When recent storms took out electrical power at the Academic Resource Center (ARC) on the Main Campus at Bainbridge College, the staff of 27 student tutors did not let that stop their work—especially so near the time for final exams.

“They taught by candlelight, using the candles they had saved from our Relay for Life event,” said ARC Director Lori Hancock.

“We do whatever it takes to serve our clients,” she said.

Part of what that takes is regular training of ARC tutors in addition to their efforts to encourage the students they help.

To improve their skills as tutors of adult learners, 17 ARC members attended the 9th Annual Georgia Tutoring Association (GATA) Conference at Macon State College.

Kuhn-Hancock led the panel discussion “Tutors’ Needs” to explore what tutors want from their students, coordinators and themselves.

At the GATA Conference, the BC group chose various workshops instead of attending the same sessions so that they could acquire as much new information and new tutoring techniques as possible. At the bi-weekly ARC meeting after the conference they shared what they had learned with each other and the tutors who could not attend GATA.

Those attending GATA, 12 from Main Campus and five from the Early County Site, received certificates of participation and membership in GATA for the year.

Sessions they attended at the winter conference included Best Practices in Tutoring Math Students, Writing Tutoring: The Least You Should Know to Write a Basic Essay, and Tutoring the Adult Learner.

In addition to peer tutoring at the center, tutors sometimes attend class with new students, such as displaced workers whose companies have closed. BC tutors help teach academic skills that are also covered in workshops that ARC provides periodically. Workshops cover topics such as listening skills, academic etiquette, time management, skills for note taking, test taking and studying.

Outstanding Master Student Awards

BC students who take advantage of the peer tutoring services offered at ARC are eligible for consideration as Master Students, selected by their tutors, and for the Outstanding Master Student (OMS) award, which grew out of the long established Master Student recognition.

OMS recognition, which includes a monetary reward, encourages students for diligence in their studies and academic improvement. The monetary award comes through OMS funds established in 2008 with the BC Foundation.

OMS recipients include Sharon Vaughns and Cynthia Knight.

Master Students who compete for the OMS award are also recognized and receive certificates. These awards are given by the ARC tutors who work with the students. Tutors themselves select their student who was most faithful in attendance or most tenacious in getting through their course.