About the CLE
Welcome to the Centers for Learning Excellence at South Texas College. All tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, and academic skills instruction is provided free of charge to any STC student. For faculty and staff personalized support, visit our Faculty/Staff Collaboration Requests page.
Our Mission
The Centers for Learning Excellence (CLE) work closely with campus partners to promote student academic success while fostering independent, lifelong learning. Our knowledgeable staff create equitable, collaborative learning support experiences in a welcoming environment for all members of our community.
Our Vision
Leading the field by setting the new standard in collaborative learning support and student success.
Tutoring
On-site or online, individually or in a group
Academic Coaching
Develop college survival skills to set and track goals for success
TSI Preparation
Individualized support on-site or online
Supplemental Instruction
Facilitated group study sessions connected to a specific class
Embedded Tutoring
Access to a tutor in the class or course shell
Student Success Workshops
Self-paced online workshops or scheduled onsite events
Independent Study
Tracked study time and access to study rooms in the CLE
CRLA Certification 
International Center for Supplemental Instruction Accreditation 
ACTLA Certification 
Professional Development CRLA Certification
The CLE trains staff using internationally recognized standards from the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). Our training program is authorized to recognize tutors and SI Leaders for meeting International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) requirements at three levels: Certified, Advanced, & Master.
International Center for Supplemental Instruction Accreditation
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a proven collaborative learning support program featuring student-led study sessions to review material, build critical thinking, and practice learning strategies. In 2025, the CLE's SI program earned international accreditation, confirming it meets rigorous standards and offers meaningful peer-learning experiences. This recognition demonstrates our commitment to providing a flexible, student-centered program grounded in research-based practices.
ACTLA Certification
CLE's online tutoring services are credentialed through the Association of Colleges for Tutoring and Learning Assistance (ACTLA). The ACTLA Online Tutoring Program Certification is awarded to online tutoring programs that meet or exceed rigorous professional standards for tutoring methodology, technological innovation, and other programmatic considerations.
Professional Development
The Centers for Learning Excellence provides professional learning opportunities beyond certification to further enhance career and skills development through collaborative workshops tailored to the needs and goals of our staff.
How the CLE Began
South Texas College was founded in 1993. An early priority of the Division of Developmental Studies was to designate a department where students could receive tutoring and other academic assistance. The first two Student Success Centers were located at the Pecan and Downtown campuses. The department was later renamed the Centers for Learning Excellence (CLE). Today, there are seven locations offering online and in-person support, including a completely online CLE, and centers at the Mid-Valley, Nursing and Allied Health, Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence, Starr County, and Technology campuses.
Sylvia Esterline
In the early 1920's, five-year-old Sylvia Esterline immigrated from Russia with her family seeking a better life and a new start in Boston, Massachusetts. To help support her family, Esterline, one of six children, worked for many years in a mattress factory. Sylvia’s marriage to Indiana native Herman Esterline eventually brought her to the Rio Grande Valley. Herman worked for more than 30 years as a mechanic for Texaco and nine years at Calvin Bentsen’s Ridgegate Ranch prior to retiring. During their marriage, the couple led a simple life and saved diligently. After Herman’s death, Sylvia became a student of the stock market, managing their nest-egg into a considerable fortune.
When she passed away in 2003, Sylvia named South Texas College as the prime beneficiary of her estate. Her $1.9 million donation allowed for the creation of the 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art Sylvia Esterline Student Success Center on the Pecan Campus in McAllen. The College celebrated the building dedication on September 20, 2006 with the unveiling of a portrait of Esterline, which remains on display at the Center (see below). Today, the Center is one of six locations for the Centers for Learning Excellence (CLE), offering tutoring, study rooms, and other academic support services for STC students and the community. The CLE continues to remember Sylvia and her family for their contributions.
Responding to Changes
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced closures in 2020, the CLE rapidly transitioned to fully online services, building a virtual learning center in a matter of only four days. Today, access to online tools and support remains a permanent part of CLE offerings, proudly reflecting the CLE’s commitment to accessibility and our dedication to serving the STC community.
Trailblazing in Our Industry
On April 11, 2023, the CLE was awarded an Online Tutoring Program Certification through the Association of Colleges for Tutoring and Learning Assistance (ACTLA). This certification serves as a national endorsement of the quality of the CLE’s online tutoring services. The CLE was the first learning center in Texas to achieve this recognition, and ninth in the nation. Building on that tradition of innovation and excellence, in August 2025 the CLE became the first community college learning center in Texas to earn accreditation through the International Center for Supplemental Instruction (ICSI).
