Tutoring Center news

The Tutoring Center has undergone some significant changes over the last few months,

New Tutoring Center Coordinator Patrick Ruffin is a familiar face in a new space.

with new leadership and a new home. After Linda Bigler, who deftly supervised the center for many years, took a position in the Center for Teaching Effectiveness,Wendy Bulkowski, an ELI teacher and long-time tutor, quickly stepped in as coordinator. Shortly thereafter, however, Bulkowski joined Kobe Shoin Women’s University in Japan as a visiting professor and the Tutoring Center was once more in search of a leader. Intrepid Patrick Ruffin, a tutor with many years of experience at ELI, came to the rescue. “Some seek glory, while others are thrust into it,” said Ruffin, tongue-incheek, soon after his appointment as Tutoring Center coordinator in March.

In addition, in 2003 the Tutoring Center welcomed returning tutors David Cassling and Roberta George and new tutors Ruth Bailis, Patricia Lang, Marina Fedosik and Ellen Fox.

Changes have not only been facial, but also spatial, with the Tutoring Center moving from its home on Elkton Road back to the familiar surroundings of Rodney Hall. Tutoring took place at Rodney in the early 1990s, until ELI acquired the Curtis mansion on West Main Street. When ELI moved, tutoring left Rodney and occupied the third floor of the mansion. A few years later, as ELI grew and needed more classroom space, tutoring migrated to the Elkton Road annex, where additional classrooms were also located. In 2002, ELI acquired new classroom space in Rodney, right next to the already-inplace Self-Access Learning Center, and the Tutoring Center moved back to its original location.

With the closer and more convenient site, said Ruffin, the Tutoring Center remains a popular venue for ELI students.