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Academic Support Services

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Take on each semester with confidence. With the help of F&M’s dedicated academic support resources, we’re committed to ensuring all students on campus have equitable access to the support they need to enhance their academic skill set and success.

Tutoring & Academic Support

A constellation of tutoring and academic support services are available to you at F&M, many of which are located in one central location on campus. We offer academic coaching, writing support, peer advising, subject-specific tutoring, and much more. You can partner with professionals and student peers to develop skills as a purpose-driven learner, build habits for success, and reflect on how your knowledge provides momentum to achieve your goals.

Weaving Academics and Wellness

We believe success in college is optimally attainable when your whole person — academic, personal, emotional, and physical — is engaged. Learning is optimal when stress is minimal. Because of this, we incorporate wellness planning into all academic support programs.

 

Academic Advising

F&M’s faculty-based advising program blends practical and holistic advice to foster student agency in their college experience. We encourage students to reflect critically about their choices in order to find the academic program that best encourages their development. Faculty advisers are given extensive support and training resources so as to learn how to provide students with access to the tools they need to thrive.
Learn more about academic advising at F&M »

First-Year Advising Mentors

You’ll be connected with a first-year advising mentor (FAM) to help you successfully launch your journey at F&M. Your FAM will assist you with onboarding and learning F&M’s academic culture, help you add or drop a class to choose that perfect schedule, introduce you to many resources available at F&M, talk about the deep questions of life, and provide tips on where to shop for your new College House room. Most importantly, FAMs will be an important resource throughout your entire F&M experience, listening to your story and helping you craft a distinctive academic path that suits your interests.

Science, Math, and Quantitative Courses Tutoring and Support

F&M’s Quantitative and Science Center (Q&SC) provides help with selected courses in math, biology, chemistry, physics, economics, business, computer science, psychology, and statistics. Q&SC tutors are students who have already taken the courses for which they tutor and have been recommended and approved by the respective departments. Through peer-to-peer help, you will “learn how to learn” science and quantitative content, building problem-solving skills, enhancing study skills, and mastering course content — no matter your academic background, level, and goals.

Writing and Presentation Support

Whether you’re composing your first college paper, preparing a presentation, or working through your honors thesis, F&M’s Writing Center is an excellent resource during any stage of your academic journey. Our tutors can help you through every step of your writing process, from talking about your work; discussing, developing, and clarifying your ideas; and improving your writing style. 

You can turn to the Writing Center for support for:

  • An assignment, including creative writing or a group paper
  • A few sketched-out ideas
  • A partial draft
  • A completed paper
  • A series of PowerPoint slides
  • An oral presentation, including a dress rehearsal
  • A graded paper you wish to revise
  • Your resume or personal statement

The Writing Center also offers a space for you to write, computers for public use, a technical library for consultation, and a variety of online resources, including a guide that covers how to avoid plagiarism and ethically using research materials.

International and Multilingual Academic Support

As an international or multilingual student, you will find unrivaled academic support at F&M. No matter your academic goals, we offer support tailored to your specific needs. We work closely with you on a variety of services, making use of your strengths and skills to help you develop confidence and skills to succeed at F&M. 

We offer a wide range of support services, including assistance with:

  • English grammar, revision, and proofreading skills
  • Reading comprehension skills
  • Pronunciation and speaking skills
  • Writing assignment assistance, including how to form sentences, choose words, and organize thoughts
  • Adjusting to liberal arts curriculum and F&M’s academic culture
  • Interpreting and applying professor feedback to your work
  • Class discussion and participation
  • ​Note-taking and organization
  • Citation, plagiarism, and academic integrity
  • Time management and study skills

Peer Academic Coaching (PAC)

Peer Academic Coaching (PAC) is a free support service available to all students at F&M. PACs are academically accomplished upperclass students who receive specialized training in supporting executive function processes. Each PAC brings a special set of skills — including strategies for time management, stress management, studying, and motivation — alongside their unique experiences as F&M students. No matter your need, PACs are prepared to help strengthen your study skills, navigate schedule changes, set and work toward goals, and find balance as a busy college student. If you'd like more information about the PAC program, please email Amy Faust at amy.faust@fandm.edu.

F&M’s Learning Support Specialist

If a student is facing academic-related challenges, F&M’s learning support specialist, Amy Faust, is a good first stop. Amy's concentration in executive function support helps students navigate the unique challenges of learning in college. She works with complex learning profiles, learning disabilities, ADHD, or any other challenge that is impeding their academic success. Amy supervises the Peer Academic Coaching program, a peer-run network specifically designed for executive function support. Amy collaborates with F&M colleagues to develop programming for students based on current research and the immediate needs of students on campus. You can email her directly at amy.faust@fandm.edu.

Accessibility Support

F&M’s Office of Student Accessibility Services helps determine reasonable accommodations for students with learning difficulties; physical, visual, or auditory disabilities; chronic medical conditions; or mental health-related disabilities.
Learn more about accessibility support at F&M »

DipCares Wellness Program

Many students face challenges during college that can interfere with their success. DipCares is a wellness program at F&M that directs you toward the supportive resources available to you, empowers you to seek them out and ask for help when needed, and ensures faculty and staff know how to help you if you’re distressed.
Learn more about DipCares »

Library & Research Support

You can enjoy individual research advice from a library, access scholarly content, and more at F&M’s two research libraries, Shadek-Fackenthal Library and Martin Library of the Sciences.
Learn more about the F&M College Library »

Language Tutoring

If you’re studying a language at F&M, you can work one-on-one with a peer tutor to ask questions, learn language-specific study skills, and prepare for exams.

The Spanish Language Center

The language experts at our Spanish Language Center are available to help with the complex process of learning to communicate in another language. You can turn to the SLC for individual, collaborative support to develop your Spanish written and oral expression, from essays and theses to presentations, slide design, podcast, etc. We can also help you prepare for internships and job interviews in which Spanish is required. Whether Spanish is your heritage language or a second language for you, we are here to help you. The SLC is open to all the College community.