Academic Support Center
The Academic Support Center (ASC) is on the third floor of Thompson Hall. It includes the Writing Center, Math Center, the Open Computer Lab, and the Testing Center. All WCC students and employees are welcome in the ASC, which is open on class days during the fall and spring semesters from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday through Thursday, and from 8 am to 3 pm Friday.
During the 2013 summer term, the Center will be open 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Thursday and from 9 am to noon on Friday.
Ashe and Alleghany students may submit their papers to the Writing Center by email (wccpaperreview@email.wilkescc.edu) for review.
Open Computer Lab
The Open Computer Lab (OCL) has forty-seven computers so that students can access their personal email, Gmail, and Blackboard. They can also work on writing assignments, computer science courses, and research. The OCL has all the software necessary to complete every distance learning course that the College offers. SSC faculty assist students and employees with computer and Microsoft Office questions.
If an instructor wants to reserve computers for a class session, contact Jim Thompson (6565) to make a reservation. He will try to find an empty computer classroom, or he will reserve computers in the OCL.
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Writing Center
The Writing Center (WC) offers free services to all students, faculty, and staff of Wilkes Community College. WCC English instructors will work with you one-on-one to assist with any aspect of the writing process. The WC is a collaborative, supportive, and non-evaluative environment intended to help you with your writing in a way that will foster confidence and competence. Anyone who would like to discuss a piece of writing is welcome to come to the front desk and ask for help. We are here to work with writers on a wide variety of projects, including papers for academic courses, creative writing projects, grant or project proposals, business communications, and course syllabi. We work with writers at any stage of the writing process, from finding and refining topics to editing at the sentence level. If you would like us to read through a paper with you, please do the best job you can and present to us what you consider to be a final draft. Here is a list of useful writing links:
Web site for MLA format, grammar, the writing process, etc.
Web site for APA format
Web Site for The Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr.
Computer Editing Guidelines PDF
Directions for creating an MLA format using Word 2007 PDF
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Testing Center
The Testing Center (TC) provides a secure testing service for distance learning courses, makeup tests, tests for other institutions, etc. In order to take a test in the TC, students must have a photo I.D. A TC instructor will check the I.D. and give out the test, which must be completed at one sitting and before closing time. Click here for the procedure for taking tests from other institutions.
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Math Tutoring
All math students (business math, too) are welcome to take advantage of free, drop-in math tutoring. Just walk in and ask for help!
Click here for math help handouts, etc.
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Writing, Math, and Computer Science Referral System
Question: How can the college help students who have weaker academic skills than the majority of their classmates?
Purpose: To enhance student learning and increase FTE.
Concept: By using the SSC referral system, instructors may ask students who need remedial help to go to the SSC to do work and receive instruction that will improve academic achievement.
Information: This service has traditionally concentrated on math, English, and computer science skills; however, other academic skills that might need remedial work include the ability to follow directions, understand assignments, analyze test questions, manage time, and format in MLA or APA conventions. Instructors in every discipline are encouraged to use this service.
This work has to be extra, not homework that is assigned to a whole class. Instructors in the SSC will help all students who walk in with homework. However, if the work is extra, the College can earn FTE for the hours that the students work. There are three different referral forms which you can access with these hot links: Computer Skills ,Math Skills , and Writing Skills .
A classroom instructor should fill out the appropriate form and give it to his or her student. The student then brings it to Jim Thompson (838-6565) who will consult with the instructor concerning subject matter and teaching strategies. The instructor may provide study materials or SSC faculty will provide them.
Examples: A pharmacology instructor gave his students a test on the basic math skills necessary for completing his course. Several of his students did not do well, so instead of using class time teaching some of his students these skills, he referred them to the SSC for remedial work. After a few hours of instruction, all students passed the test and the hours were reported for FTE credit.
As a hypothetical example, if a student is having trouble understanding a research project, a SSC instructor will teach him or her the processes of understanding an assignment, searching for information, organizing ideas, writing effectively, and formatting correctly.
Internet and hybrid students may particularly benefit from this system because they generally rely on the use of computers more than conventional students do. For instance, a student taking Drama 111 over the Internet may need help on computer skills, such as emailing, managing electronic files, and accessing documents, in order to complete assignments.
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