The Essential Skills Center (ESC) is dedicated to improving the basic academic skills and learning of all Curry students, by supporting them from freshman year to graduation. All of the services of the ESC are free to any student of the College.
Faculty members who are concerned about particular students are strongly encouraged to refer them to the ESC, or to contact the ESC at x2248 to see which tutors or services might be most helpful to their "at risk" students.
The ESC accomplishes its mission by:
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Providing trained peer tutors for subject matter tutorial in most disciplines. Students who have performed well in particular classes are recommended by their faculty members to serve as peer tutors on these courses. These tutors are monitored by the staff of the Essential Skills Center. Currently, there are about 60 peer tutors in most disciplines. Peer tutoring sessions may be held anywhere on campus, with individual students or in small groups, at no cost to the students being tutored. Peer tutors are paid by the Essential Skills Center.
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Staffing the Center with professional staff/faculty tutors each weekday and Sunday. There are approximately 60 hours of faculty and staff tutoring per week, available primarily by appointment. Writing and editing, reading, study skills, library research, and content tutorial are among the most common topics addressed by the professional tutors. Students may sign up for ½ hour appointments with the ESC tutors, at no cost. If there is no one signed up for the following l/2 hour appointment, the student may continue to work with the ESC tutor. Drop-ins are welcome if ESC tutors are available.
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Offering several noncredit workshops each semester in time management and test taking. Students in academic difficulty at mid-term are contacted by the Essential Skills Center to offer to the students the variety of available services.
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Assessing the writing skills of all incoming freshmen for writing class placement.
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Offering credit-bearing developmental courses in the areas of Writing, Math, Reading, ESOL, and Academic Skills.