Javier Bustillos is director of the Thomas J. Edwards Learning Center, part of the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. A UB staff member since 1985, he is a recipient of the Carl Naish Teaching Award.

What sort of services does the Learning Center provide?

The Learning Center is divided into two broad categories of service. We have an instructional component and a tutorial component. In the area of instruction, we offer courses in mathematics and writing for students who are not ready to take calculus or English 101. The tutorial component is comprised of three very popular services: The Math Place, The Writing Place and The Evening Science Place. The primary goal of The Math Place is to offer assistance to students enrolled in ULC 146, 147, 148, and MTH 115, 121, 122, 141, and 142. The Writing Place helps students with any kind of written assignment. Trained tutors offer students feedback on their writing, identifying areas that need improvement and suggesting techniques for revision. The Evening Science Place, which is co-sponsored by the Student Association, offers assistance with introductory-level courses in mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics. We also offer other subjects upon request.

Who can use the center?

The center is open to any undergraduate student currently enrolled at the university. We get students from all different majors and classes.

Who was Thomas J. Edwards and why is the Learning Center named after him?

Thomas J. Edwards was the first director of the Learning Center. He was a remarkable man. He spoke several languages and was often called upon as an international consultant. His area of expertise was reading and the culturally deprived. He died in 1976, but from time to time people who knew and admired him will stop by the office to see his picture. We are proud to continue his legacy.

Who is the typical student who comes into the Learning Center?

There is no real typical student. I guess the common denominator would be anyone who is looking for assistance.

What is the most common problem that students come in with?

Besides the obvious content-area problems, many students are in need of organizational skills and time management. Some of these issues come up in the tutoring sessions. Oftentimes, a student can't explain why a course is not going well, and so broader work-habit issues will come up. At other times, a student might not be experiencing problems at all, but is looking for some additional feedback before making the final revision on a paper.

When do you recommend that a student come in for help?

As soon as the student feels that he/she is beginning to fall behind or feel uncomfortable with the material. It is never too soon, and yes, sometimes it might be too late.

How many students does the center serve each semester?

We have approximately 1,000 students enrolled in our classes. The Math Place sees over 2,000 students per semester, and The Writing Place sees somewhat close to 1,000. Our evening tutoring service, which operates on a more reduced scale, serves more than 500 students per semester.

Who are the Learning Center's instructors and tutors?

The instructors are graduate students from different departments, mainly Mathematics and Learning & Instruction. The tutors are upper-class undergraduate students. All tutors must complete a training program. Anyone interested in tutoring should contact our office.

What do you enjoy most about your job as director?

It is extremely gratifying to see the students we work with go on to graduate and then embark on successful careers. The Learning Center provides living proof of two adages: First, "It's not where you start, it's where you finish;" and second, "You should always remember the people who have helped you along the way." We are very proud of our contributions to the university's access and retention efforts, and proud of our students' successes.

What's something that people don't know about the center and should?

People should understand that use of the Learning Center is very flexible. It is remarkable to me, after so many years, that there are people who still don't realize that our services are available to all undergraduates. I think it is important to emphasize that we're not just for students in any particular program, or for students who got a particular score on some test. Each of us learns in a slightly different way, and from time to time, everyone can use a little help. The Learning Center can address many different issues, and we are available to assist a very broad section of the campus population.

What question do you wish I had asked, and how would you have answered it?

We deal with practicalities at the Learning Center, and so it would be useful, I think, to be able to tell people how to access our services. Actually, it couldn't be easier. You just have to stop in while we are open. The Math Place and The Writing Place, located in the first floor of Talbert Hall, are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Evening Science Place operates Mondays through Thursdays from 4-8 p.m. in 112 Talbert. Our phone number is 645-2394. Our tutors are trained to help