Academic Learning Commons
Overview
The Academic Learning Commons (ALC) at UW Bothell is a collaborative hub designed to support student’s academic success across disciplines. Located in UW2*, the ALC offers free services such as tutoring, coaching, peer-led study sessions and writing consultations to help students enhance their academic skills.
The space fosters an inclusive environment for individual or group study, providing free access to resources like technology, research materials, and expert guidance from faculty and staff. Its goal is to empower students to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.
We honor the myriads of diverse backgrounds and experiences students come from and aim to provide culturally responsive academic coaching that is continuously learning from the issues underrepresented students and communities’ encounter. We acknowledge there are many different ways to define and achieve student success.
*Note: we offer both in-person and virtual appointments and drop-ins via Zoom (*the QSC is drop-in only). See below for instructions on how to download and use Zoom for virtual sessions.
Use expectations
In order for us to help students most efficiently and effectively here are a few things we expect of visitors to the center:
- Sign in: List the class you’re here for and what you need help with.
- Check the schedule: Tutors have different specialties and different shifts; not all subjects are covered during all QSC hours — check the schedule online, in the Center, or next to the door.
- Peer tutors: While we are knowledgeable, we don’t know everything. We don’t guarantee grades, or that we’ll always be correct.
- Guide your learning: We will help you work through concepts, suggest ways to approach or fix problems, and help improve your study skills. We will not do problems for you, or give you answers.
- Come prepared: Attend class, take notes, read the textbook, try the homework, etc…
- Improve your learning: We will encourage you to work on your own after some assistance so that you can improve your learning, and so that others can receive help.
- Share the tutors: Since we’re drop-in, tutors have to help all students; we appreciate your patience!
- Respect each other: Students and tutors will treat each other with respect and kindness.
- Help reduce noise: Silence your cell phone, take calls in the hall, and keep your voice at an indoor level to respect others’ learning.
- Computer use: Computers are for quantitative use. Please do not play games on them, check your Facebook status, etc.
- Clean up: Please clean up after yourself before you leave.