Frequently Asked Questions

Subject Tutoring and Supplemental and the Writing and Communication Center welcome walk-ins! However, appointments are required for visiting the Testing and Proctoring Center.

Absolutely! Your discussions with your tutor remain confidential unless you choose to share. Please let your tutor know if the session report should be sent to your professor or your academic success counselor.

Need proof of attendance? Just make sure that you share your professor’s email address when you sign-up for an appointment and your professor will receive a copy of your session report.

You are limited to a maximum of 2 hours of tutoring per day across all subjects within each tutoring schedule, including appointments with the Writing and Communication Center, Praxis Tutoring, Subject Tutoring (individual and group), and Supplemental Instruction (SI). This policy is designed to ensure that tutoring appointments remain accessible to as many students as possible. This gives you the perfect window to absorb, practice, and reinforce what you've grasped before diving into the next session.

If you miss an appointment without notifying your tutor or canceling in advance, you will be marked as a no-show. After two no-shows, your account will be deactivated, and you will need to email wssulearningsupport@wssu.edu to have your account reinstated.

Of course! Our services are free and available to all WSSU students, both undergraduate and graduate.

To join the Learning Support Services team, students must have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Applications must include a letter of interest, a letter of recommendation from a WSSU faculty member, a writing sample (if applying to be a writing tutor). If you are not a current WSSU student, please email Learning Support Services at wssulearningsupport@wssu.edu for more information.

All types of assignments, including writing projects and oral presentations are welcome! Our staff is trained to assist you with a wide range of assignments such as lab reports, research papers, reviews, lesson plans, and more. You are not just limited to course assignments. We can help also you craft a resume, cover letter, personal statement, scholarship essay, or a creative piece such as a poem or short story. We are your one stop shop for all things writing!

It is helpful to have readily available a copy of the assignment guidelines or prompt as well as any rubrics associated with the assignment. When making an appointment, please give the tutor some insight as to what you would like to focus on during your session. This will ensure that you and your tutor can maximize your time effectively. If your instructor requires you to visit the WCC, it is useful to ask your instructor what they think you should focus on in the session.  Moreover, if you have received feedback on the current assignment (or previous ones) that you are comfortable sharing with your tutor, that can be helpful in guiding the focus of your session as well.

No. The Writing and Communication Center is a collaborative unit that focuses on engaging, encouraging, and helping you improve your writing. We are not an editing service. We will work with you to assist in understanding the writing process and to develop strategies to improve writing as you grow in your academic journey at WSSU.

Of course! We can work with you individually or in small groups. For group sessions, we recommend that all group members attend the session together.

While we aim to support every course at WSSU, our Subject Tutoring department primarily focuses on selected accounting, biology, chemistry, math, and physics courses. Additionally, we offer support for courses in computer science, psychology, education, and sociology, depending on the availability of our talented team each semester. Stay tuned as we continually evolve to better serve your needs!

Gear up for a productive tutoring session at WSSU with these pro-tips:

1. Talk with Your Professor: Before meeting with a tutor, discuss any challenges with your instructor. Pinpointing specific issues ensures your tutor can focus on the areas you need guidance in. Remember, our tutors are here to offer clarity about areas you are struggling with, not to reteach entire lessons.

2. Start Working on Your Assignments: Start your work prior to your appointment. Tutors are guides to understanding, not stand-ins for doing your assignments.

3. Pack Your Academic Toolkit: Bring your textbooks, notes, calculators, and any other necessary items.

   Come prepared and let's make the most of our time together!

Get ready for an impactful time!  You are allowed to schedule up to one hour of tutoring per subject each day. For instance, if you are enrolled in two Biology classes, two Chemistry classes, and one Math class, you can schedule up to one hour of tutoring per day for Biology, Chemistry, Math, and so on. However, you cannot book multiple appointments for different classes within the same subject area (e.g., multiple Biology classes) on the same day.

You are limited to a maximum of 2 hours of tutoring per day across all subjects within each tutoring schedule, including appointments with the Writing and Communication Center, Praxis Tutoring, Reading Center, FYE Workshops, and Supplemental Instruction (SI). This policy is designed to ensure that tutoring appointments remain accessible to as many students as possible. This gives you the perfect window to absorb, practice, and reinforce what you've grasped before diving into the next session. Learn, reflect, and conquer!

Supplemental Instruction (SI) offers weekly peer-guided study groups for courses with traditionally challenging completion rates. Our SI leaders, all WSSU students, have not only succeeded in the SI course with a grade of “B+” or better but also actively engage with course materials and instructors weekly. 

Joining SI sessions is entirely free and optional. You can attend as often as you wish, starting from the early weeks of the semester right through to its end. It's essential, though, to keep pace with the weekly course lectures and readings. SI isn't a crash course; it's a platform to deepen understanding, not cram content.

While we don't cover every course, our Subject Tutoring Center proudly delivers supplemental instruction for subjects like math, biology, and chemistry. Keep in mind, the subjects we support might shift each semester depending on our dedicated team's availability.

SI is here for everyone taking a specific course! Whether or not your SI Leader is in your lectures, you're always welcome. Designed for all students aiming to boost their grasp on the material or enhance their grades, SI isn't just for those facing challenges. While weekly participation maximizes SI benefits, there's an open door for students at any time. Come as often as you choose; we're here to help.

Get the most out of your SI session by following these steps:

1. Meet with Your Professor: Pinpoint areas that challenge you. Remember, SI leaders aren't there to re-teach but to clarify content, suggest study methods, and foster collaborative learning.

2. Start Working on Your Assignments: Tackle them on your own first. SI leaders aren't there to do your homework, quizzes, or exams.

3. Come Ready to Actively Participate: Complete your readings and give those practice problems a shot. This ensures you maximize the benefits of the SI session.

4. Pack Your Academic Gear: Bring your textbooks, notes, calculator, and any essential materials.

   Remember, SI is an enhancement, not a replacement. Continue attending your regular class sessions.

SI emphasizes peer learning, creating a space free from instructors. Our SI leaders design activities, games, and resources to make mastering the content fun and interactive. Still, don't forget the value of your instructor's office hours and the importance of regular class attendance.

No, reservations for the Testing and Proctoring Center are by appointment only to ensure that the Center has the proper testing materials before your arrival.

To check-in, come to Hill Hall room 330. You must bring your RAM card for identification. Any personal items (including cell phones) that are not explicitly allowed for your test must be stored in the office space in room 330.

The Testing and Proctoring Center offers a quiet testing environment. While we try our best to maintain a low noise level, there may be occasional ambient noise from regular University activities in the building.

Always bring your RAM card. In addition, although computers are available in the room, we strongly recommend that you bring your laptop to ensure that you have access to your test.

Staff will monitor the testing room on a continuous basis through the use of 24/7 video monitor and video recording. In addition, a staff member will occasionally walk through the room to observe you in person.