The Learning Resource Center is located on the downtown Indianapolis campus and offers two specialized face to face and virtual tutoring centers to support students learning at Ivy Tech Indianapolis.
Welcome to the Learning Resource Center (LRC) of Ivy Tech Community College Central Indiana. Proividing quality, exceptional service is our priority. We want your experience with us to be enjoyable and rewarding. The LRC offers:
Math and Science Resource Center: Offers assistance with analytical and technological assignments for a variety of subject areas. Our goal is to help students develop and apply critical thinking skills to understand and solve problems connected to math, science, and technology.
Writing Center: Offers assistance with written assignments across all subject areas. Our focus is on helping students develop strategies to work through all points of the writing process and to help students grow as writers.
Each center offers virtual services available via Zoom by appointment. Contact us to learn how we can meet with you.
Our tutors commit to…
Students can best prepare for a tutoring session by being…
Facilitate Learning.
Tailor sessions to meet students’ needs
Guide students through the learning process
Provide tools, strategies, and guidance that students can use to continue working independently
Create a Positive, Empowering Learning Environment.
Prioritize learning progress over perfection
Be present, patient, and professional
Respect students’ privacy and confidentiality
Proactive and Prepared.
Connect with tutors early and often
Genuinely attempt an assignment before asking a tutor for help
Bring class notes, assignment instructions, and specific questions to sessions
Engaged and Responsible.
Start and end tutoring sessions on time
Participate in the learning process by asking and answering questions
Understand that students are ultimately responsible for completing their own work
Respectful and Focused on Learning.
Focus tutoring and independent work time on learning activities
Be open to suggestions and alternative learning approaches
Within each Center, students can schedule one appointment per day per course. After the completion of an appointment, a subsequent appointment for the same day may be scheduled if available.
No Show Protocol
Students who are unable to attend their scheduled appointment should contact the Learning Center as soon as possible, and no later than 2 hours in advance, to cancel and reschedule. If students miss a scheduled appointment without prior communication with the Learning Center, this will be marked as a no-show.
Please understand that when students do not attend their scheduled appointments, that time is unavailable and cannot be used by another student who also needs assistance with their coursework. For this reason, students who no-show for two scheduled appointments within an 8-week term will need to contact a Learning Center representative directly to schedule their next appointment. This allows us to ensure that the appointment time works well for their schedule.
Food and Drink
Consuming food is prohibited within the Learning Center. Only beverages with sealable lids are permitted.
Phone Usage
Students should refrain taking and making phone calls within the Learning Center. There is a Cell Phone area outside of the Learning Center where students can speak on the phone if needed.
Minors on Campus
In order to ensure a focused academic learning environment, Ivy Tech’s policy states:
Minors are not permitted to be on Ivy Tech property without direct supervision by a parent or guardian, with the exception of college sponsored childcare centers, minors who are enrolled in Ivy Tech courses or other approved activities. Minors are not permitted in the classroom at any time unless enrolled in the course or approved by the course faculty member or administrative staff.
COVID-19 Protocols
To learn about Ivy Tech’s current policy regarding COVID-19 protocols, please visit our website at www.ivytech.edu and click the orange ribbon.
Students are the central focus of our services. We believe that all students are capable of learning and achieving. We make every effort to create a supportive environment where active learning takes place, and we are committed to fostering a dynamic, effective learning atmosphere.
WHAT WE OFFER: Appointments for one-on-one and group tutoring, which are both available on-campus and virtually via Zoom. We strongly encourage students to schedule an appointment, but drop-in services may be available depending on tutors’ availability.
OUR MISSION: The Math and Science Resource Center provides a supportive, friendly, and open learning environment that encourages Ivy Tech students to achieve their educational goals and develop life-long learning habits. By facilitating accessible tutoring services that are tailored to meet the needs of each student, we empower students to foster critical thinking and problem solving in math, science, and technology.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
We offer virtual and on-campus tutoring to assist students throughout the semester. Students can schedule appointments by following the steps below:
Log into MyIvy using your Ivy Tech email and password.
