Center for Academic Success & Learning Commons
Both are located on the lower level of the Miller-Moore Academic Center
A “One-Stop Shop” for Students’ Academic Support on Their Academic Journey
The Center for Academic Success/Learning Commons is the place for students to find academic support through:
- Tutoring
- Writing Center
- Disability Services/Academic Accommodations
- Academic Coaching
- Standardized Testing Services
Offered Services
Tutoring
Tutoring through the Center for Academic Success is dedicated to empowering students to reach their learning goals. Our tutors support all the required general-education undergraduate degree courses, in addition to many upper-level major-specific courses. They also provide tutees with studying strategies and resources.
Tutoring services at Bethel are free, and students may have as many appointments as needed. (Some colleges put a cap on how many appointments students may have before incurring extra fees.) You can access the tutoring schedule 24/7, and scheduling appointments takes less than a minute!
Writing Center
The Writing Center is in the Learning Commons. Drop-in hours are available Sunday-Thursday for students who need:
- An extra set of eyes on their paper
- Help with APA, MLA or Chicago formatting
- Help with brainstorming
- Assistance with the structure of a paper
- Assistance with finding academic resources
Scheduled appointments are also available with the teaching assistant assigned to the student’s writing class.
Additionally, appointments with writing tutors are available through the general tutoring services.
Disability Services /Academic Accommodations
The disability services arm of the Center for Academic Success provides individualized support for students diagnosed with specific learning disabilities or for those with other disabilities.
Although the university is mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA Amendments Act to provide these services, it is the intention of the Center for Academic Success to serve our students with disabilities in a Christ-like and respectful manner that assists them in developing their independence.
If you suspect a disability, but have never been tested, we can help you through that process to find answers.
Some of the common disabilities for which we can provide accommodations include:
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Dyslexia/Specific Learning Disability
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussive Syndrome
- Hearing Impairment
Approximately 1 in 11 traditional undergraduates at Bethel have some type of disability. Our faculty is terrific at helping accommodate your disability.
Incoming Freshmen: While on campus for registration, please make it a point to schedule an appointment with our Accommodation Specialist to discuss your needs. Appointments are not available on your registration day but will be scheduled for later in the summer either in person or virtually.
For information and policies about service animals and emotional support animals, please set up an appointment with the director of the Center for Academic Success by emailing AcademicSuccess@BethelUniversity.edu or calling 574.807.7460.
Study Skills Coaching
Many students struggle with the transition from high school to college and need someone to connect with weekly who can assist the student to develop a plan and help them develop good academic behaviors.
Study skills coaching is flexible, based on student needs. It might mean one or more of the following:
- Teaching the student advanced test-taking strategies
- Helping the student use a calendar system
- Prioritizing between past due and upcoming assignments
- Setting simple goals that will help the student achieve the grade s/he desires
- Showing the student how to take effective notes
- Assisting the student to learn reading strategies
Study Skills Coaching is available through two methods:
- Study Skills Tutors:
These tutors are specially trained in study techniques and advanced strategies for reading, note-taking, studying and test-taking. Students can make a one-time appointment for help with any of these areas or schedule weekly appointments for accountability or schedule management. - Staff in the Center for Academic Success:
For students who prefer to meet with someone other than a peer, the staff at the Center for Academic Success are also available for study skills coaching and schedule management meetings.
The Katherine J. Gribbin Learning Commons
The Learning Commons is a study space designed for individual and group work with access to technology and tutors.
What’s in the Learning Commons?
- The Tutoring Center offers individualized assistance through peer tutoring in over 150 Bethel courses.
- The Writing Center offers two types of services:
- Drop-in assistance for general writing assignments Sunday-Thursday
- A meeting place to work with the Teaching Assistant of your writing course
- The Pilot Production Studio: Opened in 2018, this studio is designed to make recording video incredibly simple. Just plug in a flash drive, press a button to start recording, press the button again to stop and then remove your flash drive. The studio is fully equipped with a video camera, monitor for slides, projector, microphones, studio lighting,
soundproofing panels and more. It even features an on-air light outside that automatically displays “Studio In Use”
when someone is recording. - Student conference room: The student conference room can be reserved for official or unofficial student groups of six or more.
- Small group study rooms: Each room features four seats and plug-in access to a large flat screen monitor. Rooms can be reserved for up to two hours.
- Study space: The Learning Commons has many computer workstations and work spaces.
- Color printer: This multipurpose machine is also a scanner and fax machine.
For more information, email AcademicSuccess@BethelUniversity.edu.
Standardized Testing Services
College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) Test Administration
There is a $15 administration fee for both Bethel students and non-Bethel students. Cash or checks are accepted, but no credit cards. Please also bring a government-issued photo ID.
You must do the following:
- Order your CLEP exam with clep.collegeboard.org first:
- DO NOT select online proctoring
- DO select “CLEP test center”
- Print your ticket and bring it with you on your test day, along with your proctoring fee.
- Schedule your test with our office by emailing AcademicSuccess@BethelUniversity.edu. Plan on the test taking two hours.
Tickets are generally good for about six months after you purchase them from collegeboard.org.
You may not retake the same subject exam for 90 days.
ACT Testing
About
Register for ACT testing at Bethel
Current cost: $70.
All students must register for ACT Residual Testing online a minimum of one (1) week prior to their selected testing date. No refunds will be issued for no-shows or any cancellations received after 10 a.m., one business day prior to the scheduled test date.
Scores from Residual Testing are reported only to Bethel University offices for admission, course placement and advising purposes.
Eligibility for Students
Residual Testing is conducted at Bethel University for students who: 1) are enrolled, 2) have been admitted, or 3) are applying to Bethel University. Students who do not intend to attend Bethel University are not allowed to participate in ACT Residual Testing on our campus.
Even if a student is only taking one subject test of the ACT, standardization requires that they sit through any preceding subject tests which would typically be offered prior to their subject test before being allowed to begin.
Scores
- Scores from Residual Testing are valid only at Bethel University and cannot be transferred by transcript or other means to any other institution or agency.
- Scores from Residual Testing are reported only to the college administering the test.
- No Student Reports or High School Reports are generated.
- No Additional Score Reports will be generated to report scores to any other institution.
Restrictions
- A minimum of 60 days must elapse before another Residual Test may be taken. Scores achieved before the minimum elapsed time will be cancelled without refund.
- ACT restricts the number of times a student may take the ACT to 12 times total. Residual Testing does count toward that maximum.
Resources
What to Bring
- Valid form of identification:
- Current (valid) official photo ID
- Letter of identification issued by your school (with photo in letter)
- High school transcript with photo issued by your school
- Notarized statement (with photo in statement)
- Recent published individual photo
- Two No. 2 pencils with good erasers (mechanical pencils are not allowed)
- Simple four-function calculator (non-printing/non-graphing) to be used on Math Test only.
Accommodated Learners
Extended-time testing is available to current Bethel University students with documented learning disabilities. If you are not a current Bethel University student but can present documentation of a learning disability (or ADHD), please email AcademicSuccess@BethelUniversity.edu or call 574.807.7460 to discuss the documentation needed.
Documentation from ACT for English language learners will also be honored.
Accommodated testing may not be available every month, due to the academic calendar and availability of testing space on alternate days. Accommodated testing will not be on the same day as the scheduled ACT test.
Upcoming ACT Testing Dates
Contact Us
The Center for Academic Success is on the lower level of the Miller-Moore Academic Center (Room 033) on the Bethel University campus.
Please call to schedule an appointment at 574.807.7460 or email AcademicSuccess@BethelUniversity.edu.
Meet the Team
