GCU Supports Students with Learning Disabilities for Over 25 Years

TLC encourages confidence, student success

LAKEWOOD, NJ—Georgian Court University is often referred to as the “best kept secret in Lakewood.” This rings true regarding The Learning Center Program (TLC), the school’s highly specialized program that supports students with learning disabilities and other learning challenges that impact their academic abilities.

For more than two decades, TLC has helped countless students achieve their dreams of a college education. Very few colleges and universities offer such a comprehensive level of support for students within this population; most offer only accommodations and modifications. Georgian Court, however, goes beyond the minimum requirements and empowers students to succeed inside and outside the classroom.

How it works

Teachers or adjunct professors, referred to as Academic Support Specialists, assist students in all aspects of their college experience from transitioning to college life to subject specific content tutoring. Students have the opportunity to meet with their Academic Support Specialists for two hours each week in effort to improve areas such as academics, time management, study routines, and life skills. One-on-one support allows students to experience a strong bond with a caring adult who they know will encourage them both personally and academically throughout college. The specialist plays the role of a cheerleader, tutor, and life coach, helping students to stay on track and become independent, lifelong learners.

In addition, the TLC office arranges testing accommodations and note taking services for students with documented disabilities. At Georgian Court University, students are a name, not a number, and no student goes unnoticed.

TLC gets results

Findings from a 2013 self-assessment indicated that 100% of TLC students strongly agreed that their Academic Support Specialist was someone they could trust to offer help and support in both academics and personal matters. TLC has been empowering students for over 25 years. In the past academic year, there has been an increase in retention and graduation rates, where:

• 55% of students have been able to maintain a 2.6 GPA to a 4.0 GPA, and
• 44% of students maintain a GPA above a 3.0.
• Overall, 65% of TLC students showed improved cumulative grade point averages from the Fall semester of 2012 to the Spring semester of 2013.

Some GCU students attribute their success—in no small part—to their experience with The Learning Center:

“TLC has helped me become a confident student. My knowledge has improved greatly because of my wonderful tutors. I’m learning how to tackle assignments on my own and become an independent student.”

“I love TLC. Now I’m in my last year and I look back; I really don’t think I would have made it through without them.”

The Learning Center continues its mission to assist every student with a learning difference or learning challenge, attain academic achievement, independence, and self-advocacy. Many students have been told throughout their education that they would never go to college or be successful beyond high school.

The Learning Center, however, has changed this outcome and provided them with the opportunity to excel. As society continues to demand academic excellence, the students of TLC will have no problem succeeding in the workforce and reaching their personal and professional goals.

Text by Luana Fahr, The Learning Center at GCU & Karissa Merkel, Monmouth University graduate student and GCU intern. To learn more about GCU’s TLC program, call 732.987.2650 or email fahrl@georgian.edu.