ACE
The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) provides student-centered programs, resources, and services to develop independent and successful learners.
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The ACE study lab is located in the Utley Center near the cafeteria and offers study resources, computers and free tutoring to all RC students. Upstairs from the ACE is the CHILL, which offers a comfortable study area and a place to work with groups. All students are invited to take advantage of these on-campus study environments.
ACE peer tutors are traditional students trained to help with accounting, biblical studies, business, communication, education courses, English, history, math, sciences, and all phases of the writing process. ACE tutors are trained to help you learn concepts, and students should leave the session with a better understanding of the course work. Peer tutoring is an encouraging, engaging, and effective resource for all Rochester College students.
Tutoring is available on a walk-in basis during the traditional academic year, September through April, and by appointment from May through August. For additional information or questions please call 248-218-2173 or e-mail acelab@rc.edu.
Location: Utley Center, downstairs from the CHILL (near Fletcher Cafeteria)
SUMMER 2013 Hours (April 28 – August 23, 2013)
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday Closed
Closed Dates for Summer 2013:
Memorial Day: May 27
Independence Day: July 4
| FALL 2013 Hours (August 26 – December 17, 2013) | |
| Monday – Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
| CLOSED Dates for Fall 2013 | |
| Labor Day | September 2 |
| Thanksgiving | November 27 – December 1 |
| Christmas/New Years | December 23 – January 1 |
Peer tutors provide academic support to Rochester College students in the ACE lab. If you would like to know the schedule for specific course tutors, please contact the ACE lab at acelab@rc.edu or 248-218-2173.
School of Nursing students are able to make appointments with the peer tutor for nursing, Amanda Horn. To set an appointment online, enter your Accudemia username and password. If you do not know your user name, send an email to acelab@rc.edu.
ACE Director
Paula Bonbrisco
pbonbrisco@rc.edu – 248-218-2174
Paula Bonbrisco, ACE Director since 2003, has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Saginaw Valley University. She has teacher certification (grades K-8 all subjects and grade 9 Social Studies and English) and 33 years teaching experience in the public schools. Ms. Bonbrisco is currently a member of the National Council for the Social Studies and the Association for the Tutoring Profession.
Math & Science Coordinator
Dr. Kay Tucker
ktucker@rc.edu – 248-218-2068
Dr. Kay Tucker, Math and Science Coordinator since August 2011, has a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Texas A&M, and Doctor of Philosophy; Kinesiology (Dissertation Title: The Effect of Summary Knowledge of Results on Error Detection Capabilities). Dr. Tucker has taken additional master courses in mathematics from 1988-1990 at Sol Ross University.
ACE Assistant
Phebe Dollan
pdollan@rc.edu – 248-218-2173
Phebe Dollan, ACE Assistant graduated from Regent University with Master of Arts in Practical Theology and minor in Life-Coaching. Mrs. Dollan has experience in higher education for the past six years working in admission, registration, graduation , and tutoring center. Mrs. Dollan began working in the ACE lab in July 2012 and received training in ACE assistant responsibilities, and online training with Accudemia.
Math Support
Benefiting most from ACE Math Support
Peer Tutors are able to help with Survey of Math, Beginning Algebra and Intermediate Algebra. Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Vivian Turner provides assistance in the ACE Lab and also hosts traditional pre-exam Math study sessions.
Writing Support
Benefiting most from ACE Writing Support
Peer Tutors are able to assist with any writing assignment. Please bring your class syllabus and assignment information with you.
Find useful writing tips and helpful guides from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue (OWL) and a list of Common Errors in English Usage from Washington State University’s Paul Brains. Try this time line navigation tool from Tufts University to get started on your research paper.
Online Writing Support
Rochester College’s ACE academic support center is currently offering online support for all RC students including off-campus program courses and students in the online RN/BSN program.
Supplemental Instruction – Biblical Studies
SI Leaders attend traditional classes, take notes and read the assigned material. SI is offered in the required freshman Bible courses. Students who attend SI sessions discover appropriate application of study strategies as they review content material. SI sessions are open to all students in the course on a voluntary basis. Studies show a higher classroom GPA in students who attend SI Sessions!
Study Skills Sites
How to Study.com Clear information on study skills: preparing to study, developing better reading and listening skills, guidelines for creating flash cards, other suggestions.
How to Study.org Succeed in college with the latest study strategies and writing techniques. Get hints and tips for writing papers for your major and passing these final exams.
Study Guides and Strategies The Study Guides and Strategies web site is authored, developed and maintained by Joe Landsberger as an educational public service. These student guides are collaboratively maintained across institutional and national boundaries, and last revised March, 2008. Permission is granted to freely copy, adapt, and distribute individual Study Guides in print format in non-commercial educational settings that benefit learners.
Effective Study Skills This web page on study skills is designed to help you improve your learning. Effective study skills must be practiced in order for you to improve.
Learning Strategies Dartmouth’s Academic Center has information on time management, reading textbooks, note taking, managing stress and anxiety (includes videos).
