Battalion
Page 3A • Monday, August 30, 1999
FOR COLLECE
xas A&M students enjoy academic resources beyond study buddies
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BY SUZANNE BRABECK
The Battalion
s freshmen are dropped off and left
nd their way, dazed and confused,
exas A&M, many services are reach-
out to ensure academic success for
Class of 2003.
here are advertisements on and
around campus for freshmen needing
just a little help making the transition
a high school to college,
hough academic assistance may be
lething associated with underclass-
1, older students who are on scholas-
probation or who have had too re-
Ing of a summer may be inclined to
lip into the academic resources avail-
Je to them, as well.
Jrhe Center for Academic Enhance-
Bnt, in the Blocker building, has six
programs within its division to help stu
dents succeed in college.
artha Josephy, a lecturer for the
iter of Academic Enhancement, said
Academic Assistance Clearing
|use, a lesser-known program, is a
id resource. This Website,
://www.tamu.edu/aac/, is a link to
er academic resources and even
le class notes.
J“Many students don’t know about
is resource; students really need to
Ik at our Website,” Josephy said.
[“There are many tools available that
;e here to help students do well at
M.”
The service provides a calendar of
demic-assistance programs and ser-
iles, which are free of charge and
range from access to old tests, Supple-
Bntal Instruction (SI), a list of depart
mental contacts, lecture notes and re
view sessions.
For students who are lucky enough
not to have 8 a.m. classes and who can
roll out of bed, both drop-in tutoring
and tutoring by appointment are avail
able from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday by faculty members.
There are two labs in Blocker, a math
lab in room 526 and a reading and writ
ing lab in room 524.
If these hours are not sufficient
enough or convenient for students,
there is also an online Aggie tutor avail
able for those after-hour problems.
For students who require a personal
touch, many core curriculum classes
benefit from the assistance of the SI pro
gram.
“Supplemental Instruction is a na
tionwide program that targets harder
classes to improve academic perfor
mance and retention,” Josephy said.
“Harder” is defined by two different
criteria: a class’s high enrollment or a
class’s history of many Q-drops, Jose
phy said.
However, most of the classes that
have Sis are lower level classes.
“Sis are 50 minutes long and are of
fered three times a week,” Josephy said.
“A national statistic shows that stu
dents who attend 10 or more sessions in
a semester improve their grade by half
to a whole letter grade.”
SI leaders are undergraduate students
who attend the core curriculum class
every day, take notes and do the re
quired reading for the class and serve as
a free resource for students.
To be an SI leader students must have
excelled in the class and have been
trained in learning and study strategies.
Nicole Anatalffy, a junior biomedical
science major, said free tutoring and Sis
are a great idea because it provides ex
tra help geared toward the specific pro
fessor.
“SI sessions are nice because they
make the learning environment smaller
since not many people attend Sis,” Ana
talffy said.
“This smaller environment makes
many timid students more comfortable
asking questions, and in my experience,
SI leaders are more approachable than
professors.”
Educators say there is a wide variety
of learning styles.
While many students honestly need
extra help,.some academic services also
cater to both the procrastinator and
partier.
Entrepreneurs have tapped into the
opportunity to both help and profit
from students, which is evident by the
numerous tutoring services listed in
the Yellow Pages.
The typical “tutoring” business has
both small group and individual tutor
ing to help students with classes with
high enrollment or difficult material.
Kristy Rodgers, a senior animal sci
ence and agricultural economics major,
and a student manager for Notes-N-
Quotes, said lecture notes are popular
with students who have more time than
money
“We have 150 to 160 packets for
different classes that cover a
wide range of classes,”
Rodgers said.
“The employees that take the class
notes, in the predominately lower-level
classes, are usually graduate students or
seniors. ”
Whether it is just purchasing or pur
loining lecture notes or full-blown tutor
ing, students at A&M have a variety of re
sources to help them despite late nights,
broken alarm clocks and homework-
munching pets.
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Student Counseling Service
Division of Student Affairs
Texas A&M University
What is group counseling
and how can it help?
Group counseling involves about four to ten people
meeting with one or two counselors serving as group
leaders. Group leaders work to provide a safe, confi
dential environment where group members are free to
discuss their problems and concerns. Through the
group, members identify with others who are experi
encing similar issues and increase their self-awareness
by obtaining genuine and honest feedback.
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How much you talk about yourself depends on what
you are comfortable with. You can benefit from group
even when you are saying little because you will learn
about yourself as others talk about their cdncerns.
Make an appointment at the SCS to^
speak to a screening counselor
or to help you determine if a
group might benefit you.
