REACH Centers

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) offers free tutoring for most 100 and 200 level undergraduate courses, as well as various 300 level courses. This small group (1-5 students) tutoring is designed for students whose schedule prevents them from attending the Peer Assisted Learning sessions. Both on-site and Online tutoring services are offered.

The Math Resource Center (MRC) offers drop-in tutoring for most 100- and 200- level Mathematics courses in an environment conducive to study both individually and in small groups. The tutors staffing the MRC are able to assist students by helping with homework questions, practice problems, and exam analysis. Come by and learn how to reduce math anxiety and improve your math study skills! Just bring your math homework and study with us.

Tutors in the Computer Resource Center (CRC) assist students from College of Business and J.B. Speed School of Engineering with general campus technology related issues, specific coursework questions, test review sessions, and class tutoring sessions. College of Business students receive assistance online or in Ekstrom Library and Engineering students work with tutors either online or in the Speed School Student Services Academic and Leadership Center in J.B. Speed, 107.

Students who would like general computer assistance with campus technologies can contact us to make arrangements for individual assistance. We will gladly set a time where we can work with you individually in one of our tutoring locations. Topics can include help with using email, navigating Blackboard or Ulink, or formatting and managing Word documents or PowerPoint presentations. REACH staff can also direct students to other useful resources when students just need a starting place.

Use this assistance request form or send an email to DennisK@louisville.edu.

Structured Learning Assistance embeds specialized tutors (called Structured Learning Assistants) into targeted STEM+H classes. SLAs support faculty by implementing and facilitating active learning exercises during class to help reinforce course concepts, improve student learning, and enhance self-confidence. SLAs also offer weekly review sessions or tutoring outside of class times.

Generous grant funding from the James Graham Brown Foundation enables REACH to target 5 specific courses: BIOL 240, CHEM 105, CHEM 201, MATH 111, and MATH 180. The grant runs from 2022-2025.

The goals of our SLA program include:

• Increasing the academic success and self-confidence for enrolled students
• Increasing the pass rates in targeted STEM+H courses that lead to majors and career pathways needed in Louisville and beyond
• Increasing the number of students from historically underrepresented populations who achieve success in STEM+H fields
• Positively contribute to equitable educational attainment that increases the economic and social mobility of Kentuckians

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) utilizes student facilitators, who have succeeded in historically challenging courses, to facilitate collaborative review sessions multiple times each week. PAL facilitators can also be directly involved in facilitating classroom activities and discussions (especially useful when a faculty member engages in active learning or a flipped classroom model).

PAL Facilitators

PAL facilitators are students who have earned an A or B in the course they will facilitate or a higher level course in the same discipline. They have also had letters of recommendation written by two of their professors.

How PAL Courses are Chosen?

At the University of Louisville, the PAL program is for courses in which historically 30% or more of the students have final course grades of D, F, or W. The course should also have 100 or more students enrolled in it.

Benefits of Using PAL for Students

Student participants will learn how to study effectively- both independently and collaboratively. They will also develop a deeper understanding of course material and how it applies to their world. This will translate into better grades and a higher level of confidence that they belong at U of L and can succeed academically here.

What can PAL do and what can't it do?

PAL can help students learn how to study both independently and collaboratively. It also helps students learn from one another, verify actual course knowledge, challenge them to teach material back to the PAL facilitator, and prepare them for future courses.

PAL cannot replace the professor’s lectures or in-class assignments. PAL facilitators will never cover material in their sessions that has not been already covered in class. Attending PAL sessions does not guarantee that a student will be successful on their exams and other assignments. Students must still be responsible for their own learning.