Abington Chaiken Center offers free tutors, writing consults, success coaches

ABINGTON, Pa. — The hub for academic support at Penn State Abington is named the Chaiken Center for Student Success in part to eliminate the stigma associated with the word “tutoring.” The center offers free services to every student — not just those who are failing. It provides tutors in specific subject areas for anyone wanting to improve their grades or master content as well as writing consultations and success coaching facilitated by professional and highly trained staff.

Fourth-year student Martin Cioppi has worked as a writing consultant in the center for almost two years.  

“Students should know that they don't need to be absolutely flunking to attend tutoring," said Cioppi, who is on track to earn two bachelor degrees this spring. "We engage in a casual and comfortable atmosphere here. I highly encourage tutoring for even the most mundane things like a simple homework check or a peer review.” 

Writing consultants like Cioppi complete training that includes writing mock essays that are then reviewed, how to conduct tutoring sessions and documenting meetings for the center’s records. All student tutors complete 10 hours of intensive training with final assessments so they are masters of specific content areas. Peer coaches learn to teach advanced study skills and goal setting among other competencies.

The Chaiken Center is managed by Dennis Millan, the associate director. His data-driven, flexible approach has transformed the center’s operations since it was reimagined, renovated and renamed last summer, thanks to a gift from donors Gene and Roz Chaiken. 

“At the Chaiken Center, we envision the success of everyone who walks through our doors. We collaborate with faculty and departments across campus to emphasize our message and raise awareness of our services. Student success is output of collaboration,” Millan said. 

Along with Chris Walters, senior coordinator for student success, he conducted an academic support needs survey last year, which informed every aspect of their decision making from hiring to the center's offerings. The data helped them develop a more precise picture of the demographics of students who need support and the classes that Abington students find the most challenging. He now hires tutors and other staff based on those needs.   

Meredith Tariditi, academic and career success coach at the center, and professional and trained student tutors, writing consultants and peer coaches round out the staff. Tarditi meets one-on-one with undergraduates and also offers workshops. She is developing a team of peer success coaches to help respond to the demand for her services.

“Part of the hope and goal for peer success coaching is to invite cohorts to take advantage of the opportunity, for example those we find through Starfish,” Walters said.

Starfish is a higher education platform that supports simplified communication among faculty, staff and students, and flags students who may be at risk for academic challenges. 

The Sutherland Building-based Chaiken Center staff are engaging in outreach across campus from conducting workshops in the library and the Lions Gate residence hall to setting up rotating pop-up skills desks in various spots. 

The students who work in the center gain much more than a paycheck. They solidify their mastery of academic content, and they learn valuable real world skills including communications.  

“I've not only learned to communicate complex ideas but also understanding when to pull back, and let the student mull it over themselves. We aren't here simply to produce correct answers,” Cioppi said.  

About Penn State Abington 

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 25 majors, accelerated master's degrees, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.