The Learning and Advising Center is the University’s comprehensive source for academic assistance. The Center offers a wide range of advising and tutoring services.
Academic advisors assist students in meeting their educational goals and utilizing campus resources. Advising for first-year, day-division students and students who have not declared their major is provided by the Learning and Advising Center. Upper-level, day-division students who have declared their major are assigned advisors in their schools. An important tool for advisors is the Academic Alert Program through which faculty provide advisors with information regarding students’ academic performance.
The Office of Continuing and Professional Studies advises Continuing Studies students. The office maintains regular evening hours. In addition, students may seek advising via telephone or email.
Students who have not yet declared a major or who are thinking about changing their major are encouraged to meet with the Assistant Director of the Learning and Advising Center. Students have the opportunity to discuss possible majors, and to talk with appropriate professionals on campus about the fields they are considering.
Students who wish to explore possible majors may keep their options open during their first two years at the University. Students who choose not to declare a major must work closely with their academic advisors and the Learning and Advising Center staff to select courses that will help them to prepare to enter a specific major. Undeclared students are encouraged to declare a major after they have completed 30 credits. Students are required to declare a major after they have completed 60 credits.
Both professional and peer tutoring are available to all Philadelphia University students who wish to improve performance or maintain high grades in a variety of subject areas. Students work one-on-one or in small groups with professional or peer tutors. Workshops are offered in areas such as time management and note- and test-taking strategies. Other workshops target skills needed for particular courses. All of these services are available at no cost to Philadelphia University students.
Included in the Learning and Advising Center are the following tutoring services:
Professional and peer tutoring is available for all levels of math courses.
Writing assistance is available at all stages of the writing process, from help with organizing ideas and getting started on papers to revising final drafts. Specialized help is also available for writing research papers and for problems with documenting sources, grammar and punctuation.
Study Skills/Test Taking Strategies : Specialized help is available for students who want to read, study and take tests more effectively.
English as a Second Language : Students speaking English as a second language can receive both specialized professional help and student assistance in coursework and general language skills.
Tutoring : Peer tutoring related to specific academic courses is offered by fellow students experienced in the subject. Students are recommended by faculty and trained in learning techniques.
Students who plan to take courses at another institution must obtain the request forms and begin the process at the Learning and Advising Center or the Office of Continuing and Professional Studies. Forms are available for students who wish to change their major. The Learning and Advising Center also clarifies academic policy for faculty, staff and students. Students planning to take a leave of absence or withdraw from the University are encouraged to speak with the Learning and Advising Center staff.