Free Tutoring at STLCC: How Academic Support Helps Students Succeed

April 03, 2025

STLCC student sitting with a tutor at a table, reviewing notes and discussing coursework, representing academic support and success.

Asking for help in college can feel awkward at first. You might worry that other students will think you are struggling, or that needing tutoring means you are not smart enough for the class.

But tutoring is a normal part of college. Students use it for all kinds of reasons: to review tough material, prepare for a test, talk through an assignment or build better study habits. At STLCC, tutoring is free and available to help you feel more confident in your classes.

For Jarvis Mccaston Wright, a Ritenour High School student who took dual enrollment courses at STLCC-Florissant Valley, walking into the academic success and tutoring office felt intimidating at first.

He worried that other students would notice he needed help. But once he started using tutoring, his view changed.

“Tutoring is not for people who are struggling. It’s to help people become better at studying, better at time management and helping the person better themselves in that subject.”

— Jarvis Mccaston Wright, STLCC student and peer coach

Jarvis said seeing his own progress helped him realize tutoring was not something to feel embarrassed about. It was a way to improve, ask questions and learn strategies that worked for him.

Why Students Wait to Ask for Help

Many students wait until they fail a test, miss assignments or feel overwhelmed before they look for tutoring. Sometimes they are worried about being judged. Other times, they assume they should already know how to study, manage time or keep up with every part of class.

College classes can move quickly, and the strategies that worked in high school may not always work the same way. That does not mean you are failing. It may mean you need a different approach.

Cindy Clausen, manager of academic success and tutoring, encourages students to use support early.

“Most students come to academic success and tutoring after they have failed a test or been encouraged by a professor to get help after poor performance,” Clausen said. “We are happy to help these students, but we encourage students to come to coaching before they are struggling.”

Tutoring Can Help at Any Point

Tutoring is not only for students who are behind. It can also help if you want to improve a grade, prepare for a test, organize your notes, talk through homework or feel more confident before your next class.

Sometimes one focused tutoring session is enough to help the material click in a new way.

What Academic Success and Tutoring Can Help With

STLCC offers tutoring and academic coaching to help students strengthen both course knowledge and college success skills.

Tutoring usually focuses on a specific subject or assignment. A tutor may help you work through math problems, understand science concepts, organize a paper, prepare for a presentation or review material before an exam.

Academic coaching focuses on learning strategies that can help across all classes. A coach may help you manage time, plan study sessions, take better notes, prepare for tests or create a system for keeping up with assignments.

Academic success and tutoring can help with:

Course topics like math, science, writing and communication.
Study skills, note-taking and test preparation.
Time management, organization and planning.
Writing assignments, presentations and class projects.
Online support when you need flexible help outside of campus hours.

Why Starting Early Makes a Difference

Clausen recommends that students connect with academic coaching during the first four to six weeks of the semester. Starting early gives you time to build habits before major exams, papers and projects pile up.

“Just as athletes practice weeks before a competition, student preparation begins long before the first exam,” Clausen said.

Early tutoring can help students notice what is working and what is not. It can also reduce stress because students have a plan before they feel overwhelmed.

For example, a tutor or coach may help you:

Review notes after class.
Break large assignments into smaller steps.
Create a weekly study schedule.
Prepare for exams before the night before.
Understand feedback from an instructor.
Practice problems or review difficult concepts.

These small steps can make college feel more manageable.

Jarvis’ Tutoring Success Story

Jarvis Mccaston Wright, STLCC student and peer coach — Jarvis Mccaston Wright used STLCC tutoring resources to build stronger study habits and later became a peer coach.

Jarvis first used tutoring while taking Psychology 200. The course felt challenging because it included complex concepts, reading and exams that required new study strategies.

Instead of trying to figure it out alone, he made tutoring part of his routine.

“I would sit with a tutor for an hour a day before my first class, going over anything I felt uneasy about,” Jarvis said. “Booking appointments through Navigate was simple, and tutors were always available to help.”

Through consistent tutoring, Jarvis learned new ways to take notes, read course material and prepare for tests. He improved his understanding of psychology and gained confidence in his ability to handle college-level work.

At one point, Jarvis considered dropping the course. With coaching and support, he stayed with it and passed.

His success also led to a new opportunity. STLCC hired him as a peer coach, giving him the chance to support other students who may feel the same way he once did.

“He had always performed well in high school, but his study strategies were not working for psychology,” Clausen said. “I was impressed with Jarvis’s willingness to try different techniques. By midterms, he considered dropping the course, but with coaching, he improved and passed. Based on his success and positive attitude, we hired him as a peer coach.”

Tutoring Can Help Beyond One Class

STLCC student receiving one-on-one academic support from a tutor — STLCC tutoring gives students a place to ask questions, review coursework and build academic confidence.

The skills students build in tutoring can help in more than one course. Learning how to study, ask better questions, organize information and prepare for exams can support students throughout college.

“Students in any major can benefit from working with an academic coach,” Clausen said. “Even meeting with writing or communication tutors can enhance skills needed in every field.”

These skills can also help outside the classroom. Time management, communication, problem-solving and confidence are useful in jobs, internships and future careers.

That is why tutoring is not just about one assignment or one test. It is about becoming a stronger learner.

Free Tutoring Options for Students

Tutoring is free for STLCC students, with support available in person and online. You can choose the option that works best for your schedule.

Students can:

Visit campus tutoring locations for in-person support.
Schedule appointments through the Navigate app.
Use Tutor.com through Canvas for online help.

Tutoring can help with a specific class, writing assignment, test preparation, study habits or general academic skills. Not sure where to start? Academic success and tutoring staff can help connect you with the right option.

Celebrate Progress Along the Way

Tutoring can also help students build motivation. Clausen said celebrating progress is an important part of helping students feel encouraged.

“When a student who has studied with me does well on a test, I publicly spike a football,” Clausen said. “It’s a fun way to recognize achievement and motivate students. You earned it!”

Those moments matter. They remind students that effort, practice and support can lead to real progress.

Progress may look like passing a test, understanding a difficult chapter, finishing a paper, creating a study plan or simply feeling less nervous before class. Each step counts.

When Should You Ask for Help?

The best time to ask for help is before you feel completely overwhelmed. You do not need to wait for a low grade or a difficult exam.

Consider using tutoring if:

You are confused after class.
You are reading the material but not remembering it.
You are spending a lot of time studying but not seeing results.
You are nervous about an upcoming test.
You need help starting or organizing a paper.
You want better study habits or time management skills.
You want to improve from a good grade to a stronger grade.

Asking for help early can save time, lower stress and give you more control over your semester.

Build Confidence With Academic Support

Jarvis’ story shows that tutoring is not a sign of weakness. It is a smart way to learn, practice and grow.

College can be challenging, but you do not have to handle every challenge alone. STLCC’s academic success and tutoring resources are here to help you understand your classes, build better habits and feel more confident as a student.

Every question you ask is a step toward becoming a stronger learner.