The College of Lifelong Learning - Jackson State University

COLLEGE OF
LIFELONG LEARNING
Begins
Tutorial
Program
By Millard Bingham
“People don't care how much you know until they know how much you
care. If you want to impress someone, lead from afar, but if you want to
impact a life, you have to come up close.” – John C. Maxwell
One year ago, during the Fall 2011 semester, the
College of Lifelong Learning opened the Academic
Support Clinic (ASC). The ASC provides free
tutorial services in the following areas: Writing,
Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Basic
Computer Skills, and other areas upon request.
Faculty and staff members reported to the College
that some students could benefit from the extra help,
which would enable them to be more successful in
classes. Many of the College’s adult learners have
been out of school for a decade or longer, so it is
easy to understand that they might need to brush up
on some of their subject areas. The College saw a
need and moved quickly to address it.
Students who come to the ASC are administered a
computer-adaptive college placement pre-test
known as COMPASS. After receiving the
COMPASS results an educational plan is developed
to meet students’ individual needs. Students receive
one-on-one, small group, or computer-assisted
tutoring. Once students complete over twenty hours
of instruction, a COMPASS post-test is
administered. Our adult students have indicated that
the ASC is a great help to them, and they really
appreciate that this service has been made available.
Mr. Kimber Camper, Ms. Tamara Herron, Ms.
Angelina Howard, Ms. Cleo Porter, and Ms.
Stephanie Payne, all of whom are staff members in
the College’s Continuing Education Learning
Center, serve as ASC tutors. When asked to reflect
on her work as a clinic instructor, Angelina Howard
indicated that those individuals who serve in the
Academic Support Clinic are not only tutoring.
Howard suggests that the tutors “are changing lives
one at a time, by addressing the students’
educational needs.” Students in the College of
Lifelong Learning come to the clinic trusting that
tutors will show “patience and sincerity.” Howard
firmly believes that “compassion is what allows us
to give of our time, talent, and treasure” to help
those students who come seeking academic support.
The ASC is open on Monday – Thursday from 4:00
p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays by
appointment. The Academic Support Clinic is
located at the Universities Center in Room 1-4. If
you are a student in the PrIS degree program who
would like to take advantage of the Academic
Support Clinic, please call 601-432-6906 to receive
additional information.
Triumph Magazine | 9