Frequently Asked Questions
Please see the answers below to many frequently asked questions and/or view the Academic Success Center Orientation Video or our online tutorials.
Hours/Location
When are you open?
The Newtown Center is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30am-7:00 pm and Friday 10:00am to 3:00pm during the fall and spring semesters.
The Newtown Center is open Monday through Thursday, 10:00am-6:30pm during the summer. Please note that the summer hours are subject to change.
Call 267.685.4825 for the Lower Bucks hours and 215.258.7721 for the Upper Bucks hours, or click on the specific subject for hours.
The Virtual Campus includes our drop-in online spaces with designated hours and our website, which includes many resources and links available for you at any time. Students can schedule, cancel, and view appointments online. Students can also request an appointment online or submit a Tutoring Services request for services not currently offered. Online tutoring for many subjects, including math and writing, is offered.
Please call the Newtown Center at 215-968-8044 or visit the website for Winter Session hours.
Where are you located?
The Newtown Center is located on the main floor of the Library building, room L210. The UBC Center, Perkasie, PA, is located in Room 250. The LBC Center, Bristol, PA, is located within the Library.
We also have many resources online, including Online Tutoring for select subjects, as well as handouts and links to helpful websites.
When should I come to the Academic Success Center?
As soon as possible! We ask that you do not wait until the day (or day before) a paper is due or your test is held.
Academic Success Center
What should I bring with me?
Bring a copy of the assignment or problem(s), your book, any work you have done, and some good questions for the tutor.
How much does it cost?
The service is available to all currently enrolled (part-time or full-time) Bucks County Community College students at no additional cost.
What courses does the Center offer tutoring for?
The Center offers tutoring for a variety of courses and subjects. See the Subjects Tutored link listed on the right, and click on the links for additional information and hours. (Please note the Writing and AESL Tutors offer writing, reading, study skills, and AESL help for any course.) Additional science help is available in the STEM Learning Center is in Founders 156 (Newtown Campus) and is run through the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Department (215-968-8305).
Do I have to get tutored at the campus where my course is held?
No. You can get tutored at the Lower Bucks, Upper Bucks, or Newtown Campuses, as well as Online regardless of which campus you go to for class. Please note, however, the hours are different for the Lower Bucks, Upper Bucks, and Virtual Centers; call the numbers listed above (#1) or click on the Subjects Tutored or Online Tutoring link on the right-hand side to view the hours.
How do I meet with a tutor?
All of the subject handouts on the Subjects Tutored pages list whether a subject is drop-in or appointment. Students may schedule, cancel, and view their own appointments, as well search drop-in availability for a specific course through our online system. For drop-in subjects, you can stop by the Center during the listed times. For appointment subjects, set up your 30 minute one-on-one tutoring session by clicking on the Schedule Appointment link to schedule your own appointment or the Tutoring Appointment Request link to submit an appointment request. You can also call one of the Centers or stop in the Newtown Center or LBC or UBC Library to schedule appointments. Please check for UBC, LBC, and Online hours, as well as variations in Winter Session and summer schedules. Please see the links on the right-hand side for Online Tutoring information and subject-specific Winter Session and summer hours.
How often can I meet with a tutor?
If the tutoring works on an appointment basis, you are permitted to make two appointments per day for most tutoring subjects. Second appointments will be scheduled based upon availability.
If the tutoring works on a drop-in basis, you are permitted to stay during the posted hours and receive tutoring. However, each session with a drop-in tutor will last a maximum of 30 minutes, with approximately 20 minutes in-between for independent work. Please click on the Schedule Appointment link on the right-hand side, and then click on Center Policies for specific appointment and drop-in policies for each subject.
Please call the Newtown Center at 215-968-8044 and ask to speak with one of the Assistant Directors or the Director if you have any questions or concerns about these policies.
If I came to the Center for an appointment, can I still come to a Workshop, Conversation Group, or Study Group?
Yes. Even if you had an appointment or came for drop-in tutoring, you are permitted to attend a Workshop, Conversation Group, or Study Group.
Is there telephone tutoring?
Limited telephone tutoring is offered for select subjects. Call 215-968-8044 for assistance. Please note that questions about problems must come from the textbook.
Is there online tutoring?
Yes. We offer online tutoring for many subjects. Please click on the Online Tutoring link on the right-hand side for more information about real-time online tutoring and non-real-time online writing tutoring. For the non-real-time online writing tutoring, please completely fill out the form, and attach your paper or assignment. Please call the Newtown Center at 215-968-8044 with questions, for more information, or to schedule a real-time session.
What is a Success Advocate and how can I meet with one?
Success Advocates offer peer mentoring to help students transition into Bucks and navigate their college careers by serving as a connection for them and the college community. Success Advocates can answer questions about different Bucks services, connect students to clubs and organizations, and help students navigate the campus.
If interested in meeting with a Success Advocate, students can fill out a Peer Mentoring Interest Form. In addition to scheduled meetings, drop-in hours are available around campus and at the Academic Success Center. Students can also ask quick questions through our Ask a Mentor form.
For more information, reference the Success Advocates link on the right side of this page.
Does the Center offer additional resources?
Yes. In the Centers and on the website are many additional resources, such as handouts on writing, math, etc. In the Centers, you are welcome to check out laptops for tutoring sessions or to complete homework. Please note that at LBC and UBC, students can check out laptops through the Library. CD tutorials and calculators are also available at the Newtown Center. The Centers also house many current textbooks that are available for students to use in the Centers. To check out materials, please make sure you bring a photo I.D. and your student I.D., which can be obtained in the Library. The Center's electronic resources (laptops and calculators) must remain inside the Center, while the Library's resources (laptops and calculators) are available for students to take with them around campus.
How do I request a subject or time not currently offered by the Center?
If you would like to request tutoring for a course or day or time the Center does not currently offer, please click on the Tutoring Services Request form on the right.
How do I apply to become a tutor, mentor, or front desk student worker?
If you are interested in working at the Center, please click on Center Applications to review the qualifications and to access an application. You can also stop by or call the Newtown Center (L210) at 215-968-8044 to pick up an application. Student tutors must have a CGPA of 3.2 and have A's (or one B+ and a CGPA of 3.8 for select subjects) in the courses tutored. For non-BCCC students, please submit your resume and unofficial transcript with your application.
Information for Faculty
How do I request support for my classes from the Center?
If you would like to request an orientation, handouts, an online drop-in tutor, or an embedded tutor or mentor in your class, please click on the Faculty Resources link on the right-hand menu. You can also submit a tutoring referral for your students, submit your assignments so the tutors can review them, and access the orientation video.
Questions and Feedback
Who do I contact if I have a question or concern? How can I provide feedback to the Center?
If you have a general tutoring or mentoring question, please call the Newtown Center's main number at 215-968-8044. If you would like to speak with one of the full-time staff members about any questions or concerns you may have, please click on the Meet the Staff link on the right-hand side and feel free to call or e-mail the Director, one of the Assistant Directors, or the Writing or Math Specialists.
You can also provide feedback to the Center by completing our online survey or paper surveys in the Centers.