MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State University is the national model for student tutoring.

That assessment comes from the National Association for Developmental Education (NADE) which made Ball State the first institution in the nation to receive its Level One Certification for tutoring programs.

Audrey Kirkwood, director of Ball State’s Learning Center in University College, said the NADE certification recognizes Ball State as "a successful pioneer."

"Ball State has done things that other institutions are just beginning to do," Kirkwood said. "We were visionaries in initiating the Learning Center concept."

Ball State created University College and the Learning Center in 1985 to improve and refine student academic skills by offering individual tutoring in University Core Curriculum courses, math, study skills and writing. More than 5,000 individual students use the center each year.

A major factor in obtaining NADE certification was Ball State’s evaluation data indicating positive use of the Learning Center’s services.

"These data indicate that most freshmen and sophomores who use the Learning Center receive higher grade point averages than the overall student population," Kirkwood said. "We were one of the first institutions to demonstrate improvement in academic success as a result of tutoring programs."

The NADE also recognized Ball State for its student-centered approach to tutoring.

"We work with students to identify where breakdowns in learning occur," Kirkwood said. "Some students have specific problems with time management or test anxiety."

Faculty play a major role in the Learning Center as well. They define their expectations during in-service training for tutors.

"Only faculty members know which students in their departments are course competent and have the necessary interpersonal skills for tutoring," Kirkwood said.

The Learning Center has four areas, each with a professional coordinator. Kirkwood is Core Curriculum coordinator as well as Learning Center director, David Clayton is math coordinator, Laura Helms is writing coordinator and Jacqueline Robertson is study strategies coordinator.

The Learning Center hosts an open house from 2:30 to 4 p.m. March 19 to publicly thank administrators, faculty and students for their support. University College Dean B. Thomas Lowe will introduce guest speaker Provost C. Warren Vander hill at 3 p.m.