Have any idea what that small hidden room in the Frick Center, the one across from the student activities office, is for? Even know what it’s called?

It’s the learning center.     

With midterms looming just around the corner, students might not know where to go for help studying for those exams, finishing those papers, and brain-storming ideas for projects. The Elmhurst College Learning Center is here to help.

Located in the Southeast corner of the Frick Center, it offers guidance through tutoring in areas such as reading, writing, and math.

In addition to the Learning Center’s available fields, there are now also chemistry and biology tutors available at the Center for Health Professions available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

“What few people know is that there are tutors available at nine in the morning until eight at night,” said Dr. Janice Fodor, who has been in charge of the Learning Center for the past 32 years.

Students can sign up for half hour tutoring sessions each day to meet and discuss their issues with their class work. They can also stop by the center for any questions about test taking strategies and test analysis, taking notes, organizing essays, memory skills and methods of studying.

A common misconception about the Writing Center in particular is that the tutors will proof read. “Some students get upset that we don’t proofread,” explained the Writing Center’s student coordinator Nina Giannangeli. “But our mission is to help students develop papers and become more independent in their writing.

“We try to teach them tactics on how to check their own work, develop it further, and question themselves. We help students gain confidence in their own voice.”

Giannangeli hopes to reevaluate the image of the Writing Center as a place to come to learn and improve, as appose to being a place that will give students a quick fix to a better grade.

“We can’t make someone a more confident writer. They have to want it and be willing to work toward it.”

Giannangeli recommends that students stop by early enough before the due date and bring a printed draft of their writing.

“If you come in five minutes before a paper is due there is only so much that we will be able to help you with.”

Coming far in advance to when the paper is due also allows for multiple revisions.

“I love when a student learns to revise their writing,” said Fodor. For the success of their paper, a student’s ability to look at their mistakes and correct them “is extremely important” to the writing process.

Midterms and finals are a busy time at the Learning Center, but the place is often full of students coming and going. This past September alone brought in 1,145 visitors: 306 for math, 262 for reading, 577 to Dr. Fodor and 66 to the Writing Center.

The Center also acts as a place available to students who need to meet for group projects or to do homework in addition to one on one tutoring.

“While freshmen come in to get help with study skills, we see people all the way

Students are encouraged to come in with specific questions with whatever they are having difficulty with. Even if all they want to do is bounce an idea off someone, it can be beneficial to come in to talk about it, Giannangeli said.

 “Sometimes I’m not doing anything but listening to students. But that can help them discover their own voice.”

Some advice to any students reluctant to come in, Fodor said “We’re so approachable! It’s a great bunch of students who work here to help. [It’s] a comfortable, friendly place.”