TRIO Student Support Services

What do advising sessions cover?

When you first meet your TRIO advisor, we may ask about why you chose KVCC, what you hope to achieve (both this semester and long-term), what concerns you might have – and just generally get to know you! And of course, we can answer any lingering questions about TRIO or KVCC.

When you come in for a mid-semester check in, we generally have 2 priorities: (1) discussing your midterm grades, and (2) planning for course registration.

We can also help you with...

• Creating an academic plan and identifying next steps after KVCC (entering the workforce, entering or changing degree programs, transferring to a four-year college)
• Applying for financial aid or scholarships
• Accessing support within or beyond TRIO

That said, you don't have to wait until your midterm check-in to meet with a TRIO advisor. In some cases, you SHOULD contact us sooner. 

For instance, if you want to drop/withdraw from a class or take time off from school, please connect with your TRIO advisor first. We won't necessarily "talk you out of it," but sometimes students are unaware of academic or financial consequences (e.g., it could delay your degree progress/graduation, or you could owe money back to the college). Ultimately, it's your decision; but we want you to be informed.

How should I prepare for my advising meeting?

• If you need to cancel/reschedule your meeting, please do so as early as possible. Especially around midterms and finals, our schedules fill up fast. Cancelling early allows us to assist other students.
   
• Reflect on the semester – What is going well? What are you struggling with? Are there any particular resources you believe you need?
   
• Consider making a list of questions or concerns you have.
   
• If possible, check out the courses being offered next semester and/or your degree requirements. Take note of any classes that you are definitely interested in. (This is especially important if you are in General/Liberal Studies, or need to take elective courses.) You don't need to make any decisions beforehand, but it helps to have some ideas going in, so your advisor can provide more specific guidance.
   
• If you met with another advisor, please be prepared to share any plans you made with them, so we can all be on the same page.
   
• The KVCC Advising Center's website is also an excellent resource, including guides to each degree program and useful tutorials.

What tutoring services does TRIO offer?

TRIO provides academic tutoring services in several areas: math/science (including Anatomy & Physiology), writing and reading skills (virtually all subjects, as well as professional documents - i.e. resumes, cover letters, and personal statements), technology/software navigation, and study skills.

Each semester, we also often hire peer tutors (typically 2nd-year TRIO students) who are enrolled in more specialized fields, such as business, early childhood education, health sciences, social sciences, etc. This type of support varies each term. If we can't provide subject-specific support for you, we suggest contacting the Student Success Center and/or your instructor.

In general, tutoring is a good first step when you feel overwhelmed or stuck (or just want some feedback). We can offer individual sessions as needed or on a recurring basis—your tutor will work with you to determine the most effective approach.

How do I contact a tutor?

You can find contact info and scheduling links for TRIO tutors here, or on the left sidebar of this page.

What can a tutor do?

Tutors can help you talk through ideas or assignments. We're great listeners! And the best tutoring sessions are more collaborative than instructive. It often helps to bounce ideas off someone, or just to talk through it. We're trained to help you work through the problem-solving process.

Tutors can answer specific questions and explain concepts in different ways. When we ask, "Does that make sense?", it's really okay to say no. We'll just approach it another way.

Tutors can give you the space to think through problems. We're pros at awkward silences. Seriously. It can be uncomfortable, but that's where thinking often happens.

Tutors can recommend additional resources for self-study or accessibility. For example, Zander can provide tutorials on screen readers or voice-to-text programs to assist with reading and writing.

What CAN'T a tutor do?

Tutors will NEVER do your work for you. We will offer feedback or suggest strategies you can try, but you are responsible for applying your learning to your work. We also won't "proofread" your homework, or tell you exactly what to do.

Our goal is always to help you learn the skills you need - not to fix the assignment.

Tutors will NEVER take a quiz or test for (or with) you. We cannot assist you with exam questions or papers (even take-home exams).

We CAN help you prepare for a test, though! For example, if you're struggling to study effectively for your A&P exams, Landi can give you some tried-and-true tips.

Lastly, tutors CAN'T promise you'll receive a certain grade. At the end of our sessions, we're often asked, "Will I get an A?" The truth is, we aren't grading it, so we don't know. Our goal is to help you improve your academic skills at YOUR pace, rather than achieving a specific outcome.

Every student learns at their own pace – and that growth can't necessarily be forced. We understand that can be frustrating, but try to remember that slow progress is still progress. FAIL = First Attempt In Learning.

How should I prepare for my tutoring session?

• If you need to cancel or reschedule, please do so as soon as possible.
   
• Try to come in with a growth mindset.
   
• Come prepared! Whenever possible, bring anything you might need - class notes, textbook/readings, assignment instructions, and the technology you need to do the work (whether that's pencil and paper, a computer, a calculator, etc.) For virtual meetings, we strongly recommend using a computer rather than a phone or tablet.
   
• Come in with an intention. Try to identify what you need help with beforehand – for example, that may be a list of questions, a paragraph or problem set you're concerned about, or instructor feedback you're struggling to implement.
   
• Try doing the work on your own before the session—even if you're stuck, or get it "wrong." This approach helps us identify exactly where you're struggling. Not only does this save time during the session, but it also ensures you are taking the most active role in your learning – which will make you a better student outside of tutoring, too.
   
• All that said - it's better to come in unprepared or disorganized than not come at all.