What is the Learning Center?
The Learning Center is part of University College, which offers student-centered programs and services that enhance students’ success. The mission of the Learning Center is to enhance the academic success of Ball State University students by providing free peer tutoring, academic coaching, supplemental instruction, and test proctoring and accommodations for students with disabilities. In addition, the Learning Center serves as a scholarly pre-professional experience for undergraduate and graduate student employees.
How are we adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Due to COVID-19 closures and safety regulations, we worked hard to figure out how to make our services accessible online. The Learning Center is proud to be able to currently provide online tutoring, academic coaching and supplemental instruction so Ball State students can safely use our services during this global pandemic. In Fall 2020, we hosted 4,142 tutoring appointments, 659 Supplemental Instruction study sessions, and 197 Academic Coaching appointments virtually. Our tutors have also created over 600 video tutorials and supplementary materials for our online resource library on the Learning Center’s website. This semester, our Testing Desk is currently operating with precautions from North Quad to help our students who need in-person testing accommodations while our other services remain virtual.
We are excited for the time when we will be able to safely resume in-person services, while also working to find ways we may be able to continue providing online learning opportunities for Ball State students.
Our 2021 One Ball State Day fundraising goals:
Our goal for One Ball State Day this year is to raise at least $1,500. With your generous donations this year, we will be able to purchase Supplemental Instruction strategy cards, professional development opportunities, food for all-day training, portable whiteboards on wheels, stylus pens, anatomical models, ID card readers, AV adaptors, and other resources to support our services.
If we exceed our $1,500 goal, we plan to use that money towards the cost of a new laptop or tablet for the Learning Center.
Please help us continue our mission to keep our students flying virtually until we can safely be back together in person in the Learning Center!
Your gift will help tutors like Lucas....
"I started working at the Learning Center in Fall 2018. Working at the LC has given me the opportunity to touch the lives of hundreds of students. Whether it’s helping them get through a tough class or helping them reach their academic goals, your donations help to promote an environment of growth and learning. I love being able to play an active role in student’s lives and I am grateful that the Learning Center has provided these influential experiences." - Lucas V.
Here's what students are saying about their experiences with the Learning Center:
"Ashlyn was an AMAZING SI leader, by far the best I have encountered! She was able to present material to the students who came and always took feedback as to what worked best for us!! She was kind and allowed a positive learning environment! Something I loved about this SI is the summary pages she would make (for example there was a diabetes one that was 7-8 pages and it helped condense down a lot of information) The med sheets helped a lot and well as just going over materials and being able to put our answers into the chat function. Somehow she made SI so interactive online! Being interactive and questioning my knowledge is what allowed me to learn. I’m very grateful she was our SI leader."
"The Testing Desk is a wonderful resource that I’m going to miss once I graduate!"
“Shania is really knowledgeable and great at making sure I'm understanding what she's explaining. Gives really good examples and is kind if she asks me a question and I get it wrong and then goes on to explain it until I understand!”
"Jake was very helpful throughout the SI sessions that I attended, making sure that everyone knew what was going on and answering questions throughout the session. He also did well with sending out reminders about the sessions, as well as holding additional sessions to help with paper writing and the exams."
"I have been taking my exams here for the last four years and have had a wonderful experience every time."
“Annamarie helped so much narrowing down my topic for my term paper and helping me write a hypothesis. She understood my difficulty making my hypothesis sound right and helped me word it correctly. I would have been in tears frustrated without her help. Thanks Annamarie!”
"Rachel was the best and helped me understand chemistry so much better! I do not think I would have done as well in the class without Rachel."
“I love my tutoring each week!!! I could not be successful without it.”
Stay connected with us at the Learning Center:
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: @ballstatelc
Facebook: Ball State Learning Center
Twitter: @ballstatelc
Check out our website: www.bsu.edu/learningcenter
If you want to read more about all the exciting things happening at the Learning Center, check out our latest Tutor Talk newsletter HERE!