Open Tools & Resources, then select the CampusTutoring Services icon. Consider favoriting it for easy access in the future.
Click Schedule an Appointment or Search for Availability to open the appointment search tool.
Choose a subject by selecting the course you’d like tutoring for and a reason for your upcoming visit. Click Search to view available appointment times.
Available appointment options will appear, displaying the appointment time, type, location options, and tutor. Select your preferred appointment time.
Identify whether or not the appointment is online or in-person by selecting or de-selecting the “is online” checkbox.
Verify the session’s details to confirm and reserve the appointment time and location.
Watch your Ivy Tech email inbox for an immediate appointment confirmation message and additional instructions for accessing your tutoring session. You will also receive a reminder email the evening before your scheduled appointment.
The following video provides a step-by-step tutorial process for scheduling an appointment:
MEET THE TEAM
Bruck Mulat
Bruck Mulat is a full-time math and science tutor in the Math & Science Resource Center. He recently earned his Master’s degree in Statistics from IUPUI. Bruck is originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He enjoys playing basketball, soccer, and shooting pool.
Mark Power
My name is Mark Power, and I am a full-time Math and Science tutor here at the Learning Center. I graduated from Purdue University in 2011 with a Bachelor's degree majoring in Physics with minors in Mathematics and Astronomy. I worked summer internships at GeoEye Space Imaging, which you might know as the company that provides most of the pictures for Google Maps. While there, I was in charge of keeping track of their satellite's current whereabouts, and their projected trajectories. After graduation, I worked some part-time jobs before settling in here at Ivy Tech. I hope to get back into school soon, and eventually complete a Physics Ph.D. program. In the long term, I hope to be a researcher and professor at a major university. In the meantime, I tutor Monday through Friday at the LRC in any level of Math as well as most sciences.
The Writing Center (LRC 102) provides free support to Ivy Tech students at all points of the writing process and can assist with written assignments across all subject areas. We believe that everyone is a writer and that writing development is an ongoing, life-long process that we are committed to fostering within Central Indiana.
At the Writing Center, you’ll find writers helping writers. Our consultants work one-on-one with students in collaborative, 45-minute tutoring appointments. Regardless of where you are at in your writing process, you’ll find a friendly and supportive tutor who will help you work through the writing process and grow as a writer.
HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
Option 1: Self Schedule in MyIvy
Students can schedule appointments by following the steps below:
Log into MyIvy using your Ivy Tech email and password.
Open Tools & Resources, then select the CampusTutoring Services icon. Consider favoriting it for easy access in the future.
Click Schedule an Appointment or Search for Availability to open the appointment search tool.
Choose a subject by selecting the course you’d like tutoring for and a reason for your upcoming visit. Click Search to view available appointment times.
Available appointment options will appear, displaying the appointment time, type, location options, and tutor. Select your preferred appointment time.
Identify whether or not the appointment is online or in-person by selecting or de-selecting the “is online” checkbox.
Verify the session’s details to confirm and reserve the appointment time and location.
Watch your Ivy Tech email inbox for an immediate appointment confirmation message and additional instructions for accessing your tutoring session. You will also receive a reminder email the evening before your scheduled appointment.
Option 2: Contact our Office
If you experience any challenges scheduling an appointment using the Campus Tutoring Services portal in MyIvy, please contact our office at 317-921-4230 or Indianapolis-writingcenter@ivytech.edu.
SERVICES
Student Services
Everyone is a writer, and every writer can benefit from tutoring. We are here to help! Writing is an inherently social process. We research what other authors have previously said, write responses, share drafts for peer review, and make revisions based on the feedback we receive. Writing is an interaction, a collaboration process to effectively communicate our ideas. At the Writing Center, we support writers who are working through the many dynamic phases of this process. We offer:
Free, individualized writing feedback and support
Consultations by appointment (face to face or virtual 45-minute sessions, one session per day)
We will ask questions, listen, respond as a reader, and demonstrate strategies to improve writing skills
Face-to-Face Tutoring
Writing consultations are available on campus by appointment.
