Assistance on Campus

By Dominick Guerra (Contributor)

Searching for assistance on campus may be hard, you might not know where it can be, and you don’t know if what UTRGV offers can help you solve your problem. I’ve had this experience during my first semester of my college experience, and there is so much within the campus that I didn’t know about until my second semester. I will give the knowledge that I’ve gained throughout my time here, by providing important locations that help in any problems you may have and discussing what UTRGV provides for its students.   

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Roadmap of Campus  

Within this image here is how the campus in Edinburg is relatively huge, there are many buildings here that can provide support to many questions that you may have. I will highlight the locations, names, and information on what type of support is given to help you have an easier time. I will also be providing information that I gathered from discussing from the staff members of that specific building to best describe the assistance available within each location.

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Writing Center   

The writing center can be found on the 3rd floor of student academic center building.

Struggling with writing essays? The Writing Center is a place that can fix that problem with ease. You can meet with them by appointment and discuss with them any type of writing problems you may have. The writing center can provide any assistance in terms of writing essays, citations, ideas for a paper you might be writing, and so much more; Showing how impactful the writing center is for anyone trying to improve their essay skills.

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Info From a Writing Center Staff Member  

I was given the opportunity to be able to discuss with one of the employees within the writing center, Jocelyn Manrique, asking questions to get a better understanding of the writing center, and this is the information I gathered.

How can the students meet with the writing center staff?

• I was informed that it is highly recommended for the students to make an appointment within the writing center page, and if any additional information is needed, it is possible to meet with a supervisor through the website to receive that additional support.

What type of services does the writing center provide?

• The writing center provides face-to-face, Zoom, asynchronous, depending on how the student prefers to meet. The writing center helps students out by assisting with class work, resumes, presentations, any personal statements for scholarships, and so much more. These tutors are very skilled in this matter, providing maximum support to the students. They also provide a location for a study room, group sessions, a computer, and printers if needed for the student.

How effective is the assistance for the students?

• The writing center provides students with multiple skills within their writing, allowing them to be able to succeed in tasks that makes them show those skills. The writing center provides many tutoring opportunities 3-4 times a week, showing the writing center will do anything possible to help students out improve those skills, providing new ways to be able to hand with challenges with ease.

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Learning Center

Building can be found to the side of the library.

Within this location you may be able to find multiple PLTL leaders all discussing different topics like mathematics, English, history, etc. You may also be able to find your own PLTL leaders within their office hours provided to you, so you can be able to go within the workshops; Where the building sets up an event to help students in whatever they are providing. I sure did spend a lot of time here studying chemistry, even though I was doing well in the class, actively striving to fully understand the concept so that I was able to keep my A grade.

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Info From a PLTL Leader

I was given the chance to discuss with a PLTL leader, Christopher Johnson, asking questions to have a better understanding of what the learning center provides, and this is the information I gathered.

How can the students meet with the Learning Center Staff?

• The students can meet with them during their individual office hours, since unfortunately the PLTL staff members are unable to meet with students outside of their office hours. Students can also communicate with them through emails, asking any question that they may have.

What type of services does the Learning Center provide?

• The learning center provides any assistance with any type of subject that has a PLTL leader for them. During these sessions, PLTL focuses on the peer team learning portion and guiding the students to the correct answer. Even though it may seem like tutoring, it isn’t at all. It’s more of the PLTL leader answering questions that students may have throughout their process of answering said question.

How effective is the assistance for the students?

• The building is effective depending on the commitment and effort that the students engage within these sessions. For example, if a student consistently asks questions, active in problem-solving, and is showing growth as time goes on, it shows how effective the session within the learning center can be. Providing the student with a better understanding of the subject than they had previously.

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Student Services

Building can be found near the student union, and in front of the chapel.

Need help in terms of scholarships, financial aid, or any financial questions? Within this location, all your questions will be answered. The student services building is an important asset, since in my case I was always worried about receiving my work study award. No matter what, the staff were always there and supported me throughout the whole way. The point being that I was now very knowledgeable in the subject and got my award fixed. Student services are impactful for new students, many questions will continuously flood someone’s mind, so with the support of student services, they can be able to find a solution to any types of problems.

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Info From a Student Services Staff Member

I was given the opportunity to be able to discuss the assistant director of student services, Mauro Uriegas, discussing questions I had to have a better understanding of student services itself, and here is the information I gathered.