Student FAQ

Academic Success Center Tutoring (ASC Tutoring) provides services for Brockport students who wish to receive help with meeting their academic goals. Free tutoring services, computer access, and ample reference materials make the ASC Tutoring a place that promotes student success. The ASC Tutoring is open 61 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters, and part-time during special sessions (summer and winter). ASC Tutoring services are available to all Brockport students -no application is necessary.

The ASC Tutoring offers tutoring in math, writing, and in many courses as well as individual study skills consultation. In addition, the ASC Tutoring has two computer labs. Extensive reference materials, including textbooks, study skills and writing handbooks, videotapes, and software, conveniently provide students with extra information they may need to successfully complete their course work.

Students from all levels and from many different disciplines use the tutoring services at the ASC Tutoring. Tutoring in math and writing is open to all students. Tutoring for specific courses is designed for students enrolled in those courses.

No, our ability to provide tutoring for a particular course is based upon the availability of qualified tutors. Students should check our Tutoring for Specific Classes page to see if tutoring is available for a particular class. If no tutor is listed, students may fill out a request form, after which the ASC Tutoring staff will work with faculty on trying to identify a qualified tutor for that class.

Sometimes. Math tutoring works on a walk-in basis—no appointment is necessary. An appointment is needed for writing tutoring, however, and we recommend that you schedule the appointment well in advance of the assignment due date. This way you can get some suggestions, work on your writing independently, and come back for additional help before the paper is due. Stop in or call (585) 395-2293 to schedule an appointment with a writing tutor. Tutoring for specific courses is sometimes offered on a walk-in basis and sometimes offered by appointment. See our Tutoring for Specific Classes page to see how tutoring is offered for a particular class.

Do all of your reading assignments, attend classes regularly, and make a serious attempt at solving homework problems or understanding assignments on your own before you arrive so that you have specific questions to ask the tutor. Also consider visiting your course instructor during office hours.

All ASC Tutoring tutors are undergraduate or graduate students who are selected based upon faculty recommendations, academic excellence, and a willingness to help others. Departments of Mathematics and English graduate assistants are also tutors.

Expect to do the following when you come in to work with a tutor:

• Discuss the material
• Go over the assignment
• Express your concerns
• Receive hints and suggestions for problem solving, organizing and planning strategies

In addition, expect the tutor to ask you clarifying questions, to find out what you know and what you don’t know. That way the tutor can get to know you and determine what strategies would be most helpful. The tutor will expect you to work and to participate in the tutoring process. Do not expect the tutor to do the work for you. Always bring your textbook(s), assignment sheet, class notes, paper, software, and syllabi.

No, your tutor will clarify concepts presented in the text or help you answer specific questions you identify as you read the text.

No, the tutor will help you with your homework, but will not write papers for you or do extensive proofreading or correct homework.

You may stay at the ASC Tutoring even after you have finished working with a tutor. It’s a comfortable, quiet place to study or use computers to assist with assignments. The ASC Tutoring Code of Conduct limits behavior that is distracting and not conducive to study.

Depending on availability, you may choose to work with the same person when you come in for help. For writing tutorials, you may request to schedule appointments with the tutor of your choice. For math help, you may check to see what hours particular tutors are working.

Currently, the only type of tutoring that uses the phone is Remote Writing Tutoring, which is designed to help Brockport Downtown and SUNY Learning Network students access writing tutoring. In all other cases, tutoring over the phone does not take place. The tutors need to see your textbooks, your assignments, your notes, etc., and they need to talk to you, ask you questions, and allow for quiet thinking time. With daytime and evening hours available, the ASC Tutoring offers ample opportunity for students with hectic schedules to come in and receive tutoring. Planning your time is important to academic success.

Most of the time. Writing tutoring always takes place on a private one-on-one basis. Tutoring for many specific classes is also offered on a one-on-one basis. However, because of the exceptionally high demand for math tutoring and certain specific classes, one-on-one tutoring may not be available in these areas.