During a typical consultation, which lasts about 45 minutes, we'll do several things:
Briefly review your assignment prompt and deadline, and ask where you are at in your writing process
Ask about your primary questions or concerns regarding the assignment and your draft
Read your draft together, out loud
Focus discussion and suggested strategies for revision around your primary concerns and other high-priority parts of your draft
Recap your next steps for revision and offer to schedule a follow-up consultation
Virtual Tutoring
Virtual tutoring is available in two primary ways:
Synchronous Consultations - These scheduled writing consultations are extremely similar to the sessions that take place in our physical Writing Center, except they occur online using Zoom. Prior to a student's appointment time, they will receive a Zoom invitation link that allows them to access the tutoring session. Within Zoom, students and tutors can share their screens, ask questions, and discuss the writing assignment in live-time.
We believe it is helpful for students to have one-on-one, interactive conversations about their writing with tutors, which is why we recommend synchronous tutoring whenever possible. Because writing is an inherently social and collaborative activity, writers benefit from the opportunity to speak with others to clarify and expand ideas, ask questions and seek/apply feedback.
Asynchronous Writing Feedback - For students who are unable to connect with us using Zoom, the Writing Center can provide written feedback via email within 48-72 hours. It's important to remember that asynchronous tutoring is not a means to "drop off" a paper to have it corrected. Instead, tutors will offer guidance based on their response as a reader, suggesting strategies to consider during the revision process. To submit a request for written feedback, please click here. You'll need to be logged in to your Ivy Tech email account to access the request form.
Faculty Services
The Writing Center is committed to collaborating with faculty to support students in Ivy Tech classes. Our team is happy to visit any classroom--on campus or virtually--to share information with your students. We offer a variety of presentations to meet the needs of Ivy Tech Indianapolis students. You are also always welcome to bring your students to the Writing Center for a class visit! If you have any questions or want to discuss collaborating with the Writing Center, please contact Natasha Wickenheiser, Assistant Director, at nwickenheiser@ivytech.edu.
Purpose of Class Visit: This brief presentation introduces students to a Writing Center tutor and the variety of services our team offers. We provide promotional materials for students and encourage them to utilize the Writing Center for free writing support.
Ideal Time to Schedule this Visit: Typically conducted in the first few minutes of class, this presentation is most effective at the beginning of the semester or when assigning students their first writing project.
Advanced Preparation for the Class Visit: None
Time required: To be determined by individual instructors
Purpose of Class Visit: If you are planning to provide students with focused work time on their writing assignment, possibly while conferencing individually with them about their work, considering holding that class session in the Writing Center. We have computers and tables that students can use. Additionally, our writing consultants will circulate among the class to provide additional feedback while you work individually with students. This helps introduce students to the support they can receive in the Writing Center and to familiarize themselves with our space.
Ideal Time to Schedule this Visit: This class visit to the Writing Center works well when conferencing with students regarding feedback on their work, or when you are providing focused time for students to work on a written assignment during class.
Advanced Preparation for the Class Visit: Students should have a writing assignment they are working on, but they can be at various points of the writing process.
MEET THE TEAM
John Conklin
Lead Writing Tutor
John has a Bachelor of Science degree in economics, with a minor in business, and a Master of Arts degree in teaching English as a second language, both from the Pennsylvania State University. John is in his twenty-third year as a tutor, nationally and internationally, and he is in his seventeenth year as a writing tutor for Ivy Tech. He shares his theoretical understanding of tutoring by coordinating and presenting tutor training sessions. John is also a member of the Ivy Drive Car Club with Ivy Tech. In the community, he is a member of the Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis and enjoys photography.
