Learning Center Services During COVID-19

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Operations

• Is The Learning Center (TLC), including the Math Lab, open?
  
  As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24th, our Sage Hall 170 location and the Math Lab (Sage 130) are closed, but The Learning Center will remain open remotely and maintain the current business hours of Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm. The Math Lab will also remain open remotely. To “visit” The Learning Center and learn more about accessing our remote services, go to our website at learningcenter.unt.edu.
• What is TLC doing to protect students and staff?
  
  In order to protect our students and staff, The Learning Center is moving to providing all services remotely. All staff and student employees will be telecommuting and all services will be provided remotely via online platforms, phone, or e-mail.
• How long will TLC services be online only?
  
  TLC services will move back to in-person options based on direction provided by the university.
• Can I choose to attend TLC services in person?
  
  In order to protect our students and staff, our Sage Hall 170 location is closed and no in-person options are available.
• Is TLC still accepting applications for student workers?
  
  Yes! TLC employs over 100 students each semester, so each semester we are always looking for students to join our awesome team. All applications will be open by the end of March and can be found on Handshake. More information about the different positions open is available on our website: https://learningcenter.unt.edu/join-our-team.

Academic Coaching

• What academic coaching services are available online?
  
  Academic coaching will be providing one-one-one online academic coaching for undergraduate and graduate students and asynchronous coaching through our Ask-An-Academic Coach service. For more information, visit https://learningcenter.unt.edu/coaching.
• How do I access the online academic coaching services?
  
  To schedule an online academic coaching session, visit Appointment Manager at https://appointments.unt.edu. All sessions will be conducted using Zoom.
  To submit your questions to our Ask-An-Academic Coach service, complete the form from our website: https://learningcenter.unt.edu/ask-academic-coach. Please allow us 24 business hours to process submissions and return feedback.
• What will I need in order to access online one-on-one academic coaching?
  
  Once you have scheduled, you will receive an e-mail to your student e-mail with the link to your Zoom coaching session. To get the most out of your Zoom session it is recommended you have a webcam and microphone. However, at minimum, you must have working internet access and the ability to type using the chat function.
• My advisor told me I needed to go to academic coaching before I could get my advising code, is that still the case?
  
  Advising offices have waived the academic coaching requirement for this semester. Please contact your advisor to get your advising code.
• I am required to go to academic coaching by another program (i.e. Emerald Eagles, Financial Aid, etc), is that still the case?
  
  The Emerald Eagle Scholarship program has waived the academic coaching requirement for this semester. If you are being required by another office, please contact them to determine whether or not academic coaching is still required.

Math Lab

• What Math Lab services will be available online?
  
  The Math Lab will be providing one-on-one online tutoring, a Virtual Math Lab, and asynchronous tutoring through our Ask-A-Math Tutor service. For more information, visit https://learningcenter.unt.edu/math-lab.
• How do I access the online Math Lab services?
  
  To schedule an online tutoring session with a Math Lab tutor, complete the Math Lab Tutor Request form from our website: https://learningcenter.unt.edu/math-tutoring-request-form. Someone will be in touch within 24 hours to get your session arranged.
  To see the hours for our Virtual Math Lab, visit https://learningcenter.unt.edu/virtual-math-lab.
  To submit your questions to our Ask-A-Math Tutor service, complete the form from our website: https://learningcenter.unt.edu/ask-math-tutor. Please allow us 24 business hours to process submissions and return feedback. Our tutors will not and cannot provide or check answers on homework or other graded assignments.
• What will I need in order to access online one-on-one Math Lab tutoring?
  
  For online tutoring, you will receive an e-mail to your student e-mail with the link to your Zoom tutoring session. To get the most out of your Zoom session it is recommended you have a webcam and microphone. However, at minimum, you must have working internet access and the ability to type using the chat function.
• My professor offered extra credit for going to Math Lab tutoring, is that still the case?
  
  Extra credit decisions are at the discretion of each instructor, so you will need to ask your professor.
• Is the Math Lab still accepting applications for student workers?
  
  As of right now, the Math Lab is fully staffed for the Fall 2020 semester. You can learn when positions are open by checking out our website at https://learningcenter.unt.edu/join-our-team.

Using the Virtual Math Lab

• When is the Virtual Math Lab (VML) open and how do I access it?
  
  The VML will be closed during finals week. Thursday, April 30th will be our last open day for Spring 2020. We will reopen in June for summer courses. Refer to the Math Lab website at https://learningcenter.unt.edu/virtual-math-lab to access Zoom links and list of available courses during each session.
• How long will Math Lab services be online only?
  
  Math Lab services will move back to an in-person option based on direction provided by the university.
• What will I need in order to access the VML?
  
  To get the most out of your Zoom session it is recommended you have a webcam and microphone. However, at minimum, you must have working internet access and the ability to type using the chat function.
• Is the VML essentially the same as the normal Math Lab, just online?
  
  No, while we are aiming to replicate the drop-in style of tutoring available in the Math Lab, space is limited in the VML and it will not be able to be used as you may have previously done so. In order to provide the best service, a ratio of 3 students per tutor will be maintained, and students will be helped in the order that they arrive. You will also need to have specific questions prepared and have all notes and any relevant classroom materials in front of you before you enter the VML.
• How exactly will the VML work?
  
  When you arrive to the VML, you will be asked what course you need help with and placed into a virtual room with a tutor. Math tutors will rotate among all students present in their room, spending 1-5 minutes with each student at a time. To provide the best service, a ratio of 3 students per tutor will be maintained, and students will be helped in the order that they arrive.
• Can I get help with my homework in the VML?
  
