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The Academic Commons at Marian University's Ancilla College

A new way to approach student services, The Academic Commons located in the Gerald J. Ball Library is your one stop shop for all of your academic support needs. Access research materials, find peer and professional tutors, and reserve collaborative space for study groups or clubs.  Work one-on-one with a success coach or attend one of our Success Seminars for tips on how to improve your academic experience. Also available in The Academic Commons are computers and printers. Check out laptops and wifi hotspots for your study needs off campus. 

Academic Success Coaching

The Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE) offers academic success coaching to help you develop, strengthen, and refine your academic skills.

Marian University's academic success coaches are professional staff members who meet one-on-one you. We will help you develop action plans and identify proactive steps you can take to achieve academic success.

Based on your needs, these success coaches will help you explore topics like:

  • Study strategies
  • Learning preferences
  • Time management
  • Goal setting
  • Academic and student support resources
  • Campus engagement

Register with an academic success coach

The length, frequency, and type of success coaching offered will be based on your individual needs and learning preferences.

Some students choose to meet with their academic success coaches weekly, while others choose to meet monthly. Most meetings occur on-campus, during regular business hours. You may, however, choose alternative forms of coaching, such as by phone, web, or video.

Peer Tutoring

Marian University's Ancilla College peer tutoring program is a free resource and service offered through the Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE). Our goal is to help you develop confidence and the skills necessary to be successful at the university level.

The Peer Tutor Center is located in the library and is provided on an individual basis or in small groups.

Schedule Online

Tutoring is available for most entry-level courses, and many upper-level courses. If you do not see a course listed below, please reach out to the PTC staff. Please note that we may be unable to guarantee that a tutor can be found for every course offered at the university. 

 

When you attend sessions during walk-in tutoring, please make sure you bring all class materials with you. This would include textbooks, assignment descriptions, syllabus, paper, and writing utensils. Bring your calculator if needed for the course.

Walk-in hours for Peer Tutoring begin the second week of the semester. The Academic Commons follows the university calendar and is closed during all-campus masses and university holidays.

  • Bring all of your materials to the tutoring session (e.g., syllabus, textbook, lecture notes, assignments, problems, lab books, paper drafts, past tests, etc.). This will help the tutor know exactly what you are doing in class and help set reasonable goals for the session.
  • Do the assigned reading and homework before the session. When you prepare for the tutoring session, write down specific questions you have or concepts you want to discuss with your tutor.
  • Ask the tutor to explain not only specific or difficult concepts, but also share study and learning strategies. Your tutor has successfully completed the course and has been recommended by a Ancilla College of Marian University faculty member. They know what it takes to be successful in the course!
  • Do not be afraid to stop the tutor if they are going too fast or telling you too much information at once. Remember, the tutor is there to help you. Never hesitate to ask for clarification. It's ok to say, “I still don’t get it, let’s do it again.”
  • Review the material on your own soon after the session. While tutoring can be a valuable academic resource, it still requires you to attend class and study the material on your own.
  • Talk with other students and consider participating in a study group.
  • Tutors are available to help you, but do not expect the tutor to do your work for you. Tutors will not help with take-home exams. Likewise, tutors will not do your homework for you.

Unless there is an emergency, the student is required to contact the tutor at least Six (6) hours prior to your tutoring session. Failure to do so could result in the loss of tutoring privileges. The consequences are outlined below. 

  • After the 1st No Show, the student may receive a written notice and reminder of the attendance policy.
  • After the 2nd No Show/repeated cancellations, the student could face temporary suspension from services and a meeting with the CASE coordinator in order for services to be reinstated.
  • If services have been reinstated for student and the student misses a third (3rd) session, future tutoring sessions are revoked. Student must meet with the CASE coordinator before services can be used for future semester.

Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a free resource that helps Marian University students be successful in historically difficult courses through peer-facilitated study sessions.

SI allows students to meet during regularly-scheduled times in an informal setting to compare notes, discuss course readings, and predict exam content.

SI is available during the fall and spring semesters. These services are not available during finals week, holidays, and official school closings.

It is recommended that you attend at least one SI session per week. Benefits include: better understanding of course material, raising course grades, and getting to know your peers.

Class SI Leader Date Location
ENG-112: all sections Gabriella Norwood
gnorwood819@marian.edu
Thursdays 12:30-1:30PM Academic Commons
CHEM-100: AC01
Professor Williams
Lucy Lillis
llillis879@marian.edu
Email for appointment/Individual or group Academic Commons

Students, if you are not able to attend an SI session due to scheduling conflict(s), please reach out to your SI Leader for any additional times they can be available to assist.

SI leaders attend all course lectures and facilitate up to two (2) one-hour review sessions each week outside of class. SI leaders are required to plan weekly sessions, communicate regularly with the university's director of academic engagement, attend SI training sessions, and participate in observation reviews. We anticipate that SI peer leaders will spend eight hours per week fulfilling their responsibilities.

  1. Be a full-time Marian University student.
  2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  3. Course competency- course completion with a B+ or higher in SI course.
  4. Available for ten hours per week, on campus.
  5. Faculty recommendation.
  6. Strong communication skills and desire to help others.

All interested students should obtain a faculty letter of recommendation and contact Michelle Bougher, Assistant Director of Student Success & Engagement, mbougher@marian.edu

Contact Us

Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Road
Indianapolis, IN 46222-1997
(317) 955-6000

admissions@marian.edu
COMadmissions@marian.edu

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Marian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age or disabilities in the selection of administrative personnel, faculty and staff, and students.
*Placement rates are gathered from data collected from graduates within six months of graduation.

Students may make a complaint to the Indiana Commission of Higher Education.

Marian University is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana.

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