EXCEL! Zone

The EXCEL Zone student learning and support offers CCD students a robust and innovative set of services to assist students in achieving their desired learning goals. Success can be defined differently based on individual situations or goals. Some students define success as earning a final course grade of a “C” in more difficult subjects, while other students have a goal to earn all “A” grades. Students may also find the need to hone their skills with technology or develop study strategies. Whatever the learning goals are, come learn how to work smarter, not harder!

All EXCEL professional tutoring is free to currently enrolled CCD students.

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, and 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/or 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.

Tutoring Information & Resources

Subject Hours

EXCEL’s days of operation follow CCD’s academic calendar and any weather Auraria campus-related closures. To receive in-person tutoring, check the hours of operation below for the Zone they need and drop into the Confluence Building 4th floor. Students are welcome to work independently within available study spaces prior to needing support from tutors. The last appointment begins 30 minutes before each zone closes.

Academic Coaching | by appointment

Mondays – Friday, hours vary

 

Academic Coaching supports CCD students in study skill development, such as:

  • Note-taking
  • Reading strategies
  • Test preparation
  • Time management

Follow the steps to get Academic Coaching:

  1. Schedule a tutoring appointment through Accudemia (see tab above)
  2. Select Study Skills Services
  3. Select an available tutor
  4. Attend the session

Digital Zone | CNF 414

  • Monday - Wednesday | 9:45 am - 4 pm (MST)
  • Thursday | 9:45 am - 2 pm (MST)
  • Friday | 10 am - 3 pm (MST)

The Digital Zone supports CCD students in gaining an understanding of basic technology use, such as:

  • D2L navigation
  • CCDConnect
  • Microsoft Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
  • WebEx
  • WeVideo
  • Digital Storytelling

Sign up for Digital Zone workshops in January and February of 2023.

Math, Physics & Statistics Zone | CNF 410

  • Monday - Thursday | 9 am - 4 pm (MST)
  • Friday | 10 am - 3 pm (MST)

The Math Zone provides support for all CCD math, physics, and statistics courses.

  • All Math Zone tutors can support the following courses: MAT 0250, MAT 0300, MAT 1120, MAT 1140, MAT 1150, MAT 1160, MAT 1220, MAT 1230, MAT 1240, MAT 1320, MAT 1340.
  • Select Math Zone tutors can support the following courses: ACC 1021, MAT 1260, MAT 1400, MAT 1420, MAT 1440, MAT 2410, MAT 2420, MAT 2430, MAT 2431, MAT 2540, MAT 2560, MAT 2562, PHY 1105, PHY 1111, PHY 1112, PHY 2111, PHY 2112.

Writing & ESL Zone | CNF 409

  • Monday - Thursday | 9 am - 4 pm
  • Friday | 10 am - 3 pm

CCD students - including ESL students - can receive help brainstorming, writing, editing, and submitting any writing tasks in and out of the classroom, including:

  • Class writing assignments
  • Scholarship essays
  • Job application materials
  • Science reports
  • Navigating plagiarism issues

The Writing Zone Paper Drop-Off is an online service where students can submit writing assignments for feedback from the Writing Zone tutors. They will review for citation, proofreading, rhetorical analysis, organization, and more. The Paper Drop-Off is open during Writing Zone hours but closes at 1 pm on Fridays.

 

Follow the steps below to get to the Writing Zone Paper Drop-Off:

  1. Sign in to CCDConnect
  2. Click on D2L
  3. On your D2L dashboard, "Discovery Tool - Register."
  4. Click on "Enroll" for the Writing Zone Paper Drop-Off

Computer Zone | CNF 412

  • Monday - Thursday | 8:30 am - 4 pm
  • ​Friday | 9 am - 3 pm

 

The Computer Zone is an open computer lab with a printer. CCD students can log in to print, study, or attend an online course quietly. Computers with webcams are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students should bring their own headsets for the computers; however, EXCEL has a limited number of headsets available to borrow.

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 quizzes, 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 tutoring session with a daily limit of three in-person sessions per workday. 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.

New Users Click Here
Returning Users Click Here

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.