Welcome to Fall 2023Welcome to the fall 2023 semester! And a special welcome to our new first-year and transfer students, who recently joined the USF community. In this newsletter, the Learning Center is delighted to share a message from our director, valuable information about our academic support services, which begin Monday, Aug. 28, as well as excellent resources and opportunities.
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A Message from the DirectorDear USF Students,
I trust you had a fantastic summer break and are feeling rejuvenated. Please take a moment to peruse this newsletter as it contains vital and intriguing information that we believe is in your best interest to know. Additionally, I want to stress the significance of seeking assistance when needed. Whether through LWSC or other resources available on campus, rest assured that we have people and tools in place to support you. It's essential to surround yourself with individuals who care about your well-being and future. I implore you to let LWSC help you achieve your USF education goals. If you have any inquiries regarding our services, please don't hesitate to reach out to our staff via phone at (415) 422-6713 or email at lwsc@usfca.edu.
Sincerely,
Kim Rutledge
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Happy 30th Anniversary, Learning Center!We are thrilled to announce that the Learning Center has been providing academic support to USF students for 30 years. We are grateful for the dedicated work of our staff, whose collaborative efforts have helped many Dons achieve success. Please save the date, Oct. 3, for our 30th anniversary and open house event. We look forward to spreading the word about the free academic support services available on campus through the LWSC.
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Week of Welcome WorkshopsThe Learning Center is dedicated to enhancing student persistence and self-regulation through academic skills workshops, which include various topics, such as structured study time, academic mindsets, test-taking and exam preparation strategies, and more. We invite students to join us in one of our virtual Week of Welcome Workshops.
Time Management and 168 Prioritization Workshop
Tuesday, Aug. 29 | 11:50 a.m.–12:45 p.m. PDT | Zoom
Active Study Workshop
Wednesday, Aug. 30 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. PDT | Zoom
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At the Learning Center, we offer specialized academic assistance for various courses through programs like Peer Tutoring, Supplemental Instruction (also known as "SI" for some biology and nursing courses), and Peer-Led Team Learning (or "PLTL" for Chemistry I, II, and Organic Chemistry courses).
Our Peer Tutoring services are available for both individual and small-group sessions, which can be conducted through Zoom or in person. Meanwhile, our SI and PLTL programs provide weekly small-group study sessions, but only PLTL enrollment can aid students in earning course credits. For more details about our course-specific academic support services, kindly visit the Learning Center web page.
For the fall semester, our services will begin Monday, Aug. 28. Please book your first appointment for the semester by Saturday, Aug. 26.
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The Learning Center provides online resources, workshops, and one-on-one academic skills coaching to help students maximize their efforts. Visit the Study Skills and Resources web page for tools and downloadable worksheets.
Additionally, a coach is available for all international students at USF (undergraduate and graduate) who desire assistance in cultural adjustment and developing strategies related to effective communication, collaborative learning, active studying, and time management.
International students can follow the "How to Schedule an Academic Skills Coaching (ASC) Appointment" instructions, and at step #6, select "Academic English Support" from the drop-down menu of programs.
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The primary goal of the Writing Center is to empower students as writers by fostering their knowledge and skills in development, organization, style, and structure. Through one-on-one interactive conferences, faculty consultants support student writers working in different disciplines and rhetorical contexts.
Writing consultants engage in a conversation with students about how to conceptualize and develop an idea, how to write persuasively and with sophistication, and how to correct their own errors at the level demanded by college courses. The consultants do not edit or copyedit the work of students, but instead, they work with students so that they can learn to edit for themselves.
For more information, visit the Writing Center web page.
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The Speaking Center is available to help students prepare for public speaking — including speeches, oral presentations, team presentations, and visual aid demonstrations.
Coaches are trained peer tutors, skilled teachers, and experienced public speakers, who can assist with a variety of aspects of public speaking, including effective oral communication skills, researching and writing speech content, developing well-organized, concise, and informative main points, crafting introductions and conclusions, and more.
For more information, visit the Speaking Center web page.
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The Learning Center provides paid leadership opportunities for students through work-study. We're hiring for positions such as peer tutors, PLTL leaders, SI leaders, and project success coaches, as well as speaking and writing consultants. If you would like to nominate a student, please visit our Employment Opportunities web page.
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