The Tutorial and Academic Success Center (TASC) at Pitt Community College (PCC) is designed to help students overcome academic barriers through one-on-one and small group tutoring. TASC provides general curriculum tutoring through four on-campus locations: Writing Center, Math Center, Science Center and Academic Skills Lab. Specific subject tutoring is also offered in partnership with individual academic departments, including Health Sciences and Fine Arts. With a TASC tutor, students can complete practice problems, receive feedback on papers, discuss test-taking strategies, or simply review and study content. TASC tutors play a crucial role in the push for student success. Students are encouraged to sign up for tutoring sessions as early in the semester as possible, but they can also receive tutoring during specially designated walk-in hours.

Tutoring Staff – There are currently 40 tutors employed by TASC thanks to a commitment from the PCC administration to grow the TASC program and assist as many students possible. All tutors are trained according to College Reading and Learning certification standards on topics, such as tutor expectations, learning styles, study skills, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Tutors mirror the diversity found within the PCC student body and are current or former PCC students, current ECU students, or professional tutors with college degrees. Tutors are required to have at least a 3.0 GPA, and, to ensure familiarity with a course, tutors must have earned a ‘B’ or higher in a subject for which they will provide assistance.

Initiatives – Aside from traditional tutorial support, TASC is also involved in a number of ongoing initiatives.  TASC continues to partner with the Early College High School (ECHS) on campus to provide specialized tutoring twice a week to all students. ECHS tutoring is a requirement for students and is based on collaboration and inquiry. TASC has also expanded its offerings in the health sciences area by adding tutors who specialize in nursing, medical sonography, polysomnography and respiratory therapy. In an effort to continue making TASC services accessible to students, tutors were embedded into developmental math and English courses during the fall and spring semesters. In this arrangement, tutors provide additional support to students during class time. TASC is also collaborating with PCC’s newly-renovated library to provide subject-specific group tutoring events to students in a convenient campus location.

Events – TASC also hosts an Exam Jam event during exam week of the fall and spring semesters to help students prepare for final exams, write final papers, or work on final projects. TASC tutoring staff are available to assist students, and attendance at Exam Jam has increased every year. The event also features free food, giveaways and pet therapy to help students ease their exam-week stress. Additionally, TASC participates in campus events throughout the year, such as Fall Fest, Spring Fling and Free Coffee Fridays. These events help connect students to the services provided by TASC and increase student awareness of TASC’s mission to ensure student success.

Moving Forward – TASC’s main goal is for every student who meets with a tutor to receive quality instruction that helps the student reach his or her educational goals. In the future, TASC hopes to continue providing innovative services and superb academic support to PCC students. In fact, the goal is for TASC to be the best academic support program for community colleges in North Carolina. 

Dr. Katrina Arnold, Director, Developmental Education & Academic Support