JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of the academic tutoring room at the Education Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 2, 2018.
The academic tutoring room is the first of its kind at JBER and was provided by the University of Alaska Anchorage.
“This is a service that has not been offered before but has been very much requested by service members on a daily basis,” said Eva White, an education services specialist assigned to U.S. Army Garrison, Alaska. “It has been a working project for a long time and was finally made possible through UAA funding.”
One of the key features of the tutoring services is that it is not limited to active duty personnel, and enrollment in a UAA program is not necessary to use this service.
“Once the word is out that we are open to dependents and veterans no matter what school they are part of, we are going to grow,” White said. “Any academic tutoring will be available depending on the demands at the time.”
The tutoring room is equipped with the necessary tools to facilitate a smooth study environment.
“We have laptop computers already established that can be used by people as they come into the room,” said Mel Kalkowski, UAA military programs director. “If you want to bring your own computer, that’s fine, we have anticipated that. We upgraded the wi-fi too and made it available to everyone.”
For some, studying might get frustrating and demotivating. For others, it could be overwhelming. Tutors can help avoid those types of experiences.
“Having someone students can go to for help will improve student success,” Kalkowski said. “It gives a student a chance to bounce ideas off someone who understands what their questions are. It gives them an avenue to turn to if they feel they are losing ground in a class, and it should fundamentally improve their ability to pass.”
As any other program, the collection of data will be part of the process to make changes along the way.
“The program will improve during the next few months as we get it locked down as to what people need,” said Kalkowski. “We are looking forward to seeing the program be built, and we will make the necessary adjustments to adapt to the needs as they appear over time.”
For more information, contact the Education Center’s front desk at 384-0970, the UAA office inside the building at 428-1228 or visit Facebook.com/EducationCenter.