To provide a controlled, comfortable environment where STC students can study, do research, use computers and the Internet and receive individual or group tutoring in a variety of subjects. In the pursuit of its mission, the Student Success Centers (SSC) are committed to:

• Maintaining an Accessible and Effective Learning Environment by encouraging and facilitating student participation, by employing the best of traditional and innovative tutoring delivery systems, and by providing facilities and resources conducive to successful tutoring/learning endeavors,
• Compliance with Carl Perkins Grant by providing direct tutoring assistance to Vocational/Technical students and providing complete, accurate and timely documentation,
• Maintaining the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) Certification by ensuring our tutors are qualified and receive the proper amount and type of training for our certification level,
• Seeking Innovative and Creative Means to Tutor Students by initiating and maintaining alliances with faculty, professional associations, and other organizations that are focused on the peer tutoring process,
• Employing the Latest Appropriate Technology and Internet Tools to provide self-paced, measurable learning and group tutoring capabilities on sight or via the Internet.

Student Success Center History

South Texas College was created in 1994. In 1995, the Division of Developmental Studies formed a committe to create an area within the school where students could go for extra help in all subject areas. This led to the establishment of Student Success Centers. The Student Success Centers were first opened to serve Students in 1995. At that time two Student Success Centers were established, each with trained tutors. The first center was opened at the Pecan Campus and the other at the Downtown Campus.

With the dramatic increase in student enrollment at STCC, a critical need arose to establish Success Centers at all sites. In 1997 Student Success Centers were created at the MidValley and Starr County Campuses and at the Center for Advanced and Applied Technology (CAAT) bringing the total number of Student Success Centers to five. In 1999 two other lab assistants were chosen to run the MidValley and Starr County centers. This allowed the Lab Assistant at Pecan and Downtown to concentrate on their sites.

Today, STCC students spend over 50,000 hours in the Student Success Centers every year and the Success Centers employ over 80 tutors in Hidalgo and Starr Counties at five different sites.

About Our Tutoring

The Success Center is an open lab where students can receive academic tutoring in math, English, intensive reading and writing, Spanish, accounting and other specialized subjects. Students may also utilize this lab as a study area or to work on computer projects. Computers and printers are available for the students to work on assignments, to type research papers, or to do academic research on the Internet. Software available for students includes PLATO, Peachtree, and Microsoft Office 2000. All services at the Student Success Center are free of charge.

CRLA Certified

In June of 2003, STCC was awarded Regular/Level I International Tutoring Certification from the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), an international organization of learning assistance professionals comprised of more than 700 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. CRLA certification establishes professional standards for tutoring services, including training and evaluation.

To obtain CRLA certification, a tutor must receive a minimum level of training, exhibit special skills, and have a specified minimum level of experience tutoring students. The certification process enhances the professionalism and effectiveness of the tutoring program and provides the individual tutor with a distinctive achievement recognized internationally. The certification process dictates the modes of training considered to be acceptable and the specific area of training that must be addressed. Specific tutor-selection and tutor-evaluation criteria also must be followed.

To earn CRLA certification as a Regular/Level 1 tutor, a tutor must meet the following general requirements.

• Complete at least 13 topics of formal, required tutor training.
• Complete at least 100 hours of hands-on actual tutoring experience.
  
• Submit a request for certification with a one page essay.
  

Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program that can help improve students’ grades and help them get more out of their classes. The SI program targets traditionally difficult academic courses—those that have a high rate of D or F grades and withdrawals. Academic assistance is delivered by SI Leaders.

The SI Leaders are model students who have demonstrated competence in the subject and who present an appropriate model of thinking, organization and mastery of the discipline. All SI leaders take part in an intensive two-day training session before the beginning of the academic term. This training covers such topics as how students learn as well as instructional strategies aimed at strengthening student academic performance, data collection and management details. The SI Leader attends all classes for the designated section, takes notes, reads all assigned materials and provides regularly scheduled out-of-class review sessions. They are also responsible for collecting data to evaluate the program.

Assistance begins at the beginning of the semester. During the first class session, the SI Leader describes SI and surveys the class to establish a schedule for SI that will be convenient for most students who show interest. From these surveys, the SI Leader schedules three or more SI sessions per week. SI sessions normally occur in classrooms near the course classroom instead of in the Student Success Center.

SI sessions are open to all students in the course and are attended on a voluntary basis. SI sessions are comprised of students of varying abilities and no effort is made to segregate students based on academic ability.

Courses with SI attached are indicated in the course schedule or you may call 872-6445 for more information.