It's National Tutor Appreciation Week, so celebrate by getting to know one of UMBC's awesome Writing Center Tutors:

Meagan Barrett

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm currently a junior English major who loves to write fiction, and draw my ideas! I have two cats, and spend most of my time reading and/or binge watching​ Criminal Minds on Netflix. 

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

On top of tutoring, I'm a copy editor on both the Retriever Weekly and the Bartleby staff. Most semesters I also work as a Writing Fellow for English 100 classes. So there are quite a few places you might see me around campus!

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

Funnily enough, I found out about tutoring on campus when I was tutoring my mathematically-inclined boyfriend in English 100. I did such a good job, apparently, that he was recommended to be a Writing Tutor! Before then, I didn't know the Writing Center even existed. He declined, but I decided to follow the instructions on the email myself, and I emailed the Writing Center director to see if I she would consider hiring me instead. 

Initially, I was interested because I wanted an on-campus job that was easy for me to do in addition to my classes. However, during my internship in the Writing Center, I discovered that I really enjoy working with and helping others understand writing.  

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

My favorite thing about tutoring is that it gives me the opportunity to talk about my biggest passion all the time! Writing is kind of my life's mission, so being able to work with it directly is pretty exciting for me. 

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

I definitely think all students should utilize the Learning Resources Center, and not just if you're on the verge of failing your classes. I think it's hard sometimes, because our culture tends to put a stigma on the idea of "tutoring," so it can be hard to ask for help when you need it. 

But the fact of the matter is that it's normal to need help! And the Writing Center is a place that allows students to get that extra help in a low-pressure, nonjudgmental environment. All of us writing tutors know that writing is hard, and even the best writers make mistakes. So getting an extra set of eyes can make a huge difference to your grade, because they'll probably notice something you didn't!

This is especially true of writing, but can also be true of other subjects as well — getting a second opinion never hurts! 

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session?

I think the most important way a student can prepare for a session is by making sure you know what you want to focus on! If you bring a seven page paper to a 30-minute session, I likely won't be able to look at the whole thing. So it's important to prioritize what you need help with, so we can spend our limited time on things that matter to you! (But also — bring two paper copies with you!)

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

I'm available in the Writing Center, located on the first floor of the AOK Library, on Mondays from 1-3, Wednesdays from 12-1 and 2:30-3:30, and Thursdays from 2:30-3:30. I'm also available for online tutoring on Tuesday nights from 7-8. And I'm always happy to help!

Mayor Catherine Pugh Stands in support of DACA

On September 5th, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Trump administration’s decision to rescind DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). DACA protects from deportation and provides legal work authorization to almost 800,000 people nationally, including thousands of people in Maryland. 

As home to many beneficiaries of the DACA program, it is critical that our residents in Baltimore know the new rules. If your DACA protection expires on or before March 5, 2018, your renewal application MUST be received by immigration on or before October 5, 2017. 

For further information and local resources please view the video attached.

Best,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7vNcIknVQs&feature=youtu.be

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDBALT/bulletins/1ba0388

It's National Tutor Appreciation Week!  Celebrate one of our SI/PASS leaders:

Dhruvil Patel

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Dhruvil Patel, and this is my 3rd semester of being an SI/PASS leader. I am a junior Biochemistry major with a minor in Sociology, currently on the Pre-Medical track. I hope to practice medicine and commit my life to helping others after I graduate from UMBC. 

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

In addition to being an SI/PASS leader for Chem 351, I am also a Genetics TA, and an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Paul Smith's Organic Synthesis lab.

How and why did you get involved in being a SI/PASS leader?

I first started off as an LA for Chemistry 101 during my Spring semester of freshman year. After being an LA, I found out that I was recommended by my professor to become an SI/PASS leader for Chem 101. I accepted the offer and started holding SI/PASS sessions for Chem 101 because I really liked helping others during my time as an LA, and so I wanted to commit my time to holding sessions and guiding students towards success by helping them further as a leader. 

What is your favorite thing about being a SI/PASS leader?

My favorite thing about being an SI/PASS leader is seeing, first-hand, the "aha!" moment that arises when students finally understand a difficult concept or idea by coming to the realization of a piece of information that they have missed all along. When I get frustrated on a topic, I generally do some research on it and try to figure out ways to help me understand it better. However, the feeling you get when you learn something from another source, versus being guided in the right direction and figuring it out on your own is very different. When you figure things out, the information stays longer in your head because you own the logic and thought process that is associated with it to some extent. Thus, when students have that "aha!" moment, it makes me feel happy for them since I know that they have left my session learning something or understanding something in a better way. 

