WKU News

The Learning Center at Western Kentucky University has been recertified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). The recertification process happens once every five years and demonstrates that The Learning Center offers a high-quality tutor training program focused on student growth and development.

The WKU Learning Center provides free tutoring to all undergraduate students at the university, promoting academic success by helping students develop study skills through tutoring options that best fit individual student needs. Peer-directed one-on-one and group tutoring options are available, covering content from more than 100 undergraduate courses.

For more than 30 years, CRLA has been a leader in learning assistance, reading, and academic support programs with more than 1,300 members and over 2,000 certified training programs worldwide. Achieving certification demonstrates that an institution’s tutoring program has met CRLA’s standards for tutor selection, training, direct service, and evaluation as an integral part of its overall tutoring program. The WKU Learning Center has developed a tutoring program that meets CRLA’s standards and has successfully completed the International Tutor Training Program Certification peer review process.

Chris Jensen, WKU’s Assistant Vice President for Student Success, notes the important role that The Learning Center plays in helping students gain confidence as self-directed learners. “We know that for many students, they just need a little help developing positive study habits and understanding course concepts,” Jensen stated. “Our peer tutoring programs give students the confidence they need to succeed in the classroom.”

Jensen also attributes some of the university’s recent fall-to-spring retention successes to The Learning Center. “For the past two years, the university has celebrated record fall-to-spring retention rates, especially among our first-year students,” he said. “We know that many factors contribute to a student’s decision to return each semester, but most importantly, they need to feel supported. Our Learning Center contributes to that feeling of support by not only helping students refine their academic skills, but also by making sure they understand there’s a place to turn if they need a little extra assistance.”

Heather Stuart, WKU’s Assistant Director of Retention Programs, noted that the Learning Center intentionally designs services to meet individual student needs. “The Learning Center works hard with our student employees to create a welcoming, inclusive environment for each student,” she said.

Stuart also said that serving as a peer tutor provides students with valuable skills that will benefit them beyond their time at WKU. “Our student employees develop real-world, transferable skills that they can use to achieve their personal goals after they graduate from WKU,” she noted. “We’re proud that our efforts have been recognized by one of the leading professional organizations in the field.”

Contact: Jace Lux, (270) 745-4295

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.