What We Do
UCSC’s undergraduate tutoring center
At Learning Support Services, we provide peer-led tutoring, supplemental instruction, and academic support. Our programs are proven to increase student success, help students build skills, confidence, and community. Our goal is to make learning accessible and empowering for every undergraduate student.
Be your best
All undergraduate students pay $12 a quarter as part of their student fees for LSS services. Our services come at no additional cost and students are encouraged to use tutoring and coaching each quarter.
Mission
Learning Support Services provides UCSC undergraduate students inclusive tutoring sessions facilitated by peers to build a strong foundation for success. In tutoring sessions, students can expect to create a community of learners. We help students catch-up on material, keep up with material, and excel.
Vision
At Learning Support Services we work to support educational equity efforts on campus by providing culturally responsive education and training to tutors, empowering undergraduate students as leaders, and creating transformative learning experiences for students. This work is only possible through our partnerships with faculty, staff, and students.
Values
Community
Our programs are grounded in the idea that learning happens best through social interactions. We design programs that center collaborative learning and train our tutors to facilitate safe learning spaces where students can work through the learning process together.
Equity
We intentionally target classes undergraduate students take that have achievement gaps, have proven to be difficult, and are necessary for students to take to declare their major or graduate. We train tutors on learning science, how to work with students from different backgrounds, and how to facilitate effective tutoring sessions.
Excellence
We are committed to maintaining programs that are proven to support student success. We provide regular education and training to our tutors to be able to facilitate tutoring sessions that are effective for students. Additionally, we offer regular training and professional development for our student employees that offer them the tools and skills to find career and educational opportunities after they graduate from UCSC.
Integrity
We respect the background students bring into our learning spaces and make space for them to learn in ways that are accessible and work best for them. We are held accountable to our students, staff, and faculty who collaborate with and support LSS by sharing our success through regular reports.
Opportunity
We invest in the success of our students, student employees, staff, instructors, and campus community by providing regular training, providing and receiving regular feedback, and many offering opportunities to practice.
Sustainability
We are a part of the web of services created to support student success at UCSC. We collaborate with other units and faculty to create meaningful programs for students to thrive in. We are open to sharing our expertise with partners in and outside of UCSC.
Goals
- Students who attend tutoring learn skills to become self-directed learners
- Students who work for Learning Support Services develop as equity-minded educators and professionals
- Learning Support Services is the hub for peer education at UC Santa Cruz.
Certifications
Our programs are certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) and our Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program is accredited by the International Center for Supplemental Instruction (ICSI). These demonstrate that LSS tutors and coaches are trained to national and international certifications.
