“People tell you that in college you are on your own – but that isn’t the case at Otterbein — there are so many people and resources here to help you.”

Joseline Martinez-Cortez

Academic Support Center & Disability Services

Location: Courtright Memorial Library, Second Floor, 138 W. Main St.
Hours: Monday – Friday (8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
Phone: 614-823-1610
Fax: 614-823-1983

The mission of the Academic Support Center is to help students develop and strengthen the skills necessary to attain their academic goals. Through collaboration with students, faculty, and staff the ASC supports students in becoming independent, lifelong learners in an accessible, student-centered environment. We facilitate the development of learning strategies and skills in partnership with peers and professionals through tutoring, academic coaching, academic courses, and other learner-focused services.

Academic Workshops

Our Academic Success Workshop Series is offered fall and spring semesters and covers such topics as time management, test anxiety, learning styles, test taking tips, and finals prep.

All ASC workshops are free and open to Otterbein students. Our workshops are offered on several days throughout the semester. Please refer to the schedule below for exact dates and times.

Workshop Descriptions

Schedule and Locations – Screen-Reader Friendly

Schedule and Locations

Register for a Workshop

Questions?

Beth Derringer, M.A.
Coordinator, Math Support Services
Library, Room #215
614.823.1823
bderringer@otterbein.edu

Academic Coaching

What is Academic Coaching?

Have you ever studied for hours and still felt like you didn’t know the material? Do you need to develop a plan to accomplish your goals?  Do you ever wonder where all your time goes?

Academic coaching is a personalized, one-on-one meeting with an academic coach who can help you work on such academic and life skills including:

  • Organization and time management.
  • Avoiding procrastination.
  • Pre-planning of projects and creating study schedules.
  • Seeking help from professors.
  • Signing up for tutoring and utilization of campus resources.
  • Improving and using effective study skills an strategies.
  • Balancing study time and social time.
  • Handing in assignments and projects on time.
  • Meeting with an advisor to pick appropriate classes.
  • Getting enough sleep and proper nutrition.
  • Being accountable and making good choices.

Questions?

Kristy Drobney, Ph.D.
Director
Library, Room #225
614.823.1362
kdrobney@otterbein.edu

 

Classes

The Academic Support Center offers the following courses:

ASC 1100 – Learning Strategies for College Success
Hours: 2
Designed to help students develop effective learning and study strategies. Emphasizes critical reading strategies, study techniques, and time management.
Prerequisites: By placement or instructor permission.

ASC 0150 – Writing Workshop
Hours: 1
Provides a scaffold for the assignments required in INST 1502. By placement only.  Coreq: INST 1502.

 

In addition to these courses, Academic Support Center faculty also teach the following courses:

MATH 0900 – Prerequisite to College Mathematics
Hours: 3
Intermediate algebra topics: polynomial arithmetic and factoring; integer and rational exponents; linear equations and inequalities in one and two variables and their graphs; absolute value equations and inequalities; systems of equations; introduction to functions; quadratic equations; rational and radical expressions and equations; applications and models.
Note: Earned hours are not applicable towards graduation requirements.

MATH 0960 – Support Topics for Precalculus
Hours: 1
Supplementary instruction on essential college algebra topics that include factoring polynomials, solving equations, interpreting graphs, and operating on rational expressions, exponents, and radicals. Coreq: MATH 1250. Note:  earned hours are not applicable towards graduation requirements.

MATH 1250 –  Precalculus
Hours: 3
The behavior of functions: polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric and inverse trigonometric; solving equations and inequalities, and applications of elementary functions.  