  Our tutors will not and cannot provide or check answers on homework or other graded assignments. However, they can help you with the concepts that may be on your homework by working through different examples and not your homework problems.
• How much time can I expect to be given one-on-one attention?
  
  Each tutor will spend 1-5 minutes with each student at a time. Once a tutor has worked with you for 5 minutes, they will check on other students before returning to help you.
• The times for the VML don’t work with my schedule, what can I do?
  
  Our Math Lab tutors will be providing support outside of the VML through one-on-one tutoring and asynchronous tutoring with more days and hours available, so one of these options may work with your schedule. To learn more about Math Lab Tutoring available, go to our website at https://learningcenter.unt.edu/math-lab.
• What classes can I get help with during VML sessions?
  
  Visit the official Math Lab website at https://learningcenter.unt.edu/virtual-math-lab for an up-to-date listing of available courses during session times.
• If my class isn’t in the list for VML sessions, what should I do?
  
  Support for other classes will be provided outside of the VML through one-on-one tutoring and asynchronous tutoring provided by our Math Tutors. To learn more about the other Math Lab Tutoring available, go to our website at https://learningcenter.unt.edu/math-lab.
• I would like to review some concepts to prepare for an upcoming test, can I use the VML for this?
  
  As this service is recommended when only 1-5 minutes of help is needed per problem, you cannot use the VML to review whole concepts. Instead, we recommend using our one-on-one tutoring services. To schedule a session, go to https://learningcenter.unt.edu/online-math-tutoring.
• How long can I expect to wait to get help in the VML?
  
  Students will be helped on a first come, first serve basis. To provide the best service, a ratio of 3 students to 1 tutor will be maintained. Once this ratio is met for each tutor, you will be asked to wait for the next available tutor. No exact wait time is guaranteed. If you encounter a wait, you can choose to wait, schedule a one-on-one tutoring session with a math tutor for another time and day, or utilize our asynchronous tutoring. To learn more about the other Math Lab Tutoring options available, go to our website at https://learningcenter.unt.edu/math-lab.
• What can I do to get enough time with a tutor to make sure I can get my questions answered?
  
  To help ensure you will have more one-on-one time with a tutor, we recommend using our one-on-one tutoring services. To schedule a session, go to https://learningcenter.unt.edu/online-math-tutoring.

Supplemental Instruction (SI)

• What SI services will be available online?
  
  All regular SI sessions will be available online via Zoom. For more information, visit https://learningcenter.unt.edu/si.
• How do I access online SI sessions?
  
  If you have an SI Leader in your course section, you will receive an e-mail to your student e-mail with the link to their Zoom SI sessions. You can also visit our website for information on accessing Zoom sessions: https://learningcenter.unt.edu/si.
• Now that sessions are online, what do I need to do to receive credit for attending?
  
  In order to be counted as having attended the session, you will need to participate by having your camera and mic on.
• What will I need in order to access online SI sessions?
  
  To get the most out of your Zoom session, and be counted as attending, it is recommended you have a webcam and microphone. However, at minimum, you must have working internet access and the ability to type using the chat function.
• My professor offered extra credit for going to SI sessions, is that still the case?
  
  Extra credit decisions are at the discretion of each instructor, so you will need to ask your professor.
• My professor said I am required to go to SI sessions based on my last exam grade, is that still the case?
  
  Class requirements are at the discretion of each instructor, so you will need to ask your professor.
• My TSI advisor told me I needed to complete so many hours of SI sessions to complete my TSI requirement, is that still the case?
  
  TSI Advisors highly encourage you to attend SI sessions via Zoom: https://learningcenter.unt.edu/si. However, you will not be penalized if you are unable to complete your 10 required sessions this semester.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI)

• When and how will TSI advising for summer and fall occur for current students?
  
  Online, phone, or email advising sessions are available with TSI advisors. Advising appointments are scheduled through UNT's scheduling system, Appointment Manager at https://appointments.unt.edu.
• What do I do if I have questions regarding TSI?
  
  Email tsi@unt.edu, as it will be the quickest way to get a response.

Tutoring Services

• What tutoring services will be available online?
  
  Tutoring services will be providing one-on-one online tutoring, asynchronous tutoring through our Ask-A- Tutor service, and instructional videos throughTutorTube. Our Course Foundations workshops and drop-in tutoring are cancelled for the rest of the semester. For more information, visit https://learningcenter.unt.edu/tutoring.
• How do I access online tutoring services?
  
  To schedule an online tutoring session with a tutor, use UNT's scheduling system, Appointment Manager at https://appointments.unt.edu.
  To submit your questions to our Ask-A-Tutor service, complete the form from our website: https://learningcenter.unt.edu/ask-a-tutor. Please allow us 24 business hours to process submissions and return feedback. Our tutors will not and cannot provide or check answers on homework or other graded assignments.
  Visit https://learningcenter.unt.edu/tutor-tube to view our available videos on TutorTube.
• What will I need in order to access online one-on-one tutoring?
  
  You will receive an e-mail to your student e-mail with the link to your Zoom tutoring session. To get the most out of your Zoom session, and be counted as attending, it is recommended you have a webcam and microphone. However, at minimum, you must have working internet access and the ability to type using the chat function.
• My professor offered extra credit for coming to tutoring, is that still the case?
  
  Extra credit decisions are at the discretion of each instructor, so you will need to ask your professor.

Workshops

• What workshops will be available online?
  
  We currently have several recorded workshops online: Time Management, Reading Strategies, and Succeeding in Online Classes. More are continually being developed and added. For the latest information, visit: https://learningcenter.unt.edu/online-resources.
• My professor offered extra credit for going to workshops at the Learning Center, is that still the case?
  
  Extra credit decisions are at the discretion of each instructor, so you will need to ask your professor.