Academic Support

Schedule a Tutoring Session

Fall 2020 Tutor Hours

Nearly every course has a tutor that holds supplemental instruction hours weekly and can provide individualized help.

Seeking a tutor early in the semester is recommended so you can establish a regular meeting schedule, develop your skills, and receive the cumulative and beneficial effects that result from ongoing sessions.

How to make an appointment with a tutor:

Login to your Handshake account, using your Northland email and password, and go to the events tab along the top of the screen. In events tab you will find all events hosted by Career Services and Student Success.
All tutoring events have the same naming structure: subject – tutor name. Some introductory courses also have class specific tutors; their event names are the course title. eg: Math and Physics – Susie Smith
eg: MTH106 – Jason Lester
eg: Writing – Louise ManchesterSelect the tutoring event that fits your course needs and schedule and along the top right click the register button. The event page also provides the link needed to get into the tutor’s virtual session. You can register for the event until one hour before the event occurs. If you are unable to attend for a tutoring event you registered for, be sure to un-register for that event. Attendance will be taken at the event.
Once registered, you’ll be directed to a survey asking a few questions about your future session. This survey helps your tutor prepare to help you with your questions. Please be sure to fill out this survey.
When the time and date has arrived for the session, go to the events tab, in Handshake, and along the right-hand side you will see all events you have registered for. Click that event and follow the video link in Microsoft Teams. Log-in to your teams account using your Northland email and password.

If you have questions, need help registering for events, or would like one-on-one in person tutoring contact, Megan McPeak.

Academic Coaching

Academic Success Coordinator Megan McPeak can help you with any concerns you are facing in the classroom. You can arrange to meet with her to discuss any difficulties you are having that are causing you to be less successful than you want to be in your classes.

She can help with motivation, time management, study skills, communicating with your professors, setting up study groups, accessing tutors, reading comprehension, and writing papers. She can also provide you with other resources on campus and help you get the support you need.

Professors also may contact Megan to help students they have identified as needing assistance. Her goal is to give you the skills and tools you need to do well in your classes.

To make an appointment, contact Megan directly, or schedule online using Handshake. (If you don’t already have a Handshake account, you can sign up for free).

Academic Accommodations

If you have a qualifying disability we work with you to proactively determine reasonable and appropriate accommodation measures. Reasonable accommodations are defined as any change in an environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to enjoy equal opportunities both in and outside of the academic setting. Northland is committed to providing you an equal opportunity to fully participate courses, programs, and activities.

The primary responsibility for self advocacy and arranging accommodations belongs to the student. You are expected to initiate contact with faculty to discuss your accommodation.

View common academic accommodations
Start an academic accommodations request

Common Learning Disorders

Dyslexia: a language-based disability in which a person has trouble understanding written words. It may also be referred to as reading disability or reading disorder.
Dyscalculia: a mathematical disability in which a person has a difficult time solving arithmetic problems and grasping math concepts.
Dysgraphia: a writing disability in which a person finds it hard to form letters or write within a defined space.
Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders: sensory disabilities in which a person has difficulty understanding language despite normal hearing and vision.
Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: a neurological disorder which originates in the right hemisphere of the brain, causing problems with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluative, and holistic processing functions.
Autism Spectrum Disorder: ASD is a neurodevelopment disorder ranging from mild to severe and characterized by core features of social/communication deficits and repetitive/restrictive behaviors. The source for understanding the exact nature of ASD is the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). The DSM-V combines into one category previously distinct but overlapping subtypes (i.e., Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, and Pervasive Development Disorder). While all people with ASD will share the core features of the disorder, specific manifestations in developmental, cognitive, emotional and/or behavioral domains are unique to each individual.
Attention Deficit Disorder AD/HD: a diagnosis applied to children and adults who consistently display certain characteristic behaviors over a period of time. The most common core features include:
- distractibility (poorly sustained attention to tasks)
- impulsivity (impaired impulse control and delay of gratification)
- hyperactivity (excessive activity and physical restlessness)

Please keep in mind that the exact nature and severity of learning disabilities/disorders vary from person to person.

Your Advisor

Building relationships with faculty and staff are among the most important experiences in your time at Northland. In recognition of this, all full-time faculty and selected staff members serve as academic advisors.

First Year Students

You are assigned to an academic advisor based on your anticipated major, your schedule of courses, or your interests. We take great care in choosing your first academic advisor. After the first year, you may change advisors as your interests and needs evolve. You’ll initial meeting with your academic advisor will be during Orientation.

Returning Students

Advising is an ongoing process of helping you clarify and evaluate academic plans and goals. Advisors assist you with course selection each semester, creating and updating your four-year academic plan. Advisors also share information about potential pre-professional experiences such as internships, special training, certifications, and research opportunities.

Changing Advisors

You can change advisors at any time during your time at Northland.

Research Assistance

The library provides assistance in searching for articles, books, and other scholarly information for your research papers and projects. Visit the library to learn more.