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The Fourth Wall
page 7
Tips & Tutors:
Tamara Clark
The services
offered by the
Learning
Center’ are
invaluable
tools to enhance a student’s
learning experience. On the
first floor of the General
Studies building, you will find
at your disposal: tutors, a quiet
place to study, and computer
labs equipped with printers.
The Learning Center is for
everyone. Learning Center
tutors are available for many
classes, including English,
Math, Anatomy, and
Psychology. They help students
prepare for exams, edit essays,
and develop valuable note-
taking strategies. One-on-one,
or with a group, tutors can give
you to improve your grades
and give you confidence.
The center also hosts public
art exhibitions. The artist
usually attends the opening of
the exhibition to talk about his
or her work, and free food,
drink, and live music are
provided.
Tutors can help improve
your grades. My math grades
increased dramatically after I
worked with a Learning Center
Tutor. Some tutors are students
themselves and understand the
needs of other students.
In years past, the Learning
Center was run by Dr. Nanette
Hatzes. This year, Nan
assumes a new position at
Shippensburg University, and
the Penn State Mont Alto
learning center will be run by
Jean Barlup until a permanent
new Director is found.
It’s time to start another
exciting year at Penn State
Mont Alto. To all the first year
students, beginning your
college career can be quite
overwhelming, so knowing
your way around campus will
make your time here at Mont
Alto a lot easier. To help you
out, I’ve come up with a brief
overview of places on campus
that you should be aware of.
This “Tour in Print” may be
helpful to returning students as
well, since many changes have
taken place on campus over the
summer.
Conklin Hall is the central
location for student services,
including Admissions,
Registrar, Finance Office,
Health Services, and Dr.
Gnage’s (our campus CEO)
office. So if you want to add/
drop classes, pay your semester
bill, receive information about
scholarships or loans, find out
what is going on around
campus, or are feeling a little
under the weather, visit
Conklin.
Wiestling Hall is the oldest
building within the Penn State
system. The first floor has been
recently renovated. You can
now hang out in the cyber-café
and student center. Police
Services and the SGA office are
also located on the first floor.
The Multipurpose
Activities Center (MAC) is a
Tuition from page 1
lower than an entire year at
Towa.
The rise in tuition was a
result of funding cuts to
Pennsylvania state universities.
Even with the rise in tuition
costs, Mont Alto is facing
funding shortages in a number
of key areas and student
enrollments are in decline. The
order to get money for
expansion and recruitment,
Mont Alto must increase the
number of students it serves.
However, to attract more
students, the campus needs to
offer more programs, and more
programs require more money.
Ken Gill, Director of Finance,
says that each Penn State
campus is given a specific
to recruit and cannot recruit
means Mont Alto cannot solve
its enrollment problems by
expanding the area it serves.
Harrisburg campus’s recent
expansion into courses for
key center for student activities.
The gym, two racquetball
courts, and fitness center (free
to use) are located here, as well
as the Multi-Purpose Room
which is used for quite a variety
of activities. The IT department
is also in the MAC, so if you
are having trouble with your
email account or the internet,
feel free to stop by IT for help.
The Millstream Café is
open from 7 AM to 10:30 PM
with a variety of foods to
choose from.
The Barnes and Noble
Bookstore on campus is the
spot to buy all of your
textbooks (new and used) for
class, as well as the latest Penn
State gear, school supplies or
the newest bestsellers.
freshmen and sophomores
makes the situation even more
difficult. In effect, Mont Alto
must now compete with
Harrisburg for first year
students in addition to other
colleges like Shippensburg and
Harrisburg Area Community
College.
Reduced state funds,
increased competition, and
higher tuition undermine the
campus’s struggle for more
students.
Enrollment at Mont Alto
peaked in 2000 with 1,307
students. Since then,
enrollment has declined
annually to around 1,100
students.
There are advantages to
earning a degree from Penn
State’ ‘Mont = Alto. The
classroom sizes are much
smaller than one finds on larger
campuses, and Penn State’s
reputation makes a degree from
Penn State much more valuable
than a degree from some of the
less expensive universities.
Nevertheless, the cost of a
degree for most students is
turning out to be much higher
than they previously estimated.
Downstairs is a computer lab
free to use for all students.
The Library is one of the
best resources on campus for
research assignments. As a
Penn State student, you have
access to ALL of the books at
ALY of the Penn: State
campuses through the online
LIAS system. There are also
computers, quiet places to
study, and DVDs you can
check out.
The General Studies
Building and Science &
Technology Building are
where you’ll probably spend
most of your time in class. Both
buildings have computer labs
and student lounges (soda/
snack machines). General
Studies is home to the Learning
/ sn
per semester
Tuition for PA resident
freshmen
Center where you can study or
get assistance from a peer or
professional tutor at no cost.
Take advantage of the tutoring
program; “D for Degree”
shouldn’t be your studying
slogan.
In addition to the Penn
Gates and Mont Alto Hall,
there are three other buildings
on campus: Perry Hall, which
houses the University Relations
and Alumni Relations offices;
the Student Annex, which
houses an occupational therapy
lab; and the Emmanuel
Chapel, where church services
are held.
I hope you enjoy your time
here at PSMA!