INST 1502 – Situated Selves – Writing Intensive
Hours: 3
Foregrounding the studies of literature and writing, exploring identity in a rich range of local and global contexts. Topics may center on interpersonal identities, engaging the intricacies of love, family, or friendship. Or they may examine social categories of identity – gender, sexuality, race, class, ethnicity, age, nation, and more – or investigate cultural constructions of difference. Or they may examine political identities, studying identity in national and transnational frameworks. Subtopics may include “Identity and Intimacy,” “Criminal Identities,” “The Stranger,” “Disaster Narratives,” “Identity and Human Rights,” “Our Monsters, Our Selves,” or “Reading and Writing the Road.” Reading novels, plays, memoirs, essays, poems, or short stories. Expository writing skills are nurtured, as well as reflective, persuasive, imaginative, or autobiographical writing skills, including at least two thesis essays.
Prerequisites: Not open to students with credit for INST 1501 or 1503.

EDUC 0901 – Standardized Test Prep: Reading
Hours: 1
Education students learn to derive meaning from and accurately interpret written texts. Students extend their ability to determine meanings of words, phrases, and extended passages on standardized examinations. Students may take practice tests throughout the course. All education students who do not meet standardized test requirements will be required to take the appropriate test preparation course(s). Hours do not count towards graduation requirements.

EDUC 0902 – Writing for Education Students
Hours: 1
Students improve ability to compose organized, cohesive essays with audience-appropriate language/vocabulary, appropriate evidentiary supports, fully developed conclusions, and few mechanical errors. Electronic communications are also discussed. Hours do not count towards graduation requirements.

EDUC 0903 – Standardized Test Prep: Math
Hours: 1
Education students review key content areas in mathematics such as arithmetic, rational numbers, ratio and proportional relationships, exponents, algebraic expressions, linear equations/graphs/applications, probability, sets, descriptive statistics, and geometry. Students may take practice tests throughout the course. All education students who do not meet standardized test requirements will be required to take the appropriate test preparation course(s). Hours do not count towards graduation requirements.

We are here to help you achieve your academic goals!

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Academic Support Center and Disability Services Location and Hours

Location:  Courtright Memorial Library, Second Floor in the Back

Office Hours:  Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phone: 614-823-1610

Fax:  614-823-1983

Frequently Asked Questions

Academic Support Center

Where are you located?
On the second floor of the Courtright Memorial Library, in the far back.

How much does a student have to pay for tutoring?
Tutoring is a free service offered by the university to all Otterbein students.

Content Tutoring

How often can I visit a tutor?
Students are allowed to visit a tutor for a specific course up to three times per week.

How should a student prepare for a tutoring appointment?
Students should prepare for a tutoring appointment by first completing assigned readings and course work. Then, students can bring specific questions with them to discuss with a tutor. If a student habitually comes unprepared, the tutor may cancel the appointment until the student becomes prepared.

For which courses is tutoring offered?
Tutoring is offered for many knowledge based courses. If a student requests a tutor for a knowledge based course for which we don’t have a tutor, we will attempt to find a tutor in a timely manner.

How long is a typical appointment?
Most appointments are an hour long.

Math Lab

How much do I have to pay to get tutoring?
Tutoring is a free service offered by the university to all Otterbein students.

How do I use the Math Lab?
The math lab is open for many hours for the entire week. You can just walk in during open hours, work on your homework and ask questions when you get stuck.

Why do we need to check in to use the math lab?
We keep records of all of the visits to the math lab, so that we are able to staff the lab with enough tutors of the right subjects.

Writing Center

How much do I have to pay to get tutoring?
Tutoring is a free service offered by the university to all Otterbein students.

How do I use the Writing Center?
The Writing Center is open for many hours for the entire week. You can just walk in during open hours and receive help by the next available writing assistant.

Why do we need to check in to use the Writing Center?
We keep records of all of the visits to the Writing Center, so that we are able to staff the lab with enough tutors of the right subjects.

How should I prepare for my visit?
Come prepared with:

  • Specific questions or concerns about the assignment.
  • Twenty to thirty minutes to spend in a session.
  • Enough time before assignment is due to make change.

Academic Support Center and Disability Services Staff

Contact the Academic Support Center

“I’ll be graduating this year. I just wanted to say thank you for all you and your team have done for me over the last four years. I truly wouldn’t have been able to do it without you!”

Academic Support Center Client