UC Merced Connect: Student tutors provide support to peers

College can be intimidating – new classes, new people, new responsibilities – and that’s before you even get to the coursework itself. For some, the transition can be difficult.

UC Merced’s Peer Assisted Learning Support makes it a little easier for students who might feel intimidated approaching professors about their struggles. The learning sessions match trained student tutors with other students, and they cover many subjects.

“PALS is a learning community,” program coordinator Karen Linam said. “There is a strong drive among our staff for delivering a professional service and supporting students on their path to success.”

Second-year student Kenny Veliz found the sessions useful and said they helped him grasp material in a comfortable setting.

“I really liked the vibe I got from the learning assistants the first time I went to a session,” Veliz said. “They were able to help me with the questions I had, and I enjoyed that one hour I got to invest with them every time.”

Veliz says he learned about PALS during freshman orientation, and he continues to take advantage of it. He’s gotten help on a number of subjects, including biology, calculus and writing.

Iheoma Chieke also continues to use the program after learning about it her freshman year. She said the tutoring sessions helped her significantly improve her grade in one of her classes that year.

PALS is a free service. Tutors are certified with the College Reading and Learning Association and are required to attend regular training. Sessions are available in smaller groups, as well, for more personalized learning, and are available at different times and days to work around students’ schedules.

Students who’ve benefited from PALS say it’s one of many resources that made UC Merced an appealing choice. Veliz – who also plays basketball for UC Merced and plans to pursue sports medicine after graduation – says PALS is sort of a reflection of the campus itself.

“I really liked the environment since the first time I stepped foot on campus,” he said. “I felt comfortable here, and the people were friendly. The resources and the opportunity to be involved in many programs were also appealing to me.”

‘Light Up the Lantern’ for at-risk youths

The UC Merced Police Department will host its annual Light Up the Lantern event Saturday to support the campus’s Police Mentor Program.

In 2006, UC Merced police officers formed a partnership with UC Merced students with the mission of positively impacting the lives of at-risk students in the local community through mentorship and education. The program, which benefits 200 Merced fourth-grade students annually, operates solely on grants and private funding.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in the solar breezeway of the Science and Engineering Building 2 with a reception and silent auction. A dinner and live auction begin at 6:30 p.m. The price is $40 per person; sponsorship opportunities are available. Reserve online at giving.ucmerced.edu/LUTL-2015.

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 1:53 PM with the headline "UC Merced Connect: Student tutors provide support to peers."