University Learning Center

The University Learning Center (ULC) is dedicated to providing academic support to The New School’s diverse student population through one-on-one tutoring sessions and other services. Our primary goal is to help students become stronger and more independent learners so that they may be successful in achieving their academic goals.

Individual tutoring sessions are offered in the following areas: Adobe Creative Cloud, Computer Programming, ESL services, general and graduate-level writing, math and economics, oral presentations, and time management.

Students can book an appointment via Starfish or they can stop by for a walk-in session during our regular hours.

Tutoring Services

• Adobe Creative Suite

  Adobe Creative Suite tutoring sessions are available for students who need help with Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and other Adobe programs. Students are encouraged to bring their laptops so that tutors can help with layout, typography, color, typeface, etc. Sessions are 50 minutes long and can be booked on Starfish; students may also try for a walk-in session.

• Computer Programming

  Computer programming sessions are available for students who need help with a variety of coding languages (see below). Trained tutors can help you with the basics, works-in-progress, and other issues. Students are asked to bring their laptops and any projects they are working on. Please note that all the tutors in this service have different specialties.

  Areas in which we currently offer support: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Arduino, GitHub, Processing, Unity, C++, and Python.

  For details, check the "Computer Programming" service in Starfish, where you can also schedule an appointment.

• ESL

  ESL-certified tutors provide support in writing, speaking, and pronunciation. For those seeking assistance with writing, tutors can help with grammar, content, structure, clarity, etc. ESL speech appointments are available for students looking to expand their vocabulary, improve their pronunciation, and practice presentations and daily conversation. At the same time, speech appointments provide students with a valuable opportunity to enhance their listening skills.

• General Writing

  General writing appointments are available for writers at all skill levels. Tutors can help at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming ideas to developing an outline or rough draft to revising and editing.

• Graduate Writing

  Graduate-level tutoring is available for students currently enrolled in a master's or PhD program. Tutors, who are themselves advanced PhD students, provide assistance with research papers, thesis and dissertation proposals, papers for publication, and other written work.

• Math

  Math tutors can provide assistance with the following subjects:

  • Calculus
  • Economics
  • Math Merchandising
  • Math Tools
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • SPSS
  • Statistics

  If you need help with another subject, contact learningcenter@newschool.edu and we will try to accommodate you.

• Time Management

  Individual Time Management appointments are available for students looking to better structure and plan their time. Tutors can help with managing short- and long-term assignments, budgeting time, creating an agenda (daily, weekly, etc.), and avoiding procrastination.

   

Appointments

• Scheduled

  All University Learning Center appointments can be scheduled on Starfish. 

  To make an appointment:

  • Log in to Starfish.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page until you see "Your Services," and click "Show Other Services."
  • Scroll through the options and choose the service that best suits your needs: ESL, General Writing, Graduate Writing, Math, Adobe, Time Management, or Computer Programming. 
  • Select "Schedule" to pull up available dates and times for tutoring appointments.
  • Choose the day and time that work best for you, then click "Continue." You must click "Confirm" to complete your reservation. You will immediately receive a confirmation email from Starfish; if you do not receive one, the appointment was not booked.
  • Optional: You can view tutor information by clicking on the banner of the service you wish to make an appointment for (e.g., Learning Center — General Writing). Click on the downward arrow that appears to the right of the tutor’s name, and select “View Profile.”

  Students may have only two tutoring sessions scheduled with the ULC at a time, regardless of the subject. Please see our Overbooking Policy for more information.

• Walk-Ins

  Walk-in writing appointments are available every hour from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Students can try for a Time Management, Math, or Adobe walk-in session when a tutor is available, but we cannot guarantee availability, as there are fewer tutors for those subjects.

  Students can be seen for a walk-in session on the hour up until 20 minutes past the hour as long as they are present in the University Learning Center waiting room and signed in to the Kiosk. Arriving early increases one’s chances of meeting with a tutor.

• Weekly and Biweekly Appointments

  Students can request an appointment in which they meet with the same tutor at a fixed time either every week or every other week. Weekly appointments are available for writing and math sessions. This service is particularly useful for students working on longer assignments and those who plan to visit the ULC frequently throughout the semester.

  Students can request a weekly appointment by emailing us. Requests for the spring 2019 semester are processed on a rolling basis starting February 11 and will not accepted after March 15.

• Two-Hour Appointments

  Graduate students with particularly lengthy and/or challenging pieces of writing can schedule a two-hour appointment. Students must email us to request a two-hour appointment and are allowed only two per semester. Students who have not been to the ULC before are encouraged to first schedule a one-hour appointment before requesting a two-hour session, as a one-hour session is often sufficient. Students may not book another ULC appointment on Starfish until after their two-hour appointment is over.

  The University Learning Center is unable to schedule two-hour appointments during Finals and on Saturdays, as there is a high demand for services during those times.

• Online Appointments

  Online students and those unable to make it to our office in person can request Zoom appointments. Students must first schedule an appointment on Starfish, then email us the session details at least three business hours in advance, so that we are aware that an online session is being requested. Without advance notice, the ULC may be unable to set up the Zoom session during the first 20 minutes of the appointment, which could result in a "no-show." Students must also paste their paper and, if possible, their assignment sheet into a shared Google Doc before their appointment.

Special ESL Services

• Pronunciation Group

  Are you struggling with your English pronunciation? Are you frustrated by people asking you to repeat yourself or not understanding you? If you answered yes to either of these questions, consider taking a free pronunciation class with the English Language Studies Center. In this class, you will train your muscles to correctly produce sounds in English, learn where stress falls in words and sentences, master correct intonation, learn to differentiate between similar sounds, and gain confidence in speaking. Please contact ELSC for more info.
• Conversation Group

  Join our weekly conversation group, with activities and games designed to expand your English speaking, listening, and vocabulary skills. The group meets every Thursday from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. (feel free to bring your lunch) beginning Thursday, February 14, for the spring 2019 semester. The sessions are informal, so there is no need to sign up in advance. All we ask is that you come ready to participate and have fun.