Natasha Synowka
Assistant Director
Natasha has worked with student writers at both two- and four-year colleges since 2011. Having served as a writing center consultant and an English adjunct faculty member, Natasha enjoys helping students feel more confident with their writing. She believes writer development is a life-long process and that one-on-one writing consultations are instrumental in fostering students' growth as writers. As a former community college student, Natasha was excited to join the Ivy Tech community in 2017. She holds a master's degree in written communication with a concentration in writing pedagogy and a bachelor's degree in professional writing and communication from Eastern Michigan University.
Emily Braught
Writing Tutor
Emily has been working with college students since 2016. She enjoys having conversations about a student's classroom experience, but also everything that is happening outside of the classroom. She holds a B.A in English and Communication Studies from the University of Iowa, as well as an M.Ed in Student Affairs from Clemson University. She recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Literature and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education at Indiana University. Her favorite part of the writing process is prewriting: discovering the intended topic, crafting a thesis, and getting started on an outline. Emily can also be counted on to discuss connections between writing assignments and their relevance to one's life and career aspirations.
WRITING RESOURCES
Research Resources
Ivy Tech Indianapolis Library - Locate articles and books for scholarly research, and connect with librarians using the "Ask Us" or "Chat" tool to discover answers to your questions
Purdue University Online Writing Lab - Provides guidance on academic and professional writing, including information about the composition process, writing in specific disciplines, research and citation help, and strategies for revising and editing drafts
Elements of Style - This digital handbook outlines common rules for writing in an academic style and information on commonly misspelled and misused words/phrases
Merriam-Webster Online - Includes an online dictionary and thesaurus to identify definitions, correct spellings, and alternative word choices
Citation and Academic Formatting Resources
APA Style Guide - Illustrates how to write academically using the 7th edition of APA style
MLA Style Guide - Illustrates how to write academically using the 8th edition of MLA style
Ivy Tech Library Citation Guide - Contains helpful handouts demonstrating how to format papers and cite sources accurately in APA and MLA style
Ivy Tech Library Plagiarism Guide - Defines plagiarism in relation to Ivy Tech's Student Code of Conduct and provides resources to avoid plagiarism
ESOL Resources
ESL Gold - Contains resources and opportunities to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English
Dave's Cafe - Under "Resources," provides lessons on frequently used idioms and phrases, and quizzes to practice reading comprehension, grammar, and punctuation usage
FAQs
What to Expect
What should I bring with me to a consultation?
Please bring your assignment prompt and any writing you've started (brainstorming notes, outline, draft, etc.). When working with research materials, you may also want to bring any sources that you need help citing.
How long are consultations? If I need more help after the session, can I keep working with my tutor or come back later in the day?
Writing consultations typically last 45 minutes and are limited to one visit per day. While we are unable to provide feedback on everything during that time, we try to focus on 2-3 of your primary concerns. Too much feedback at one time can overwhelm writers and limit our ability to focus on higher-priority parts of your writing. Instead, we aim to help you learn and apply strategies for revising your own work--thus empowering students to maintain their agency as writers. Because the Writing Center has a limited number of consultants available to work with students, this policy allows us to consult with more students each day. We encourage students to schedule a follow-up consultation when necessary, as it can be helpful to receive feedback at different points of the writing process.
Will you proofread/edit my paper for grammar mistakes?
No. The Writing Center is committed to supporting and empowering students by helping them develop and refine their own writing skills. Although we will not edit your paper for you, we will talk with you about writing patterns to look out for and strategies that you can use to revise your own work. It's also important to remember that there is more to writing than just grammar and punctuation. Depending on where you are at in your writing process, we may prioritize other concerns and return to questions about grammar during a follow-up consultation.
Can I drop off my paper and pick it up later?
No. The consultants in our Writing Center work one-on-one with students to help them grow as writers. We ask questions, offer feedback, and engage in dialogue surrounding a student's writing and revision plans. We believe this interactive discussion is an important part of the writing and learning process.
