Go to the Learning Centers on campus!
Photo courtesy of Faith Zatlukal
Resources on campus are there for a reason, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of them! Peer support can be an effective—and sometimes even more comfortable or convenient—supplement to other built-in supports, like a professor’s office hours.
As finals season approaches, discussions have been circulating in The Lamron office about the importance of using resources offered, specifically the various SUNY Geneseo “Learning Centers.” These resources offer another opportunity for students to excel in their classes, but they are often overlooked or not widely-known.
Throughout your time as a college student, you have countless opportunities and resources available to you. One way to get the most out of your tuition is to use these resources and step out of your comfort zone—maybe even bring a friend! Using these amenities is a fantastic way to show Geneseo that they will always be necessary; everyone needs additional help at some point in their academic career.
Even though it is encouraged that you seek your professor out for help in a class, sometimes their free time does not line up with yours, or you may not feel comfortable going to them—office hours can seem daunting if you have never been. A characteristic feature of the “Learning Centers” is that the tutors are students who are there to support their fellow students. Asking for help from another student who truly understands what your workload may be like can make things more relaxed, especially if you are struggling with a last-minute assignment. Although please remember these resources are intended to support you in your classes—the tutors are not there to complete assignments for you.
The “Learning Centers” on campus are free resources you can visit whenever they are open, but the Writing Center (WC) also takes appointments on Navigate! Many professors encourage students to use these resources, and some may require you to visit them, as WRTG 105 classes do. It may seem like just another task on your to-do list, but visiting the Writing Center—located in room 203 on the second floor of Milne Library—is a great way to get another set of eyes on your writing, especially if you find yourself getting lost within the arguments. Even if you are not an English major, almost every class will require you to write something, and the WC is a perfect resource for feedback from trained students.
Other departments have their own, such as the Math Learning Center (MLC), Physics Learning Center (PLC), and Geology Learning Center. Introductory courses can be difficult, and seeking additional help is an excellent way to set yourself up for success. With this in mind, some of the “Learning Centers” do typically focus on 100- and 200-level courses. Even if you have already completed the courses, we sometimes forget some topics covered in these classes; stopping by the “Learning Centers” is a great way to get a quick refresh that may be extremely helpful for your latest homework assignment. Taking advantage of these resources can take other forms. Spaces such as the MLC and PLC also advertise themselves as study spaces, especially when no tutors are currently staffing them.
With all of this in mind, you can find the MLC in South Hall 332, the PLC in Integrated Science Center (ISC) 233, and the Geology Learning Center in ISC 142. If you are curious about what your department offers in terms of student resources, reach out to your professors or the department chair! Additionally, your class may have a teaching assistant (TA), and many STEM classes have Supplemental Instruction (SI).
Here at The Lamron, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of either your professor’s office hours, TAs, SIs, or forming a study group with classmates!