UA News

After having a successful first semester, the UA's Think Tank has expanded services to the Park Student Union.

According to the dry erase marker on the wall of the Think Tank's Writing Center, if the center had a slogan, it would be,  "Writing Center: we do it collaboratively."

A department within the University of Arizona's Office of Student Affairs, the Think Tank is doing just that – bringing minds together.

The unit's overall philosophy is that college students are best understood, and therefore best tutored and mentored, by other college students.

Since its inception in August, more than 3,500 students have used the Think Tank, amounting to 12,930 visits, according to data the department is keeping. About 100 UA undergraduates are certified as tutors by the College Reading and Learning Association, a nationwide organization for student professionals, to serve those University students.

For students who don't feel like class time is enough, the Think Tank, located in the Nugent Building, offers a comfortable atmosphere to reexamine course material. Students are able to access free drop-in peer tutoring or specialized fee-based sessions by appointment.

The department's programs have been so successful that it recently expanded to the Park Student Union in order to serve more students academically in a nontraditional classroom setting. Offerings at both the Nugent Building and at Park Student Union are listed on the Think Tank's calendar.

In addition to the Writing Center, the Think Tank offers support for general education, English, science, mathematics and other courses. 

"Students can attend a weekly course reviews, sit in on an academic skills workshop, meet with their supplemental instruction group, or attend an exam prep session and yet still be able to step outside to take a break and grab a bite to eat," said Victor Mercado, academic resource coordinator for the Think Tank.

Andrea Lawson, a UA sophomore studying finance, began attending drop-in tutoring in fall 2009 for help in math. Lawson said she's seen a "significant improvement" in her homework and math scores since then.

Students can also meet with peer mentors, attend weekly course reviews and work with peers to revise papers in the Writing Center.

Ashley Hart, a UA junior studying education, worked with Writing Center tutor Ben Reynolds to edit a paper she had written.

"I had a lot of structural mistakes [in my essay]. He helped me figure out where everything should go," Hart said.

For Lawson, her needs have been in getting extra help on homework assignments and preparing for exams. She said the Think Tank's peer-mentoring practices are more geared toward her learning style. 

"It's an opportunity to learn outside the box, in a way the teacher doesn't cover in class," Lawson said.