Academic Enrichment Center
A free service available to all Dordt students, the Academic Enrichment Center at Dordt seeks to enable students to maximize their learning in their courses and to equip them with the skills needed to function both within an academic community and as lifelong independent learners. Whether it's writing an essay, understanding a calculus assignment, or improving overall study skills, we can help. For more information about the services we offer, please use the links on the below.
Contact us
Where we're located
The Academic Enrichment Center is located near the center of campus in the lower level of the library, adjacent to a computer lab. The center includes offices for the professional staff, several cubicles designed for individual and small group tutoring, and a computer lab for students and tutorial staff.
Peer Tutoring
Every year, competent, experienced students are trained and equipped to serve their fellow students as tutors in a wide variety of subjects. Tutorials may take one of three formats: individual sessions, small group tutorials of two to four students, and large group study sessions.
Students desiring tutorial assistance can make an appointment by calling the Academic Enrichment Center desk at (712) 722-6487, by stopping at the desk during our regular hours, or by completing an online request form (this form is available on our internal site, u.dordt.edu, a site available only to current students). Most students using the Academic Enrichment Center choose on their own to seek assistance. Some may also be referred by their instructor, advisor, or other college personnel.
Study Skills Assistance
Students desiring to improve their study skills can access many resources from the Academic Enrichment Center, including skill-specific handouts, books, and links to study skills videos on our internal website.
Aspire Program
The Aspire Program provides an opportunity for motivated students, who have the potential to be successful at Dordt but may benefit from additional support during their first semester of college. The program helps such students develop new strategies and skills for learning.
How are students selected for the Aspire Program?
Student placement in Aspire is determined by the Provisional Admissions Committee as a requirement for admission if a student does not meet regular admissions standards. Students are also placed in Aspire based on additional placement information received after admission. Placement in Aspire is based on (but not limited to) high school grades, high school class rankings, courses, and ACT/SAT/CLT scores. A personal essay may also be requested and considered in Aspire placement.
What supports does the Aspire Program provide students?
- A mandatory one-day Aspire Program Orientation immediately preceding the Week of Welcome for incoming freshmen
- Automatic enrollment in AEC 100 - Essential Strategies for Academic Success
- A maximum of 15 credits in the first semester
- Assessment in reading and learning skills during orientation
- A learning contract outlining strategies to assist students toward academic success
- Weekly conferences with an academic coach, either an Academic Enrichment Center professional or a learning community assistant
- Tutorial assistance in most courses
- Placement in one or more college competency courses for students whose ACT/SAT scores are below general admissions requirements, or whose self-placement results deem it necessary.
International Student Services
At Dordt University, we welcome qualified students from countries around the world to be part of our learning community.
Basic Competency Courses
The Basic Competency Courses are a set of classes offered to students who struggled to achieve a certain ACT or SAT score.
Students with ACT Math/English scores below 18 or SAT Math/Writing scores below 500 will be required to take the Basic Competency Courses.
ENGLISH 100: Basic Writing for College Students (Fall only)
An intensive introduction to and review of the skills college-level writing requires, focusing on the larger issues of presenting, developing, and supporting ideas, on issues of correctness, on developing voice, and on learning various essay styles for effective academic writing.
MA 100: Mathematics for College
The primary goal of this course is to prepare students for college-level use of mathematics. The use of mathematical models will be woven throughout the course, providing students with the opportunity to see, understand, and use mathematics in real-world applications. Completing this course with a grade of C- or better meets the core mathematics competency requirement.