Ageless Learner:
Tony Buzan’s site – shows how to make a map and the benefits of mind mapping over traditional outlining:
Style Guide Links
From the official APA Internet site, APAStyle.org APA Style Tips
The official Modern Language Association Internet site, MLA.org www.mla.org
The Chicago Manual of Style Online, Sixteenth edition.
The Society of Biblical Literature, (SBL) official Web site
Additional Resource Link
Khan Academy shows extensive video library, interactive challenges, and assessments for math, science, finance & economy, humanities, and test preparation.
For additional information or questions call (248) 218-2173, or e-mail acelab@rc.edu.
Concerns about ACE tutors should be addressed to ACE Director, Paula Bonbrisco, pbonbrisco@rc.edu.
Benefiting most from ACE Math Support
Do I need appointment?
During the traditional students’ fall and spring semesters (September-May), students are welcome to walk into the ACE Lab. To use the services the ACE Lab is located next to the cafeteria in the Utley Center/Westside Central. You can call (248) 218-2173 or check the weekly schedule in the ACE Lab to confirm that a math tutor will be in the lab.
During the summer, ACE offers help on the main campus by appointment only. Please note, since the traditional students are not on campus summer tutoring is limited. If you anticipate needing a lot of math support please take that under consideration when scheduling your classes.
Check the main ACE page for hours and closed dates.
Who are the ACE Math Academic Assistants?
RC’s math tutors are traditional students who excel in Math courses. The tutors undergo extensive training and are expected to perform all tasks with a supportive, attentive attitude. If he/she does not know the answers to your questions, he/she is expected to help you find them. Concerns about ACE tutors should be addressed to ACE Director, Paula Bonbrisco, pbonbrisco@rc.edu.
Which mathematics classes do they support?
Currently, the tutors provide assistance for Survey of Math, Beginning Algebra, and Intermediate Algebra, Pre-calculus and Calculus.
Are Math professors available for assistance?
Vivian Turner, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, devotes up to 5 hours a week in the ACE Lab and in scheduled math labs. Mrs. Turner’s weekly hours are posted in the ACE Lab or call (248) 218-2173 . In addition, all RC math instructors are willing to meet with students during office hours, check your class syllabus for those hours.
What should I bring when I come for assistance?
Bring your book, your assignment, your calculator, and your own class notes. You also should bring the assignment as you attempted it, for it is important to at least try the assignment before coming to a tutoring session. Note cards, used to record pertinent material for portable study, are also helpful.
What kind of assistance can I expect?
The tutors are trained to be encouraging and to help you build on your strengths in order gain confidence in math. The goal of the tutor is to help you develop a richer understanding of math concepts and not to just complete the assignment. The advantage of one-on-one tutoring is that the tutor can work with you until you understand the concept and can work the problems correctly. They are trained to ask leading questions that will direct you toward the correct steps. They will not do your assignment problems, but they will do similar problems until you can complete the assignment independently. The tutor will ask you to explain your thinking and will model their own thinking as he or she verbalizes and illustrates approaches to problem solving. ACE tutors will not assist you with take-home quizzes or exams.
Tips for doing well in math:
- Attend all of your classes and take notes.
- Practice math every day.
- Use positive self-talk when referring to your abilities in math.
- If you are struggling, get assistance regularly; do not wait for the exam study sessions.
- When something is unclear, ask the instructor or tutor. All questions are valid!
- Review your mistakes on exams and graded assignments
Benefiting most from ACE Writing Support
Do I need appointment?
During the traditional fall and spring semesters (September-May), you are welcome to walk into the study lab next to the cafeteria. You can call (248) 218-2173 or check the weekly schedule in the ACE Lab to confirm that a writing tutor will be in the lab.
During summer courses, ACE offers help on the main campus, by appointment only. Please note, since the traditional students are not on campus summer tutoring is limited. If you anticipate needing a lot of support please consider that when scheduling your classes.
Check the main ACE page for hours and closed dates.
What should you expect from ACE writing tutors?
- Individual assistance on the writing issues that concern you
- Helpful, courteous, and competent traditional-student writing assistants
- Support for writers at any stage in the writing process
- Improvement in your overall writing skills after repeat visits
What should you not expect from the ACE writing assistants?
- An editing service where we do the work while you sit and watch; we strive to help you to learn.
- A perfect paper – 60 minutes is often not enough time to address everything. Repeat visits may be necessary to polish your writing. The real goal of the writing support is to help you become a better writer not to perfect a particular paper.
- Flawless ACE assistants who know all of the answers; what we do not know we will research with you.
- Answers to all of your writing questions in just one or two sessions – becoming a better writer is a process that happens gradually
- A quick editing service just hours before a paper is due
What else should you know?
- Bring your writing assignment, ideas, notes, drafts, other relevant materials, and a specific task on which to work.
- Be prepared to take an active role in your sessions. Let the ACE assistant know specifically where you need assistance.
- Plan ahead and come in days before the assignment is due in order to have time to make proper revisions.
Repeat visitors to the ACE Lab agree that…*
- Overall writing abilities improve over the course of the semester.
- They gain a better understanding of the process for writing.
- ACE writing assistants do provide the needed help.
- ACE writing assistants are friendly, courteous, and encouraging.
*Based on 2010-2012 semester evaluations