As 25-year-old Ana Hernandez walked into the crowded tutorial center on the Fresno City College campus, she was a little reluctant to ask for help because she had never sought help in any class she had taken before.

Hernandez, third year student and history major, walked up to the front counter and told the front clerk she needed help in math 103. The clerk looked at the schedule and told her a session would be starting in 15 minutes.

This is all it takes for any State Center Community College District [SCCCD] student like Hernandez, to get signed up at the tutorial center for help they need in any class they may be struggling in.

“I have always had trouble in math, so when I came in to the tutoring center I was hoping to get help in understanding my crazy hard class,” Hernandez said.

“At first I felt weird coming in, but once I saw there was other students like me struggling in the same class, I felt a lot better,” Hernandez said. “I am so glad they make it so easy to come in and sign up.”

According to Eric Sanders, extending the class coordinator, the tutorial center is doing great this semester and is serving more than 2,000 students, including the Extending the Class Program [ETC], and the Drop in Tutorial Program.

“Tutoring is always a good option if you are struggling in a class and there is some material you don’t understand,” Sanders said. “Tutoring is a great way to help you understand that particular material.”

“It is also a great way to help you get organized; the tutor can help you with your lessons and have a strategy on how and what to study,” Sanders said.

It is a sentiment felt by fourth year tutor for Statistics and Research Methods, Matthew Islas, who said learning how to study is key to understanding material. But, he said the student must take the first step to come in to learn these studying tactics.

“I think that is the hardest thing for students, actively making time and setting time for them to come in,” Islas said.

“It is always a struggle, it’s always so difficult for them, so I would recommend for them to just come in so they realize that it is beneficial, and that they can get a lot out of it,” Islas added. “I think students are surprised when they actually do come in.”

Islas said that tutoring is not a negative thing and students should change their views of it because any type of student can need help.

“We get the A students, the B students and of course we do get the lower end as well, so it shouldn’t be looked at as a negative thing because a lot of good things have happened and it is what changed my career choice,” Islas said. “It can have that kind of impact if you let it and the first step is to come in.”

Sanders also reminds students that the center is always looking for good quality tutors to meet demand and that anyone interested in tutoring could find the application link on the FCC Wise website.

Other open positions include an extended class leader or a drop-in tutor.

The tutorial center is located in the University Mall between the Library and the Learning Resource Center.

The hours are as follows:
Mondays-Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.