Mission Statement

The Academic Success Center is dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Middlesex Community College by providing academic support to the college’s enrolled students. Through individualized and group tutoring, we help students work toward their potential in a welcoming and encouraging environment where learning is the priority, personal growth and development are nurtured, and long-term success is supported.  Our goal is to help students become confident and competent independent learners.

Tutoring

The Academic Success Center offers tutoring to MxCC students at no additional cost throughout the fall and spring semesters.

Here are some guidelines that will ensure you have a positive tutoring experience—please familiarize yourself with them before receiving tutoring:

What We Will Do:

• Provide you with assistance outside of the classroom to build a better understanding of the subject matter and develop study skills.
• Help you understand the concepts/techniques needed to become a self-sufficient learner.
• Model study strategies to make you a stronger learner in all content areas.
• Clarify specific problems that you come in with.
• Build your confidence so that you can approach future class work with certainty.
• Offer one-on-one or group tutoring sessions as long as tutors are available.
• Encourage you to work independently once strategies/techniques have been explained.
• Treat you with courtesy and respect during the tutoring process.
• Ask you to fill out a brief survey at the end of the semester to provide us with feedback on our services so that we can continue to improve.

What We Will NOT Do:

• Tutors will not do your homework for you or provide test or quiz answers.
• Tutors will not "fix" or edit your papers, but we will help you learn how to find and correct your own mistakes so that you become a better writer.
• Tolerate behavior that is counterproductive to the tutoring process and/or distracting to others in the Academic Success Center.
• Be able to help you if you arrive completely unprepared or unwilling to do your own work.
• Always be able to offer individual tutoring sessions (especially in math and chemistry).

What YOU Will Need To Do:

• Check the schedule to find a time that works for you.
• Sign in and out whenever you visit the Academic Success Center so that we can track student usage.
• Bring your class syllabus, class notes, class texts, and specific assignment.
• Arrive with specific questions.
• Do as much work as you can in advance. This means you MUST at least attempt assignments before you come in seeking help.
• Be willing to work independently after a tutor has gone over a concept with you.
• Understand that often one tutor is circulating among a handful of students.  Be courteous and patient!
• Remember that no one (even our highly qualified tutors) knows everything. Tutors may need to review the materials themselves. Please be patient with them.
• Report any problems regarding our tutors or services immediately to a front desk associate.
• Finally, please DO NOT wait until the last minute for tutoring! Start coming for help early in the semester and DO NOT wait until the assignment is due. We cannot emphasize that enough.

Self-Study

Remember, ultimately you are responsible for what you learn--take advantage of all opportunities!

(Click here or here for Study Tips or watch the following series of videos)

1. Beliefs That Make You Fail...Or Succeed
2. What Students Should Know About How People Learn
3. Cognitive Principles for Optimizing Learning
4. Putting Principles for Learning into Practice
5. I Blew the Exam, Now What?
6. Sharpen your Time Management Skills for Final Exam Preparation