Tag Archives: PUC TLC

PUC Offers the College Support You Need

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Starting college can be challenging, but at Pacific Union College, we have great resources in place to help students succeed. There are several invaluable resources and support services at your disposal when you’re a PUC student and if you’re struggling with something, it’s important to remember you aren’t alone. There are people in place who are available to answer your questions or provide you with additional information—you just need to ask for help.

What tutoring is available at PUC?

Yes! Our Teaching & Learning Center offers free group tutoring in over 25 different subjects, ranging from business to languages to science. Most lower-division GE courses have tutoring options available. If you’re struggling with a class but don’t see a tutoring option available, talk with the helpful TLC staff and they can set you up with a small group or an individual tutor. There’s also a writing lab available to students who would like input and direction on writing papers—it’s a great service and one you should absolutely take advantage of!

Learn more about the Teaching & Learning Center.

What can I do at the library besides study and check out books?

In the age of Google, a lot of people think libraries are obsolete, but that’s definitely not the case! At PUC’s Nelson Memorial Library, books reside there of course, but also online databases, academic search engines, journal articles, and periodicals. Through the library, students have access to over 30,000 journals and 100,000 ebooks, and over four million books through interlibrary loan services. If you need to use a computer, there are also about 60 public workstations available within the library and the computer lab areas, along with large group study rooms if you need a place to study with friends for that Anatomy test. There are also very knowledgeable librarians available to help you navigate all of these resources, so don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Get helpful tips for using PUC’s library.

Is there someone who can help me with registering for classes?

Once you’re a student at PUC, you will be assigned an advisor in the area you’re studying. For example, if you’re planning to study business, your advisor will be a professor in the department of business (helpful, right?). Your advisor knows the ins and outs of their department’s programs and will be a valuable source for any questions you have about what classes you should take, what major you should consider for your career path, and more. Every quarter your advisor will need to approve your schedule, which is a great safety net for making sure you stay on track to complete your degree! For undecided students, the TLC has an undeclared student advisor who will work with you on what general education classes to take while you figure out what to major in.

If I don’t know what I want to study, is there someone at PUC who can help me?

Some of you may not know what you plan to study yet, and PUC’s Career & Counseling Center can help you figure out the path you want to be on. They have a career counselor who can give you a career test and one-on-one help with career counseling. If already you have an idea of what career you want but aren’t sure how to get there, they can help you with your resume, cover letter, and even conduct some mock job interviews with you. There’s also an annual Career Fair, held every winter quarter, where you can meet with professionals from many different industries to network and learn more about the possibilities available after college. It’s a great event to provide you with a chance to see how your education at PUC can help you continue on to new and exciting places.

Meet Sydney Johnson, PUC’s career counselor.

What services are there if I get sick?

Did you know PUC has a free health clinic available to students? It’s true! Health Services provides students with a wide array of services, including appointments with a physician, physician’s assistant, or a nurse, along with medications (both prescription and over-the-counter), medical supplies, and diagnostic in-clinic testing. The Health Services clinic strives to be a welcoming professional place offering the highest quality of care possible, and wants your experience here at PUC to be a happy and healthy one! We are so thankful to have the clinic on our campus to provide our students with excellent care when they need it.

Get to know PUC’s Health Services clinic.

If you have questions about the student resources and support services available to PUC students, you can talk with one of our knowledgeable admissions counselors, who can give you more information. Call (800) 862-7080, option 2 or email admissions@puc.edu to get connected with a counselor now.

Get to Know PUC’s Teaching & Learning Center

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By Becky St. Clair

What do you think when you hear the acronym “TLC”? Back in the day (and today in the real estate business) it meant “Tender Loving Care.” Those of you old enough to remember the 90s (or who know a lot about music) may recall a 1990s girl band out of Atlanta called TLC, and there’s also a cable television channel by that name—The Learning Channel.

Here at PUC, we have our own TLC, and while we can’t promise any 90s hip-hop (and we promise, no cheesy reality shows!), we can promise some super useful services there. Here on campus, TLC is short for the Teaching & Learning Center. As we get ready to begin another school year, we thought it might be handy for you to know what kinds of services the TLC can provide for you.

