North Carolina A&T has a number of services to help students achieve academic success, including the University Writing Center and the Math and Science Learning and Resource Center (MSLRC).   The centers, which opened Aug. 23 for the fall semester, are under the College of Arts and Sciences. They are also a part of the university’s Student Support Services and have been offered for over 10 years.   The MSLRC is located in the General Classroom Building (GCB) room A306.  This center specifically focuses on math, chemistry and physics.     Students are especially encouraged to bring specific assignments and concepts to help tutors better assist them.  The math tutors help with courses up to the 400 levels.   The University Writing Center is located in GCB room A309.  This center assists undergraduate students with topic development, organization, grammar, mechanics, clarity, unity and more.     Students needing help from the University Writing Center are also suggested to bring specific activities and writing assignments to work on.  English major graduate students are primarily employed as tutors; however, there have been students from other majors that have been hired.     Employees of the centers are paid graduate and undergraduate students recommended and/ or selected by professors and other faculty. There are six students employed in each center for the fall semester.    Since the tutors are students themselves, tutors are not available during evening hours or on weekends.  Director of Student Support Services, Hope Jackson, admits that she hires tutors carefully.     “Tutoring is like teaching, and you just don’t want anyone as your teacher,” said Jackson. She also said that she looks at all A&T students as her own, and their education and success are important to her.     Jackson insists though that the process to become a tutor is not an easy one.  Students are either recommended by professors or chosen based on good grades and high grade point averages.     From there, students are contacted and the search is further narrowed by the student’s response time.  Next, potential tutors are called in for an informal interview with Jackson.      During the interview students are observed and evaluated on everything from posture to quick academic assessments.She also said that some students don’t even know about the University Writing Center and MSLRC.     She encourages professors to invite representatives from the centers to come to their classrooms and inform students of the centers and how they can benefit from them.   Students are recommended to take advantage of the University Writing Center and MSLRC as well as other programs on campus.  Students should use as many resources as possible to boost grades and grade point averages.    While college classes may get difficult at times there is on campus.  Students should also ask professors for assistance in class.  So be sure to look for flyers on bulletin boards and other places around campus offering tutoring and other academic assistance.     The hours of operation for the University Writing Center are Monday- Thursday 9 – 5 p.m. and Friday’s from 9 – noon.  The MSLRC is operated by undergraduate students so their hours vary.     They are open Mondays 9 -12:30 p.m. and 2-5 p.m., Tuesdays 9 – 5 p.m., Wednesdays 9:30-12:30 p.m. and 2- 5 p.m., Thursdays 9 – 5 p.m. and Fridays 9 – 2 p.m.     Both centers welcome walk-ins,  appointments and online tutoring during hours of operation.     Students can access online tutoring via the Student Support Services website http://cas/ncat.edu/~sss. 

• Shequia Cole