The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) is dedicated to helping Naugatuck Valley Community College students achieve their goal of academic success.

Though located in Ekstrom Hall, Room E500, the spirit and mission of ACE tutors are not confined to any space on campus. They are dedicated to assist students who need help wherever they go, and whatever the circumstances.

Recently a special tutoring session at the ACE was interrupted by a fire alarm. While outside, ACE Director, Rob Sheftel noticed tutor Kaitlin Dattilo working with a student. They continued their math tutoring session, from a safe spot of course, while students were being evacuated. “It was a cool moment to witness and the student was grateful,” noted Sheftel. He reports that, “Our tutor team is dedicated to providing academic support and personal encouragement. Every student matters at the ACE and we believe all students can succeed.”

Anecdotes like this are the rule rather than the exception at NVCC.

NVCC student, Jose Toro, commented on how the ACE helped him become more successful.

“The ACE has helped me get a good grasp on the math problems with which I had trouble and guided me with techniques to memorize formulas and steps for each problem. I now have a good grasp on most of the math materials. Thank you to the people of the ACE!”

Jose participated in ACE’s new Supplemental Instruction (SI) pilot academic support model that utilizes tutor-assisted study sessions. This pilot program, a collaboration with the Math and English divisions, is part of the PA-12-40 effort.

In fall 2014, over 270 students participated in the pilot. SI targets traditionally difficult academic courses. Students receive regularly scheduled out-of-class review sessions with an ACE tutor. Sessions are directly related to a specific course. Jose was in Professor Jason Seabury’s Math 136 and attended every SI session in fall 2014.

In the spring of 2015, SI is being offered to all students registered for Math 94, Math 136 and English 96.

The ACE has a staff of up to 60 tutors made up of faculty, staff and students. It is a free on-campus resource open on both the Waterbury and Danbury campuses to provide academic support services with individual and small-group tutoring, Math Lab, Writing Center, ESL tutoring, computers, drop-in homework help, make-up testing location, tips on college survival skills, large study area, meeting spaces, academic skills workshops, and e-Tutoring.