Academic Enrichment Center Continues Growth

Colleges and universities around the country are looking for ways to increase graduation rates while helping students defray college costs. The Cove, Cedarville University's academic enrichment center, has found a way to do both.

The nationally recognized center hired 112 student tutors, 15 note takers and two office workers for the 2016 fall semester, providing a way for those students to earn money while they help their peers.

Tutoring is offered at no cost to all students for any classes, and is even available via video chat to high school students taking classes online through Cedarville's Dual Enrollment program. In the 2015-16 school year, tutors conducted 3,399 hours of tutoring, and The Cove is on track to eclipse that number by wide margins for the 2016-17 academic year.

Kim Ahlgrim, The Cove's director, points to her tutoring and office coordinator, Deidre Sizer, as the one responsible for the program's growth.

"It's because of her that this program is exploding," said Ahlgrim. "She has done an excellent job in leading the program."

Hundreds of students from dozens of majors utilize the resource, and of the students who apply for tutoring help, 43.7 percent are freshmen, 31.4 percent are sophomores, 14.7 percent are juniors and 8.5 percent are seniors. The remaining 1.7 percent are Dual Enrollment students.

To become a tutor, students must hold at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA, receive a professor recommendation, and have earned an A or A- in the class they wish to tutor. Ahlgrim added that she looks for tutors who are passionate about what they're going to teach.

"Having student tutors is important because sometimes a student can learn better from one of his peers who has been through the course and knows what to expect, from a student perspective" said Ahlgrim. "Tutoring also helps the tutors make some money while learning accountability, teaching and time management skills."

"I love knowing that I may be helping someone achieve a dream that they otherwise may not have been able to achieve," said Sara Freeland, a junior electrical engineering major from Mount Carmel, Illinois. "The way God is able to use the tutors to help others grow, not only in those subjects, but in other areas of life, is really amazing."

Freeland is a new tutor this year and tutors pre-calculus, calculus 1, calculus 2, calculus 3, differential equations and digital logic design.

"Cedarville takes academic support seriously," said Ahlgrim. "It's a pattern to see students come into The Cove feeling discouraged and leaving with hope. That's what it's all about."

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,760 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit Cedarville's website.