Why should students utilize SI/PASS sessions?

Tutoring can greatly help a person improve their grades by not only helping them find an answer, but also by helping them reinforce what they have learned in class. Most college classes require to apply general concepts to bigger and new situations, and by building on the foundations and reinforcing ideas, students can dramatically see improvement in their application skills as well. 

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a SI/PASS session? 

When reading the book, write down any questions that they may have so that they can bring them up to an SI/PASS leader in class or during a tutoring session. This way, students can stay organized and go to a session knowing what topics are to be covered in a session as well as have their own specific questions answered. 

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

For fall of 2017, my SI/PASS sessions are held in Sondheim 103 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00AM- 11:50AM for Chemistry 351. 

by David Hoffman

Celebrate National Tutor Appreciation Week by getting to know Math Lab Tutor Brianna Salmond!

Tell us a little about yourself.

- I am a Math major/ Psych minor here at UMBC. I’ve worked in the Math lab since Fall 2015. I plan on getting my Masters in Education after graduation. 

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

- As stated before, I’ve tutored in the Math Lab since Fall 2015 but I’m also part of the Sherman Scholars Program. I am also a grader/TA in the Math department. 

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

- I got involved with being a tutor because of my Mentor Mrs. Tighe in the Math department. I decided to become a tutor because I knew that when I was in many of other student’s place, I wanted the help. I knew that I wanted to help people that needed help as well. 

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

- My favorite thing about being a tutor is the lightbulb that brightens in the students minds when they finally understand what I’m saying. They have a certain look of accomplishment and I truly appreciate because I made it more clear for them to understand. 

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

- Students should utilize tutoring because it is a resource that is available. Students shouldn’t have to suffer if they don’t understand something that their professor might’ve been vague about. If someone needs a little more help, that doesn’t mean you’re “dumb” or you “just can’t learn”, like some may think. We are here to help and people should feel comfortable taking advantage of that help. No question is a “dumb” question. 

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session? 

- When preparing for a session, DO NOT just come in to say “Okay, teach me stuff.” You should have specific questions already prepared, whether it’s a homework question, practice question, or something that wasn’t clear in class. We are tutors, not professors. 

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

- I am usually in the Math Lab (located in the Library) from 4-5pm on most days. Mondays I am there 4-6pm, Tuesday 4-7pm, Wednesday 4-5pm, and Thursdays 3-6pm. 

Celebrate National Tutor Appreciation Week by getting to know a tutor!

Thomas Chapin

Tell us a little about yourself.

​I'm an Environmental Sciences (B.S.) major, and I aspire to be a Plant Ecologist. I grow a bunch of herbs and ethnobotanical plants (stevia, St. John's wort, etc.). I love to be outdoors and care for and study plants and animals.

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

​Other than tutoring Writing, Environmental Science and Conservation (GES 120) , and Biology 141, I am part of the Garden Club and sometimes I show up to Astronomy Club meetings to talk about space. ​

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

​My instructor suggested that I become a writing tutor after I took English 100 with her. I took the training course and became one because I had always been an effective teacher and loved talking to people about things they are interested in.

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

​My favorite part about being a tutor is the happiness that I feel when someone comes to me lacking direction and passion for their paper and leaves with a newfound hope and interest in the subject matter. I love brainstorming with students to help them find what they find most interesting about a subject, then helping them to develop a question or thesis that explores and answers it.

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

​Tutoring is free and I've found things that could be improved upon in nearly every paper that I've seen. Why would someone pass up a better grade out of pride?​

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session? 

​I would advise that they actually have background knowledge about the subject matter. If they don't know what else to write about, the answer is always to do more research and draw connections with new information. If you do not know something, at least know a reference where it can be found (and cite it).​

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

​Though I only offer a few hours a week ​tutoring in the Writing Center (Tues, Thurs 1-2pm), I often pick up the hours of other tutors when they call out, and I am often doing homework at the writing center. Unfortunately, I'm fully booked tutoring Biology and GES 120, but I'm always available if anyone has questions about the subject matter.