Center has group tutoring

By Tara Grimes, Reporter
Sept. 21, 2007

Reports that the MU Learning Center turns away international students are "a misunderstanding," Learning Center Interim Director Phil Deming said.

The Learning Center, part of the Student Success Center, provides one-on-one tutoring to low-income students through federal grants that exclude potential participants who aren't U.S. citizens. Any student can participate in group-tutoring sessions.

"I think it's just a misunderstanding," Deming said. "I think it comes from the term 'tutoring.' People believe that, at the Student Success Center, they can sign up for one-on-one tutoring."

The TRIO tutoring program offered by the Student Success Center is an educational opportunity only for low-income and disabled Americans, according to the federal program's Web site. Although student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education, according to the Web site.

According to the Web site, more than 1,000 colleges, universities, community colleges and agencies offer the TRIO program. The funds for this program are distributed through competitive grants.

The Student Success Center's program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, and the department determines who can be assisted through the program.

"TRIO is a federal grant paid by U.S. tax dollars by U.S. residents," Deming said. "We have no control over the fact that international students cannot get one-on-one tutoring."

Two-thirds of the students receiving tutoring from TRIO must come from families with an income of less than $28,000 and in which neither parent graduated from college. The program also applies to students who have a documented disability.

David Currey, director of International Student and Scholar Services Director, said international students, as well as other students who do not qualify for TRIO, can qualify for other resources such as math exam review sheets, learning strategies, writing lab, help sessions and online resources.

"International students are eligible for a wide range of academic support services through the Student Success Center," Currey said.

Group tutoring is available for classes that have a large enrollment demand, Deming said. These classes include 13 math classes, three Spanish classes, four science classes, three economics classes, two accounting classes and four statistics classes.

"There is small group tutoring," Deming said. "It could be one-on-one tutoring when a student comes in, depending on if others show up, but it's not guaranteed."

Missouri International Student Council President Thitinun Boonseng said the university still has the duty to provide for students who aren't covered by the TRIO program.

"We pay for the university," Boonseng said. "Maybe it's not right to look for funding that only supports American students. They should be looking for multiple funding for all types of students. It's called student success."

Boonseng said he does not believe the program is unfair, but he would like to see the university fund other one-on-one tutoring programs for all students.

Deming said the Student Success Center and the Learning Center are always looking for ways to improve the services they offer, but the TRIO grants were an available opportunity to fund one-on-one tutoring.

"We're always looking for more ways to help students who aren't eligible for grants," Deming said. "We do the best we can, but we have limited resources like every other department."

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Center has group tutoring

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