peer Learning

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 failure and high student withdrawal rates.