Center for Academic Success and Exploratory Majors

Fall 2020: By appointment. Please email findyoursuccess@lvc.edu or email a staff member for additional information. Visit our website to request an appointment for academic coaching, to meet with a peer, writing, or organizational, tutor, and to view the Study Pod schedule. Study Pod and Writing Center Zoom access information can be found on MyLVC (MyInfo for Students then Student Campus Information). Note: after Nov. 7, all forms of tutoring and study will occur online.

The Center for Academic Success and Exploratory Majors is proud to offer comprehensive, peer-led support for all undergraduate students.

As our top priority is the health and safety of all students, our tutoring services will take place primarily in a virtual format for fall 2020. We will still accommodate requests for in-person tutoring. We will still offer all of our high-quality services, including Peer Tutoring (one-to-one and small group), Organizational Tutoring, Writing Tutoring, Writing Center Desk/Drop-In Hours, FYE Writing Support, and Study Pods.

Please find details related to the specific services below.

In addition, unless specifically requested, most appointments with the professional staff in the Center for Academic Success and Exploratory Majors will take place virtually. If a student strongly prefers to meet in person, every effort will be made to meet this request, though social distancing requirements must be practiced, and masks must be worn by all parties.

If you have any questions or concerns about receiving help, please contact findyoursuccess@lvc.edu, or individually using the contact information here. We look forward to meeting you!

1:1 Academic Support

How can I connect with a member of the Academic Success team for help and support?

Students can email staff members to schedule online 1:1 and group meetings via WebEx, Zoom, Facetime, GoogleDuo, phone, email, and text.

Learning in a fully online format is new to me. How can the Academic Success team help me to be successful in this new format?

The Center for Academic Success and Exploratory Majors team will continue to support students with tools centered explicitly on success in online learning environments:
- Completing online homework.
- Test-taking online.
- Learning customization (settings, profile, notifications).
- Time Management tools in Canvas (notifications, calendar, announcements, syllabus, modules).
If you are struggling with this transition, please contact one of us to schedule an appointment using the information listed above.
We will continue to check in with students as the transition takes place.
A team member will work with students who need assistance to develop individual success plans for the rest of the semester.

Peer Tutoring

I need to request a new peer tutor. What do I do?

If you would like to meet with a peer tutor, please submit a Tutor Request form. Our policy will stand: please complete a request form 48 hours before you would need help.
New requests will be processed from findyoursuccess@lvc.edu and assigned to a peer tutor, who is expected to respond to you within 48-72 hours.
Once a request is received, the assigned peer tutor will contact you directly, set up a meeting, and discuss next steps.
Tutors and clients are encouraged to work together for 1:1 online tutoring using Zoom.

I plan to attend a study pod for my course. Will they still be meeting?

Yes, due to social distancing, study pods will be meeting virtually this semester.
If you are in a course with a study pod, the pod leader's Zoom Meeting ID and password information will be distributed via email prior to the first pod during the second week of the semester.
View the full schedule here. *Note: the website will not list meeting ID and password information for privacy reasons, please refer to the email sent at the beginning of the semester.
Each week, you will be able to access your Study Pod using the pod leader's Zoom meeting information as outlined above.
Considerations: When joining a pod, please try to choose a quiet workspace with minimal distractions/interruptions/background noise.

Writing Tutoring

How can I receive help with a paper?

If you would like to have a paper reviewed by a writing tutor, please submit a Tutor Request form. Our policy will stand: please complete a request form 48 hours before you would need help.
In the “What would you like to work on during the session?” section, please include the specific things you are concerned about in your paper (e.g., organization, thesis, word choice, etc.).
New requests will be processed from findyoursuccess@lvc.edu and assigned to a writing tutor, who is expected to respond to you within 48-72 hours.
Once a request is received, the assigned writing tutor will contact you directly to receive your paper, set up a potential conference, and discuss further steps.
If you already work with a writing tutor, you will be encouraged to continue working together using a variety of means (Webex, Zoom, Facetime).
You may meet with a writing tutor directly and/or receive feedback and suggestions using Track Changes via Microsoft Word.

I am in an FYE course and use an FYE Writing Mentor to improve my writing skills. What happens now?

In Fall 2020, FYE students can meet with their assigned FYE Writing Mentor through a variety of means, which will be determined by the Writing Mentor for each course.
- Meetings may be scheduled by individual appointment OR by signing up through conference hours determined by the FYE Writing Mentor. Please refer to your specific section information and communication from the mentor.
Meetings are encouraged to take place through online conferencing via Zoom or revisions via Microsoft Word/email as long as Track Changes are utilized and no actual edits are made to the document unless accepted/approved by the student.
Note that suggestions will be provided via comments.

Writing Center Desk Hours

Writing Center Desk Hours will operate in a mostly virtual format this semester.

Drop In Hours will be offered Monday-Thursday, 7-9 p.m.

Students can connect with a Writing Tutor in one of two ways:

1) Students can log into the Writing Tutor's Zoom "Room" and will enter the Waiting Room until the Tutor is ready to meet. Room information will be provided via email at the beginning of the semester.

2) Students can email their document to one of the two tutors on duty that day and receive feedback via email exchange/Microsoft Word document review via Track Changes/comments.

NOTE: Revisions and comments sent via email/Microsoft Word MUST utilize Track Changes with no actual edits made to the paper unless accepted by the student.

Are you struggling with a paper or looking to improve your writing skills? We're here to help!

In just a few short years, the Center for Academic Success and Exploratory Majors has become a positive force on the Lebanon Valley College campus. We are about people helping people. We listen, attempt to define the problem, and aid in facilitating a possible solution, thus diminishing the client's anxiety without diminishing the client's independence in either the learning or writing process.

The mission of the Lebanon Valley College Center for Academic Success and Exploratory Majors is to provide our clients with the tools, techniques, and confidence necessary to become successful communicators and writers. We do this by creating a comfortable environment in which clients and tutors work together at improving writing and thinking across the curriculum.

Request a Writing Tutor

Do you want higher grades or to improve your study skills? Peer Tutoring may be just the answer.

Peer Tutoring offers free assistance to students who want to improve their academic performance. Tutors can be provided for most 100- and 200-level courses offered. Peer Tutors are successful, upper-level students who are trained to help students clarify assignments, understand the subject matter, prepare homework, review homework, prepare for exams, review exams, improve study techniques, and improve time management.

Tutors are available for individual and group sessions. They will contact students within 48-72 hours and arrange a time and place to meet. Please keep in mind that tutors are students themselves, and it is important to be flexible with appointments if you are looking to receive help. Requests submitted on Saturday and Sunday will only receive attention on Monday!!!

Please note that we do not provide tutoring to high school students.

Request a Peer Tutor

Walk-In Hours & Appointments

Each semester, the Center for Academic Success and Exploratory Majors is open for a fixed number of hours during which students can come by at their convenience or by appointment to work with writing tutors on duty at that time. Monday-Thursday, 7-9 p.m. Appointments are strongly encouraged, but not necessary. Please note that the walk-in schedule follows the academic calendar schedule; as long as classes are in-session, walk-in hours are in session. Please visit the Registrar's webpage to see the exact dates and times of spring, fall, and holiday breaks. For an appointment during off-hours, please fill out the tutor request form at least 48 hours in advance.

Tutor Request Form