Welcome

The Learning Commons is a student-centered space here to help you thrive by receiving personalized attention for your learning and to learn alongside peers in a comfortable and supportive environment. Join us for tutoring, workshops, study groups, and other programs throughout the semester.

Located on the 1st floor of Neilson Library, students can meet peer tutors and partners from the Libraries, the Jacobson Writing Center, the Spinelli Center for Quantitative Learning, and the Office of Disability Services. 

The Learning Commons space is open during all Neilson open hours. See below for support service hours.

Content Tutoring (non-quantitative) 

The Jacobson Center for Writing, Teaching & Learning has trained peer writing tutors who work in the Learning Commons to provide students with writing assistance. Students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis for drop-in support at any stage in the writing process, from brainstorming a new assignment through revisions. Tutors are hired from a wide range of majors in all divisions, so students can often meet with someone in their own field, if they want, though tutors are able to read in any discipline (see the Learning Commons greeter for a facesheet of current peer tutors and their majors). For those who prefer a scheduled appointment, the Jacobson Center employs tutors and professional writing instructors who hold one-on-one meetings in Seelye 307 or over Zoom; these meetings are arranged through an online calendar system.

Hours: Drop-in hours in the Learning Commons are Sunday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. Appointments in Seelye 307 are available 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Disability Services & Assistive Technology

Smith College’s Disability Services staff are available to meet with students in the Learning Commons’ Assistive Technology Lab to provide learning support.

Connect with Disability Services staff at ods@smith.edu or type “disability services” in your college Gmail address bar.

Assistive Technology Lab

The Assistive Technology Lab contains both Mac and Windows machines and has specialized software such as Dragon, Kurzweil, and Big Keys. For more information about assistive technology, visit Disability Services Campus Resources. To request Lab support or schedule a time to use the Lab, please email ithelp@smith.edu.

Hours: Available by reservation or drop in to use.

Library Research Mentors

Library Research Mentors will work in the Learning Commons to provide research support to their peers. They can help other students to find a book on a specific topic, locate peer-reviewed articles, format their citations and more. Come to the Learning Commons during drop-in hours and the Mentors can help you to navigate the Libraries, both physical and virtual, and their many resources and services.

Hours: Drop-in hours are Sunday-Thursday 1-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m., and Fridays 1-4 p.m.

Quantitative Tutoring

The Spinelli Center for Quantitative Learning supports students doing quantitative work across the curriculum, and offers tutoring, workshops, and class study sessions.

Hours: Fall 2022 hours will be posted soon.

Writing Assistance

The Jacobson Center for Writing, Teaching & Learning has staff in the Learning Commons to provide students with writing assistance. Schedule a writing appointment with a Peer Writing Tutor or to meet with them over Zoom.

Hours: Drop-in hours are Sunday-Thursday, 1-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m., and Fridays 1-4 p.m.