This story is part of our ongoing “HACC Heroes” series. We recognize the severity of the global coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our communities. During this challenging time, we want to thank and recognize HACC employees, students and others who are making a difference. The heroes of this story are Cathy Rosenkrans, assistant director of tutoring, and the trained tutors who lend their expertise to help students succeed.

HARRISBURG, Pa. – As the coronavirus evolved into a global pandemic, HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, took steps not only to protect the health of students and employees but to provide resources to ensure student success as the College moved to remote instruction.
 
Tutoring services are an integral resource for students in need of extra help, so Cathy Rosenkrans, assistant director of tutoring, saw the need for quick action. Rosenkrans and her team already were planning to initiate a collegewide pilot project in remote tutoring, so they stepped up the process. Previously, only online students had access to remote tutoring via a third-party source, “Smarthinking.”
 
By the time students returned to their studies on March 23 after an extended spring break, Rosenkrans was ready. She and her team launched remote tutoring using video conferencing to allow students to succeed under these extraordinary circumstances.
 
“Remote tutoring gives students the ability to connect from home, at their convenience, with trained HACC tutors who know our curriculum and faculty. Our tutors have already established relationships with our students, and this helps build a community of support while everyone is isolated. If students turn on the video option on Zoom, tutors are still able to interact personally with them during tutoring sessions,” said Rosenkrans.
 
Tutoring gives students opportunities to work with others in the same course who may experience the same issues. This approach promotes student engagement at the College. Tutoring provides not only academic enrichment, but it also helps students develop better connections to the material, improved work and study habits, connections to resources and increased self-confidence and efficacy.
 
“Tutoring sessions have lessened student anxiety about being able to successfully continue in their courses,” said Rosenkrans.
 
Please see this video for a look at how remote tutoring works using video conferencing.

Photo Caption: HACC launched collegewide remote tutoring services when the College moved to fully remote instruction and operations due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
 
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 19,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.