Mission

The staff of the Learning Center strives to support the college in its mission to help students think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, act responsibly, and to demonstrate local and world citizenship. We guide our students to:

• plan, organize, and set goals based on self-understanding
  
• become aware of and draw on personal and cognitive strengths
  
• link current education to long-term goals
  
• become active and independent learners
  
• make decisions for healthy and positive outcomes
  
• continue to develop respect for themselves and others, and
  
• appreciate the merits of hard work and perseverance.
  

Summary of Services

The Learning Center offers assistance to students who are interested in enhancing their academic performance. Through individual conferencing and small group classes, individuals are encouraged to target and correct problems that interfere with academic functioning and to use cognitive strengths to deepen their learning process. The College Study Strategies class (COLL-104) is designed to assist with the academic adjustment to the college setting. All WVWC students have access to class instruction and individual guidance from a Learning Center staff member, may participate in the Walk-In Peer Tutoring Program, and use computer software programs to broaden skills in research, writing, reading, vocabulary development, and study techniques.

The College is strongly committed to providing excellent support to students with documented learning disabilities and attention difficulties. Our comprehensive program provides an excellent base of foundational services and two fee-based, optional programs assisting with the transition to college level academics.

The foundational service is an individually structured program that accommodates students with varying needs. Master’s level professionals in the fields of Education, Educational Psychology, Special Education, Counseling, and Reading work to help each student design strategies for academic success. Students who enroll in our optional fee-based programs, on a semester-by-semester basis, will also be served by the foundational services prior, during, and after enrollment in either of the programs described below.

One optional fee-based service is an individualized clinical learning program that focuses on the improvement of reading and math skills and language comprehension. Students work with instructors who have been trained in Lindamood-Bell ® Learning Techniques. Consistent application with this approach will improve skills required for accurate decoding, quick word recognition, and comprehension for the increased volume of information facing today’s college student. Test scores and improved academic performance have validated a record of success with our students. Those interested in receiving instruction in this technique should contact the Director of the Learning Center.

Our second fee-based service, the Mentor Advantage Program, provides an innovative support developed from research on the transition and persistence of postsecondary students with learning disabilities and from self-regulated learning theory. It is designed to create a bridge to academic regulation in the college environment. The program is composed of four elements: organizational mentoring, strategic content tutoring, small group discussion, and evening check-in.

The student enrolled in the Mentor Advantage Program will meet with professional tutoring staff several hours each week to organize and carry out coursework preparation. The organizational strategy sessions will train the student to develop, continue, and adapt overarching plans for the semester. The strategic content tutoring sessions focus on the student managing the pace of specific coursework. Weekly discussion that focuses on adapting to college life and developing student self-regulation during the first two semesters is the main goal of the small group discussion. Evening check-in provides enrolled students with structured study times and access to a professional tutor 15 hours per week in a specified Learning Center study area.

Finally, the staff of the Learning Center oversees the provision of services and accommodations for all Wesleyan students with diagnosed disabilities. Students who believe they may need disability-related accommodations should contact the Director of the Learning Center for more detailed information about procedures for receiving appropriate adjustments.