Henderson Hall
845-4427
www.scs.tamu.edu
Fall 1999 Groups
Biofeedback Workshops
Thursdays 5 - 6:30 PM
One-session workshops that give an introduction to relaxation
techniques, including how biofeedback aids in relaxation.
Individual follow-up consultation is available.
Facilitator: Carlos Orozco
Conflict and Loss in Relationships
Mondays 3 - 4:30 PM
This group is for students who are currently or have previously experi
enced conflict in interpersonal or romantic relationships, or who have
recently experienced a loss of a meaningful relationship.
Facilitators: Brian Williams & Ronke Lattimore
Dissertation / Thesis Support Group
Wednesdays 5 - 6:30 PM
This group is for graduate students who are struggling in the
process of writing a thesis or dissertation. Group topics include
issues of competence, procrastination, anxiety, goal-setting, and
bureaucratic struggles.
Facilitators: Brian Williams & Mara Latts
Eating Concerns & Body Image Issues
Wednesdays 3 - 4:30 PM
The purpose of this group is to increase insight about eating
problems and make progress toward recovery. Group topics
include daily eating and exercise behaviors, dealing with others
about food issues, developing trusting relationships, expressing
feelings, and managing stress. A PHYSICIAN’S RELEASE IS
REQUIRED FOR GROUP PARTICIPATION.
Facilitators: Debbie Rabinowitz & Mara Latts
Empowering Yourself
Mondays 1:30 - 3 PM
A group for men and women with sexual molestation in their
pasts. Identifying and exploring aftereffects of abuse will be the
focus. Handling relationships, building self-esteem, and gaining
personal power are emphasized.
Facilitators: Robert Carter & Mara Latts
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, TLansgendered
Mondays 3 - 4:30 pm
This group will meet on various topics such as relationship
issues, religious coricerns, self-esteem, and coming out to fami
ly and friends.
Facilitators: Mary Ann Moore & Arnie Abies
International/Multicultural Discussion Group
Wednesdays 4:30 - 6:15 PM
A discussion group for 1) international students who want to
learn about Aggie culture, U.S. culture, and to improve their
English skills by interacting with native English speakers and 2)
for U.S. students who are interested in interacting and sharing
their cultural heritages with international students.
Facilitators: Gisela Lin & Leen Batra
Mind / Body Relationship
Thursday 3 - 4:30 PM
.There is strong evidence of the mind / body connection.
Through Tai Chi, Yoga, relaxation, and discussion with others
this group will allow you to learn about yourself, explore your
spirituality, and learn to manage stress.
Facilitators: Ron Lutz & Mara Latts
Multicultural Issues & Relationships
Tuesdays 5 - 6:30 PM
The purpose of this group is to increase awareness of
multicultural issues and improve communication and
self-confidence when dealing with multicultural relation
ships. Group topics include, but not limited to, cultural
shock,; cultural, religious, and social differences; and
bicultural/multicultural relationships issues. The group
is open to all students.
Facilitators: Gisela Lin & Arnie Abies
Texas A&M has a strong institutional commitment to the principle
of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, admission to Texas A&M
University and any of its sponsored programs is open to all qualified
individuals without regard to subgroup, class or stereotype.
Personal Growth Group
Tuesday (Group 1) 8:30 - 10 am
Tuesday (Group 2) 5 - 6:30 pm
Thursday (Group 3) 1:30 - 3 pm
These groups facilitate self-exploration and personal
growth through interaction with other students.
Facilitators: Ron Lutz & Leena Batra (group 1)
Ron Lutz & Heidi Koehler (group 2)
Nancy Welch &c Carlos Orozco (group 3)
Older Than Traditional Age
Thursdays 3 - 4:30 PM
This group addresses concerns that differ from those of the tra
ditional undergraduate student. Potential topics are marriage,
divorce, office politics,' committee chairpersons, dissertation
projects, and dealing with children or partners.
Facilitators: Robert Carter & Heidi Koehler
Psychopharmacolocial Support
Mondays 5 - 6:30 PM
This group will provide students an opportunity to relate
to and get support from others who are on psychiatric
medication. Potential topics include self-esteem issues,
family variables, and coping strategies.
Facilitators: Steve Strawn & Robert Carter
"Women of Color
Thursdays 4 - 5:30 PM
Join with other women of color to explore issues and concerns
related to culture, relationships, self-esteem, body image and
other issues pertinent to the group.
Facilitators: Ronke Lattimore & Gisela Lin
Women’s Self-Esteem Group
Wednesdays 3 - 4:30 PM
Come together with other women and work on becoming the
woman you’ve always wanted to be! Improve your self-confi
dence, assertiveness, and relationships. Leave your guilt and
self-doubt at the door!
Facilitators: Nancy Welch & Ronke Lattimore