Check Out the Learning Assistance Center

The new school year is quickly approaching, and Learning Assistance Center (LAC) staff members are preparing to welcome students back to campus. The LAC is one of many offices at Xavier that is committed to supporting students' success.

Our goal is to empower students to be independent learners and reach their full academic potential. The LAC has two main purposes: tutoring and disability services. Our tutoring services include subject specific tutoring, drop-in sessions, study skills assistance, and Supplemental Instruction (SI). For students with documented disabilities, our disability services provide accommodations such as extended time on exams, reduced distraction testing environment, note-taking assistance, and assistive technology.

During the fall semester, the LAC expects to receive more than 700 requests for subject-specific tutoring, in almost all subjects that are offered on campus. Whether a student suspects she will struggle in a course, or simply wants to maintain a good grade and learn additional study techniques in a course, she should request tutoring early in the semester. To request a tutor, a student may come to the LAC or complete a request form on-line at www.xu.edu/lac.

Additionally, the LAC will support the Anatomy & Physiology, General Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry with Supplemental Instruction (SI). SI is an academic support program that targets historically difficult courses. Each course is supported by a trained LAC tutor who attends the course, takes notes, and facilitates regular study sessions for the course.

The SI sessions integrate "how to learn" with "what to learn" and involve activities that reinforce the course content. All students are encouraged to participate in the sessions. Research has shown that students who participate in these study sessions earn higher course grades and withdraw less often than non-participants. A schedule of the fall SI sessions will be available at http://www.xavier.edu/lac/Supplemental-Instruction-and-Drop-In-Sessions.cfm.

Beginning fall semester, Disability Services is implementing a change in the process for requesting accommodations. Students will still need to request accommodations each semester. However, instead of sending letters to faculty, students will have to obtain copies of their accommodation forms from Disability Services and take them to their professors. This change will better facilitate the communication between students and faculty.

Moreover, to welcome new and returning students to campus, Disability Services is hosting a Welcome/Orientation for students who will be using academic accommodations. The dates are Monday, Aug. 29, and Monday, Sept. 12 at 1:30 PM in the Conaton Learning Commons.

To assist students with disabilities enhance their resumes and gain work experience, Disability Services is teaming up with Career Services Center for the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP). The WRP is a competitive internship program for students with disabilities with internship opportunities throughout the federal government. The WRP representative will be on campus conducting interviews on Monday, Oct. 31.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about the LAC, please feel free to contact us at 513-745-3280. Our office is located on the fifth floor of the Conaton Learning Commons (CLC) in Suite 514, and we are open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Please encourage your student to visit us to learn more about our services.