FAQs

Answers to frequently asked questions about the Learning Commons. Click one of the questions below to jump to the answer or scroll down to read them all in order.

Quick links

Who can access services in the Learning Commons?

All current UW Bothell students, applicants, and alumni, no matter the level, background, or questions!

Are tutoring and coaching services only for students who are struggling?

No, it’s for any student who wants to improve or stay on track.

Do I need to make an appointment?

All the services at Learning Commons have drop-in hours, but you can make an appointment with the Writing and Communication Center (WaCC) and Academic Success Coaching (ASC). The Quantitative Skills Center (QSC) is drop-in only.

Do I need to be in person to use Learning Commons services?

The Learning Commons services have both in-person and Zoom options, and the WaCC offers asynchronous email feedback.

How should I prepare for my tutoring/coaching session?

It’s helpful to have some questions prepared, but it’s not required. Other helpful preparations include attempting your homework and reading the prompt and reviewing current course material.

Are coaching/tutoring sessions confidential?

Absolutely. Our policy is to maintain confidentiality in all our coaching and tutoring sessions with students. We are bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The only situation where we would disclose your personal information would be when we see a health or safety emergency, and even then, your information will only be shared with trained professionals. Please see the Purple Sheet to learn about support for distressed students across campus.

How often can I use the services in the Learning Commons?

  • The WaCC has a limit of one hour of tutoring per day each day that we’re open.
  • We recommend that you meet with our Academic Success Coach as much as you like: weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
  • The QSC has no official session limit, but we don’t recommend queuing multiple times in a row without a break.

What can I expect from my coaching/tutoring session?

Academic Success Coaching is a collaborative process. In your session, remember to be yourself and be open to a meaningful conversation. Your coach will get to know you by asking questions about you and your study strategies. The coach may ask a few questions about your daily habits or even your life outside of school to find potential areas of change or growth. We value your lived experience and understand that sharing past failure and success stories is an important skill to practice as it encourages change, growth, and celebration! By collaborating with a coach, we will reflect on past struggles and co-create a success plan with a manageable step-by-step process to help you reach your intended outcome. We’re here to help you make progress–even if you don’t know where to start.

Quantitative Skills Center (QSC): You can expect a focused, collaborative session where a tutor helps you understand concepts, not check your work or give answers, by talking through specific questions about what you’ve already attempted. Our focus is on helping you learn material, not completing assignments. Whether in person or on Zoom, you’ll join a queue, meet with the first available tutor for your subject, share your problem (via notes, screenshots, or screen share), and work together to clarify what’s confusing, explore strategies, and build confidence to continue independently. Sessions last about 30 minutes, and you can return to the queue anytime you need more help.

Writing & Communication Center (WaCC): Rather than editing your paper, our writing tutors will provide strategies to help you improve your writing. We’ll highlight what you’re doing well, ask clarifying questions, show you examples for revision, and offer suggestions that will help you through the writing process with work you can be proud of. Give yourself plenty of time to revise your work with the new ideas and techniques provided in the consultant’s response.

Are there resources I can use between my coaching/tutoring sessions?

Please check out our student resources page for more information.

Where do I start?

Drop in or make an appointment with the service you’re interested in or check out your course schedule!

What subjects do tutors help with?

Please check the course schedules for classes the QSC can cover. This updates quarterly. The WaCC helps with all kinds of writing and communication assignments, ranging from technical to creative to presentations.

When is the Learning Commons open?

Check out the front page to view our hours of operation.

Do you offer private tutoring?

You can request private tutoring by email (uwbalc@uw.edu). Private tutoring is based on tutor availability and is not guaranteed.

What kind of software is available on computers in the Learning Commons?

The QSC computers have the Microsoft Office Suite and other programs standard to all UW Bothell computers, as well as the following specialty software:

  • ArcGIS 10.2.2 for Desktop
  • BlueJ
  • EASy68K, Sim68K
  • Eclipse
  • Emacs
  • Google Earth
  • IBM SPSS Statistics 21
  • LTspice IV
  • MATLAB R2013b
  • Microsoft Mathematics (64-bit)
  • Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2013
  • NetBeans IDE 8.0.2
  • PuTTY
  • Python 3.4.2 (64-bit)
  • QB64
  • R for Windows
  • RStudio
  • Tableau
  • TortoiseHg 3.1.1 (64-bit)
  • TortoiseSVN 1.8.8.25755 (64-bit)
  • Wolfram CDF Player
  • Scratch
  • Maple

What kind of calculators are available for checkout?

Calculators are on a first come, first served basis: TI 30X, TI 34, TI 83, TI 84, TI 84+, TI 86, BA II+

Can I do my homework in the Learning Commons even if I don’t need help from a tutor?

Yes, you may use our space as a study space. Noise levels range from light chatter to open collaboration.

I forgot my textbook. Do you have textbooks available for use during tutoring sessions?

The QSC has a small selection of textbooks, which you are free to use in-house.

Do I need to make an appointment if I just want to have my paper reviewed?

You may make an appointment or drop in at the WaCC. If you just want some quick comments, the WaCC has an asynchronous Email Feedback Service. Allow 72 business hours (hours that the WaCC is open) for a response. During mid-terms and finals, our response could take longer.

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