Centers Build Writing, Math, and Chemistry Confidence
Support from the College of Arts and Sciences helps students strengthen foundations, solve problems, and hone critical thinking.
Find Academics Help Here
Check out these websites for information about the services, hours, and more.
The Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center has multiple in-person locations on campus and offers online appointments too.
The Math Place is located on the second floor of Hodges Library in the North Commons.
Chemistry Learning Centers have sessions in Buehler and Strong halls, as well as online appointments.
Students can find support for their academic success throughout the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, from campus-wide resources to faculty members’ office hours. For core subjects, the College of Arts and Sciences provides centers with tutors and mentors who can help from the first assignment through finals.
These centers provide welcoming support for students taking courses in mathematics or chemistry, and who are writing in any course. Whether they are fulfilling Volunteer Core requirements or majoring in the subjects, undergraduates can develop skills that go beyond passing an assignment or exam to building foundations for future success.
The ideal time for students to take advantage of the free assistance is early and often, but the centers remain open throughout the semester, for one visit or ongoing advice.
“The key is to be proactive and not wait for a problem to become a crisis,” said Teaching Associate Professor Nahla Abu Hatab, director of general chemistry.
Coaches Not Critics
Thousands of students each semester access tutors and coaches in person and online through the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center, The Math Place and the Chemistry Learning Centers.
“Herbert Writing Center writing consultants are kind, good listeners who want to help and support writers, not judge or criticize them,” said Executive Director Kirsten Benson. “We aim to help writers feel more confident, more capable, and to build up their strengths. We want writers to be able to tackle upcoming projects in school and later in their workplace with greater ease.”
“Our staff members understand that stepping into a tutoring space can feel intimidating, especially in a subject like math,” said The Math Place Coordinator Blaine Sample. “Seeking help is a sign of academic maturity, not weakness.”
In fact, the centers aren’t just for struggling students but anyone who wants to strengthen their understanding and skills.
They also serve students who need help beyond the subjects in their departments. The Math Place will help undergraduates with math for courses outside the Department of Mathematics, and the Herbert Writing Center assists with crafting internship, job, and graduate school applications.
It All Adds Up
The Math Place is a drop-in service, with no appointment required, and during the 2024-2025 academic year had more than 14,000 visits.
“Many students stop by to review, study with peers, or work on homework knowing that help is nearby if they need it,” Sample said. “It’s a space that helps students build consistency in their learning within a math-friendly environment.”
A student who was struggling with Math 125 Basic Calculus, for example, started visiting regularly and finished the course with a 95.
“Whether a student wants to strengthen their foundation, work more efficiently, or prepare for an upcoming exam, our tutors are here to guide their learning, to explain, encourage, and help them build confidence,” Sample said. “All students can benefit from talking through ideas, checking understanding, or exploring new problem-solving approaches.”
“The tutors are peers who remember what it’s like to take these courses, so it’s a great space to work with others who get it,” she said.
A Formula for Success
The Chemistry Learning Centers serve nearly 750 students each semester. Its website allows students to search the schedule for their courses and the graduate teaching assistants providing support.
“Students are exposed to various teaching methods, and they appreciate that,” Hatab said. “Coming to the learning centers helps students apply what they’ve learned and develop stronger problem-solving skills, which are critical for success in chemistry.”
“Our tutors are here to guide their learning, to explain, encourage, and help them build confidence,” she said.
From Ideas to Editing Tools
The Herbert Writing Center’s motto is, “If it’s writing, we can help!”
Consultants can aid students at every step of an assignment, from a conversation to sort through ideas to offering ways to improve a draft. “While AI can assist writers in some ways, machines can’t match the power of engaging conversations between humans that help build problem-solving abilities and help writers learn to produce writing that’s meaningful to themselves and others,” Benson said.
“Consultants guide students to convey ideas more clearly, elaborate on evidence, and refine their work to make it more coherent and reader-friendly,” she said. They also help students develop editing techniques and strategies they can apply in the future.
In addition to consultations, the center offers workshops, online resources such as writing guides, and step-by-step assignment planners. The Herbert Writing Center, which has been expanding its services, averages about 25,000 student visits per year. While it stays open until the last day of finals, Benson encourages students to plan ahead and schedule appointments up to a week in advance.
By Amy Beth Miller