Mentoring

Starting college can be challenging for some students. For many, it’s their first time away from home for an extended period of time, and the realities of #adulting are starting to hit home (and dorm!). The TLC has a great team of professionals who will help you keep up with the demands of classes combining with the rest of your life without feeling overwhelmed. To get started with your personalized support, fill out the “Contact an Academic Mentor” form.

Study Groups

We’re not gonna lie, some of your classes will be hard. That’s part of the “blessing and curse” situation of attending a school known for its academic rigor: You’re going to be challenged, but we promise, it’s for your own good, and you will survive. Still doubtful? Join one of the many free study groups in the TLC! They meet twice each week for a lot of those tough classes you’ll encounter because trust us—you’re not the only one finding them hard!

Disabilities Services

If you’re facing additional challenges, such as learning disabilities, injuries or illness, or psychological needs, you won’t be left behind! The TLC has an office specifically for working with students who need special support due to temporary or long-term/permanent disabilities. Reach out to our disabilities coordinator to get the help you need to ensure your academic success here at PUC.

College Skills Workshops

Let’s face it, whether you found your high school classes a breeze or barely muddled through to graduation, in many ways, college is harder. In order to make the cut for whatever your career goals may be, you’ll need solid tools in-hand to make it happen. That’s why the TLC offers dynamic and fun-filled seminars on study skills and time management. These workshops will teach you to capitalize on your personal passions, using the learning and organizational strengths you already possess. Email Michelle Kendrick, who oversees tutoring, at mkendrick@puc.edu for more information.

Academic Advising

One of the biggest stressors on a college student is deciding on a major. Did you know the average college student changes their major six times between freshman year and graduation? And yet they still do graduate, and they still embark on a career. So there is hope, and the TLC, once again, is here to save the day. If you aren’t sure about what you want your major to be, don’t worry! Talk to the TLC’s academic advisor, who can offer a strengths inventory, a personality assessment, and walk you through the results to determine what kinds of jobs might be right for you. Then, they can help you figure out what classes to take and how to get started. All of this—for free*! Make an appointment with the academic advisor and start your future today.

If you have other concerns about your academic success at PUC, the TLC can help. Call (707-965-7688), email (tlc@puc.edu), or stop by any time; the TLC is located between the Dining Commons and Chan Shun/Davidian Halls. Let’s talk!

*Fees may be incurred for some tests; counselors will advise you prior to taking the test whether or not it will incur a fee.

We’re Here to Help!

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There are several invaluable academic resources at your disposal when you’re a PUC student and if you’re struggling with something, it’s important to remember you aren’t alone. There are people in place who are available to answer your questions or provide you with additional information — you just need to ask for help.

Professor Levi Gore instructs students in class.

Professor Levi Gore instructs students in class.

Your Professors
One of the advantages of attending a smaller college like PUC is forming real relationships with your professors. With a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, that means your teacher will actually know your name and who you are.

Most professors give out their email address and their home number at the start of each quarter and can help you outside of class with any questions you have about assignments. Professors also have regular office hours (at least 10 hours per week!) where they’re available for students to stop by and talk with as well.

Your Advisor
You will be assigned an advisor in the area you’re studying. For example, if you’re planning to study Business, your advisor will be a professor in the Business Department (helpful, right?). Your advisor knows the ins and outs of their department’s programs and will be a valuable source for any questions you have about what classes you should take, what major you should consider for your career path, and more. Every quarter your advisor will need to approve your schedule, which is a great safety net for making sure you stay on track to complete your degree!

TLC

Jennifer Wareham Best at the TLC helps a student.

The Teaching and Learning Center
The Teaching and Learning Center offers free group tutoring for more than 25 different courses. If you’re struggling with a class but don’t see a tutoring option available, talk with the TLC and they can set you up with a small group or an individual tutor.

If you’re nervous or embarrassed at the thought of seeking out a tutor, don’t be! As an English and History major, one of my most difficult classes was Intro to Statistics (math and I don’t get along), but I was too proud to admit I needed help for several weeks. When I eventually went to a tutoring session at the TLC I was surprised to find many of the top students in the class there, as well. Their great grades were a product of seeking help when they needed it!

The Career and Counseling Center
Some of you may not know what you want to study yet, and our Career and Counseling Center can help you figure out the path you should be on. They have a career counselor who can give you a career test and one-on-one help with career counseling. If already you have an idea of what career you want but aren’t sure how to get there, they can help you with your resume, cover letter, and even conduct some mock job interviews with you.