UWSP student tutors assist at The Homework Center

Established to assist residents of public housing with their schoolwork, The Homework Center is a volunteer project operated by two student coordinators and 34 tutors assigned through the Association of Community Tasks at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Chancellor Tom George, Dean Joan North, Associate Dean Leslie McClain-Ruelle and Stevens Point Housing Authority staff visited the facility on Tuesday, Nov. 3. They met with volunteer coordinators Alicia Roth, a senior elementary education major from Oshkosh, and Stephanie Shong, a senior elementary education major from Pewaukee, plus other volunteers and students. The coordinators recruit and supervise the tutors, manage the operations and work with local educators to determine student needs.

Begun six years ago by a UWSP sociology student intern in response to community concerns, the center is entirely a volunteer effort, supported through grants, award monies and community donations of materials. Students using the center’s services range in age from kindergarten to seniors in high school. As many as 50 students come in for assistance on the Tuesday through Thursday evenings the center is open.

The facility, which has shared space with a variety of other projects at the Madison View Family Center, now has "a place of its own" with improved study space and added computers. This fall, tutors were trained by local educator Miriam Meeks, an English as a second language teacher at Grant School. She also has assisted the center staff in selecting materials and interpreting the district school curriculum.

"The Stevens Point Housing Authority is proud of the accomplishments of its students and of the successful partnership built with UWSP," said Executive Director Jim Hamilton.

In past years, the center has been recognized with the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award, President’s Youth Service Awards for five consecutive years and the Roseann Willett DeBot Award of Excellence given by the Portage County Association of Volunteer Administrators.

"This is an award-winning cooperative effort that benefits both the community and our students," said Chancellor George. "Working through UWSP’s active ACT program, our education students receive hands-on experience and local elementary and secondary students are helped to achieve more self-confidence and success in the classroom."

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