The Center for Teaching and Learning seeks to offer Hobart and William Smith students the opportunity to achieve their full academic potential and to provide students with full access to all educational programs, activities, and facilities. In seeking to meet these commitments, we recognize that students differ in their needs and learning styles. The Center for Teaching and Learning is committed to ensuring equitable participation in all programs and activities of the Colleges.
Disability Services at the CTL coordinates and provides accommodations and support services to persons with all types of disabilities. The high level of commitment needed to provide accommodations and services is balanced with a humanistic approach that seeks to enhance independence and recognize the uniqueness of each Hobart and William Smith student. Our goal is for each person to acquire the skills and to achieve the level of personal growth required to develop an independent lifestyle, which is essential in meeting individual, career and life objectives. To learn more about CTL's disability policies and procedures, visit the Disabilities page.
Students wishing to improve their performance in their course work may meet with a tutor, either individually or in small groups, to enhance their understanding of course material and to improve their performance on assignments and exams. Tutoring offered through CTL should be considered a semester-long commitment, not a one-time situation. Tutoring groups are commonly arranged when several students need assistance in the same course.
Students wishing to meet content-area tutors must submit a Tutor Request Form to CTL, providing contact information, the course(s) in which tutoring is needed, and information on academic concerns. The Coordinator of Student Services will contact the course instructors for recommendations for qualified tutors. All tutoring sessions are held at CTL.
Students wishing to apply to be a tutor must complete a CTL Tutor Application and attend a Tutor Orientation Session.
The Center for Teaching and Learning provides professional writing specialists and Writing Colleagues (student writers) to work with HWS students at any stage of written work, from topic selection and brainstorming through organization and drafting to final polishing.
Writing Colleagues are normally available on Sunday from 3-9pm, and Monday through Thursday from 7-10 p.m. (although we have fewer hours early in the semester and more as the semester moves on). We also have time available most weekday afternoons. When you call to make an appointment, we will match you with available slots. We try to accommodate students without appointments, but are often already full. Learn more about scheduling an appointment at right.
We are glad to meet with faculty to help create writing assignments that will be useful in specific classes. We are also available to assist your class or particular students with the various components of writing.
Please note that the Center views this service as a venue to help students improve their writing and thinking, not a proofreading service.
Carefully selected and specially trained students, operating in coordination with CTL and individual departments, offer student support in the departments of Chemistry, Spanish, and Hispanic Studies, Geoscience, Philosophy and Physics. Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning for more information.
Interested in becoming a teaching fellow? Visit our student staff page for more information and an application.
This mentoring program matches college and Geneva school district students with learning disabilities. Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning for more information.
Any student who desires to set up a writing session should call X3351. Sessions are normally scheduled in 30 minute or 1 hour time slots based on length of paper.
It is advantageous to plan ahead, especially late in the semester when staff tend to “book up.”
If you need to cancel, please call X3351. We appreciate a 24-hour notice so that other students may take your time slot.
