Wallace State’s Spring 2018 student tutors are, front row, from left, Nancy Tyree, Amanda Matthews, Alex Carter, Ryan Davis and Alex Morrison; back row, from left, Hunter Rusk, Connor Franks, Ben Smith, Isaac Vacheresse and Colby Chapman.
HANCEVILLE – With spring semester beginning this week, Wallace State’s Student Resource Center recently hosted an Open House, allowing faculty and students to meet and get familiar with student tutors available on campus.
“It’s a great time for our faculty to meet our student tutors one-on-one and let them know what we have to offer our students,” said Lisa Smith, Wallace State’s director of special populations and the Student Resource Center.
Wallace State’s Student Resource Center houses the college’s Tutorial Lab, which features 10 student tutors. The Tutorial Lab is open for Wallace State students on Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Smith said the Tutorial Lab served more than 1,000 students during the fall semester, a 244 percent spike over last spring when the lab was introduced.
Freshman Ben Smith is among the new student tutors and spent time getting to know Wallace State math instructor Dr. Lance Boyd, among other instructors, during the open house.
“This is great facility and a good opportunity to help people out. I really wanted to be a part of it and was fortunate enough to earn a spot. It’s a great resource for students,” said Ben Smith, a Cullman graduate. “It’s also a great way to meet fellow students and get to know them better.”
Amanda Matthews, 36, has previously worked as a student tutor at Wallace State and plans to do so in between taking classes at UAB. She recently graduated with a business administration degree from Wallace State.
“I hope to be an accounting instructor one day, so I believe this is a great way for me to give back and help people,” said Matthews, an Oneonta native. “We serve people looking for help with different subjects. We have students come in here just looking to find a footing with projects like an English paper. It’s fun to connect with other students. We try to relieve the stress they may be experiencing.”
Lisa Smith said she’s excited about the spring semester because the student tutors have strengths in a variety of areas, including having a student tutor enrolled in nursing school for the first time.
Wallace State’s tutors plan to visit each class at the beginning of the semester, allowing each student on campus to become aware of the services offered.
“We’ve found that to be the best way for students to know we are here. They’re able to put a face with our student tutors and know it’s a valuable place they can visit,” she said.
For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.