My professor said I'm required to visit the Writing Center (or offering extra credit if I visit). How do I let them know that I met with a writing tutor?
After your consultation, your tutor will send a brief email to your instructor to let them know that you visited the Writing Center and worked on an assignment for their class. Students have the option to opt-out of this service.
Technology Usage
Can we look at my paper on a computer?
The Writing Center does have some computers available for use during consultations, so you do not need to print a copy of your paper. Whether your draft is saved on a portable flash drive or in Google Drive, we can utilize a computer to view your work during a consultation.
Is the Writing Center an open computer lab I can use to work on assignments?
Students may use the Writing Center for quiet, independent work on writing assignments. Tutors may or may not be available to assist students with occasional questions during their independent work time depending on availability.
Can I print my paper in the Writing Center?
Our computers are not currently connected to a printer in the Writing Center. However, the Library (which is just down the hall from us) has two commercial printers that you may print to. We recommend that if you plan to work from a printed copy of your draft, it is best to print the document prior to arriving at the Writing Center for your consultation.
Will tutors help me learn how to use my computer?
When working with specific programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, writing tutors can demonstrate how to utilize tools to help you format your writing. However, if you need additional computer technology support, we recommend calling the Ivy Line (1-888-489-5463) to talk with someone in IT or visiting the Math and Science Resource Center for technology tutoring.
Virtual Consultations and Writing Feedback
What writing tutor services do you offer virtually online?
You can learn more about our online tutoring services by clicking here.
How do I share my paper virtually with a tutor?
If you schedule a synchronous Zoom appointment, your tutor can help you “screen share,” which allows them to see the draft you are working on. If you are requesting written feedback from the Writing Center, there is a place in our written feedback request form where you can upload a copy of your assignment prompt and draft.
I don't have a computer. Can I receive tutoring help using a tablet or phone?
Although it may be easier to screenshare and write using a computer, yes, you can download the free Zoom app that's available in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. When your tutor sends the Zoom invitation link for your consultation, simply click on the link to connect with your writing tutor.
My computer does not have a webcam or mic. Can I still get help during a virtual Zoom consultation?
Yes! When you access the Zoom invitation link to join your writing consultation, you will also be provide a number that you can call. This allows you to "dial in" for audio. The Zoom invitation link will allow you to share screens, and calling in for audio will allow you and your tutor to communicate. Zoom also contains a chat tool, which allows you to type questions and comments to your tutor.
How to do I schedule a virtual writing consultation, and what do I do if I need to cancel the appointment?
You can learn how to schedule a virtual writing consultation or how to submit your work for written email feedback by clicking here.
Scheduled Consultations vs. Drop-in Tutoring
How do I schedule a writing consultation?
You can learn how to schedule a writing consultation by clicking here.
Can I drop by the Writing Center to receive help without an appointment?
We always recommend scheduling an appointment for your writing consultation so you avoid potentially longer wait times, especially at busy points of the semester. If a tutor is not available when you stop by the Writing Center for drop-in tutoring, our receptionist will help schedule an appointment for you with the next available writing tutor.
What should I do if I'm running late for my appointment?
If possible, please email us at indianapolis-writingcenter@ivytech.edu so we can let your tutor know you'll be a few minutes late. Your tutor may have another appointment scheduled after you, which can limit your consultation time. If students are running more than 5-10 minutes late, we recommend rescheduling so they can utilize their entire appointment time. Our team will work with you to identify another available tutor who can help you or reschedule your session for a day and time that is more convenient.
What should I do if I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment?
Sometimes students want to reschedule their consultation if they do not get as far as they had planned in their writing. The first thing to remember is that feedback is always helpful--even if that feedback is on a less complete draft. However, we understand that life happens and you may not be able to attend your scheduled consultation. When this happens, please email indianapolis-writingcenter@ivytech.edu to let us know so that we can make the appointment available for another student and work with you to reschedule for a day and time that is more convenient.
