New Installments at the Academic Skills Center
Registration is no longer required
by Tina Munoz
Campus Life Editor
The Academic Skills Center (ASC) is located adjacent to the Social Science building and juxtaposed to the Math Science and Technology building and the Math building. Their Mission Statement is as follows, “The Tutoring & Academic Skills Centers support independent study by providing tutorial services and instructional technologies to improve student knowledge and skills in reading, English, English as a Second Language, and foreign languages.”
The labs no longer require student registration. Now hosting two touch screen computers which are specifically for students use. When asked about how having to register to use the lab, a student, Mariana Alvarado said, “Not having to register has made it much easier, not having to get a signature from a professor, the removal of this process has made me prefer going to the ASC.”
There are four different rooms and each room has approximately 32 computers. All of the computers are used for different purposes. There is a main computer area that students can use for printing, writing essays or any homework, there is also a section devoted strictly to math and science; and foreign language has its own room altogether.
The ASC also hosts 3 Ping Pong tables which are available for students. Laptops, calculators, headphones, and magnifying tools are available for students use as well. All of these items are for on campus student use only. ”Laptops were brought into the lab so that students do not have to leave the classroom if there are no computers available,” said Instructional Support Specialist Tanya Bogarin.
Tutors are also available from 10am to 6pm Monday through Thursday. “The lab does have textbooks available for tutors so that they are up to date on what the student is working on, mainly math and science,” continued Borgrin.
There are two other centers, one is located in Mecca and the other in Indio, both are located on the campus extensions. The labs are open from 8am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and on Fridays from 8am to 4:30pm.