OMA&D Academic Counseling Services

Instructional Support

Get a Great Start to Your University Career

  • Connect with your instructor at the beginning of the quarter work with them early and often.
  • Seek help from your instructor when you do not understand concepts or problems RIGHT AWAY!
  • Come prepared with questions and relevant materials.
  • Seek tutoring well before an assignment is due. Don’t wait until the last minute to seek help from a tutor!
  • Bring all relevant materials to the tutoring session.
  • Be open to the tutor’s suggestions, always keeping in mind that the tutor is your advocate.
  • Don’t expect the tutor to do your work (or proofreading) for you.
  • Be honest about what you don’t understand.
  • Be open to working as part of a group.   

Instructional Support Services

Math Instruction

Located in the OMAD Instructional Center, the SSS Math Instructor and tutors provide synchronous and asynchronous academic assistance to students for all undergraduate Math and Introductory Computer Programming classes. Live support includes one-on-one tutoring and math workshops at the center as well as online canvas and zoom. It is recommended that SSS students taking any of these courses meet with the instructor and tutors at the beginning of the quarter. We have found that students learn better if they study their material every day.

Getachew Zeleke
TRIO SSS Math Instructor
206.543.4240
zelekg@uw.edu

In order to succeed, please remember:

  • Attend class regularly!
  • Be prepared to do your own work.
  • Study in groups of two or three so you can learn from each other.
  • Seek help from your instructor when you do not understand concepts or problems RIGHT AWAY!
  • Students seeking help late in the quarter (when in academic trouble) often do not learn the material well enough to get a passing grade in these math courses.

Writing Instruction

Also housed in the OMAD Instructional Center, the SSS Writing Instructor and tutors are available to help you with ANY type of writing project – from essays to lab reports, resumes, and personal statements. The SSS Writing Instructor also offers workshops for students enrolled in English 109 and English 110. Writing instruction is available on a drop-in or appointment basis for one-to-one tutoring Monday-Friday from 8:30-5:00.

Leah Spence
Writing Instructor
206.543.4240
leahs@uw.edu

The SSS writing tutors can help you to:

  • Understand exactly what a writing assignment is asking you to do.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of your course readings.
  • Organize and focus your ideas.
  • Structure your thoughts and arguments clearly and logically.
  • Add fullness and depth to your arguments and discussions.
  • Revise a paper in accordance with your teacher’s comments.

To get the most out of a writing tutoring session:

  • Seek tutoring well before an assignment is due. Don’t wait until the last minute to seek help from a tutor! A tutor can’t help you much on the day an assignment is due.
  • Bring all relevant materials to the tutoring session (written assignment sheet, course readings, class notes, early drafts of your paper if you’re working to revise, instructor’s comments).
  • Tell the tutor how you feel about your progress on the assignment so far, and explain what you would like the tutor to work on with you.
  • Be open to the tutor’s suggestions, always keeping in mind that the tutor is your advocate.
  • Don’t expect the tutor to do your work (or proofreading) for you!

Biology Instruction

The TRIO SSS Biology Instructor is available to work with students to help them develop strong study skills and strategies to succeed in their biology courses. Instruction is provided to help students develop a deeper understanding of the course material in the three-course introductory biology series which includes Biology 180, 200, 220. Assistance is also provided for students taking the non-major, nursing prerequisite Survey of Physiology (Biol 118). Support for additional 300 and 400 level biology courses is available on a case-by-case basis.

Patricia Zagallo
Biology Instructor
206.543.4240
pzagallo@uw.edu

The SSS Instructor can help you to:

    • Develop a deeper understanding of the course material covered in the introductory biology series. To succeed in the biology core series it is necessary to not only master the course content, but also to extend this knowledge to be able to solve unknown biological problems, interpret scientific studies, interpret and create graphs and use hypothesis driven logic.
    • Organize and focus your notes and study strategies.
    • Develop analytical and scientific thinking- skills necessary to succeed in the biology core curriculum.
    • Help in connecting with faculty and programs across campus to find research positions.

Instructional Center Support:

The Instructional Center Biology area is open Monday to Thursday from 9am – 8pm and Friday 9am – 5pm for drop-in questions, one-on-one tutoring and workshops. Peer tutors and an additional biology Instructor are available at the IC. Support is provided primarily for Biology 180, 200 and 220 as well as Biol 118. Support for other biology courses is limited, but questions are welcomed.

To get the most out of a biology tutoring session:

    • Seek tutoring well before your exams. Don’t wait until the last minute to seek help!
    • Bring all relevant materials to the tutoring session (course readings and class notes).
    • Be honest about what you don’t understand – this is a time to make certain you fully understand the material.
    • Be open to suggestions, always keeping in mind that the instructors and the tutors are your advocate.
    • Don’t expect the instructors or tutor to do your work for you.
    • Be open to working as part of a group.