EXCEL! Zone

Expectations of students seeking tutoring

• Students should attempt to work through homework first. Then, they should come to the tutoring session with 2-3 questions regarding assignments.
• In accordance with CCD academic policies, tutors will not assist with quiz, test questions, or do student work.
• In between walk-in sessions, students can work in any staffed Zone with available space, the Computer Zone, the Open Study, or the Quiet Study.
• Tutors will cancel sessions when a student is not prepared or violates CCD policies.

Additional expectations of students seeking remote tutoring

• Students should log into the session appointment a few minutes prior to the session start time. This ensures technology is working prior to the session.
• Remote tutoring is only available for remote delivery needs. These appointments are not honored in-person.
• Students can schedule up to five appointments per week, and often same-day appointments are available.
• All remote appointments are considered confirmed at the time of scheduling. Students will receive a confirmation email to their @student.cccs.edu email with a WebEx meeting link for each appointment.
• If students need to cancel a remote appointment, they should do so proactively and contact EXCEL by responding to the appointment confirmation email at least two hours prior to the session.
• Students who do not show up to remote appointments are considered "no-shows," and only three no-shows are permitted per student per term before the privilege of scheduling remote appointments is denied.

Expectations of tutors

As a tutoring center, the tutor's goal is to guide students toward independent learning, not take ownership of their learning for them. We remove barriers to learning and understanding and clear the path of unknown hurdles for students to forge their own path toward knowledge and skill. Tutors are expected to embody their role and ultimately guide students toward self-sufficiency.

Because we are a “drop-in” tutoring center, we allow 20-30 minutes per each tutoring session with a daily limit of three in-person sessions per work day. These limits are meant to encourage students to maintain responsibility for their own work and that tutors are used for support.

CCD students can get started with scheduling remote tutoring by watching this short How-to-Video to set up an Accudemia account and learn how to schedule appointments with a professional tutor in any Zone. Students who have not set up an account yet should select the “New Users Click Here” button and follow the prompts. Students who already have an account can go to the “Returning Users Click Here” button and schedule appointments.

Confirmation emails for booked appointments are sent to emails ending in @student.cccs.edu. Students may need to check their junk mail folder if a confirmation email is not found in their inbox.

The EXCEL Zone is CCD’s primary tutoring and academic support service. As a supplement to EXCEL, Brainfuse online tutoring is available through a link in D2L. CCD purchases a package of minutes and offers a limited amount of free online tutoring minutes through Brainfuse. Once the minutes are depleted students can elect to purchase a package directly from the Brainfuse website or request a list of private tutors from EXCEL.

EXCEL Zone creates and compiles resources regularly to support students in their subject areas. Visit the links below for handouts, external websites, and video resources.

• EXCEL's Student Resource Library
• WebEx Student Guidelines for Tutoring
• Online Learning Resource List

Work Smarter, Not Harder!

EXCEL Zone's Vision

EXCEL Zone provides robust learning resources that support students’ academic success, learning development, and engagement to enhance personal and professional growth.

EXCEL Zone's Commitment

EXCEL Zone's commitment is to cultivate self-reliant learners through individual/group tutoring, academic coaching, and access to technology tools, online resources, study, and collaboration spaces.

Student Success

In alignment with CCD’s strategic plan, EXCEL provides access to a comprehensive program that prepares students with transferrable skills for both academic and professional success. EXCEL serves as an extension to classroom learning by offering the following services: Academic Study Skills, Digital Literacy (technology skills), Computer Lab, Recording Space, Tutoring, Embedded Tutoring, Open Study, and Quiet Study and a Quiet Group Study Room that seats 6 – 8 people. Most of these services are delivered through individual and group tutoring, workshops, or foundational digital literacy skills and certificate of completion in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Digital Storytelling. Once normal academic operations resume, it is recommended to make reservations for the recording spaces and the group's quiet study rooms by calling or emailing EXCEL.

Professional Tutors work towards helping students become independent learners according to the following guidelines: Students should arrive at EXCEL Zones and Webex meetings prepared with all necessary books and materials. This means having attended class, taken notes, attempted homework, and reading assignments. Professional Tutors are subject matter experts who have been successful students and/instructors. Though tutors are a good resource, they will not do students' work and are not responsible for final course grades. For course-specific questions, students should consult their instructors. Instructors and staff who would like to request services can send inquiries to ccd.excel@ccd.edu.