Center for Academic Excellence & Innovation (CAEI)
Overview
Academic tutoring — offered at the Vitale Center for Academic Excellence and Innovation in Westchester, and Learning Centers on the Mercy campuses — is a valuable resource to help you get ahead, whether you are a B student looking to get an A, a student in need of extra support to succeed in a difficult course, or a graduate student working on your thesis. CAEI provides a friendly learning environment in which to receive assistance in writing, math, science, and an extensive range of other subjects. The trained and courteous staff of faculty, peer tutors, and writing specialists provide the support you need to achieve academic excellence.
Feel free to or stop by during drop-in hours.
Fall 2024 Workshop Series
ViEW (Virtual English/Writing)
These virtual workshops focus on topics helpful to anyone taking a class that requires written assignments, regardless of the subject area. Drop in for tips, strategies, and techniques for improving key elements of writing you can apply right away. Register by clicking any of the links below.
- Overview of writing support (Sept. 9)
- Ways to organize your writing (Sept. 25 & 26)
- Composing a thesis statement (Oct. 9 & 10)
- Intros and conclusions (Oct. 23 & 24)
- Writing for your audience (Nov. 6 & 7)
- Incorporate quotations in your writing (Nov. 20& 21)
- Creating effective sentences (Dec. 4 & 5)
College Skills
These workshops focus on building skills necessary to succeed in college. Although not always tied to a specific class, the skills you learn with us will help you in a variety of courses throughout your academic career.
Becoming Organized - Time management (TBA)
Getting to Know Your Learning Style - Study skills (TBA)
Is Your Work Up to Date? Why Not? - Procrastination I (TBA)
Preparing for Your Tests - Test strategies (TBA)
Meeting Deadlines - Procrastination II (TBA)
Wrapping It Up - Test strategies II (TBA)
English is My New Language
These virtual workshops are designed to build student confidence and proficiency in their English language usage by providing activities aimed at improving grammar skills, reading strategies and pronunciation.
- (Sept. 18)
- (Oct. 17)
- (Nov. 13)
- (Dec. 11)
Writing and Language Support
Staffed by highly experienced instructors, the Center provides academic support in the following:
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Written Assignments
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Theses and Capstone Projects
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Reading Comprehension
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Grammar
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Presentation Practice
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Communication Skills
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Critical Thinking Skills
Writing Resources
B´ÎÔª Library and Database Links
B´ÎÔª resources, including online access to peer-reviewed, full-length articles.
The American Psychological Association website provides formatting and documentation guidance, as well as an introductory tutorial
A comprehensive resource for writing and research questions, including general writing issues, APA documentation and advice for ESL writer.
As its name suggests, an informative and fun site for grammar queries.
Includes short videos on topics ranging from understanding assignments to citation and proofreading.
A comprehensive resource, including videos, on a wide range of writing topics.
Resources for writing, reading, study skills, AESL, research, literature, and effective speaking.
Will I get to work with a Writing Specialist who knows about my topic?
Rather than offer the discipline-specific assistance you can get from your professors, Writing Specialists help you learn to articulate your ideas to a non-specialist reader. In general, the Writing Center does not match you with a specialist according to your paper topic or course; no matter what the subject matter, our specialists serve as sounding boards, careful readers, and helpful critics.
Can a Writing Specialist read my paper before the appointment?
The Writing Center does not accept papers in advance of appointments. We believe that you will become a better reader and reviser of your own work through the experience of articulating your writing concerns at the beginning of the session. Your Writing Specialist can combine an understanding of those concerns with the perspective of a reader coming fresh to your paper, and then use both to help you think about possibilities for revision. Furthermore, the Writing Center is a popular resource for writers of all levels of experience at B´ÎÔª. If specialists read papers in advance, we wouldn't be able to serve as many students.
How should I prepare for a Writing Center conference?
Please bring a hard copy of the essay draft you would like to work on, assuming you have one. It is also extremely helpful to bring the assignment prompt, any feedback you’ve received on this project from your instructor or advisor, and any key sources that you’re working with. These materials can help a Writing Specialist contextualize your project, and may serve as useful references during the conference. The best beginning to a conference is when you, the writer, have reflected on what kind of help you would like. Be sure to read your draft closely before you arrive, and perhaps jot down some notes indicating what you would like to focus on.
What should I expect when I come in for a writing conference?
The Writing Specialist will ask what you would like to work on during the session. He or she will also ask to see the assignment and to hear about or read any comments you have received on your writing from your professor. The Writing Specialist will discuss your writing with you, which will frequently involve asking you more questions about your ideas and getting you to talk through problems arising in the draft. If you haven't yet written anything, the specialist will help you brainstorm and organize ideas. You can expect to take copious notes. You will spend the last part of the session developing a plan for further writing and revision. If you plan to consult a Writing Specialist about a take-home exam, you must bring written permission from your instructor to the conference.
Still have questions?
E-mail: Tutoring@mercy.edu
Math, Science, and Business Tutoring
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Many levels of math and statistics, including computational skills, quantitative reasoning, programming algorithms, math-related projects and calculator skills
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The spectrum of natural and health sciences, including biology, chemistry and physics
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Instruction in accounting, economics, and finance courses
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Many levels of psychology and behavioral science courses, including SPSS and statistics
Nursing Support
- Different levels of nursing, including health assessment, pharmacology, pediatrics and med surgical nursing
General Education Support
- Foreign Languages
- History
- Critical Inquiry and Junior Seminar
- Other General Education courses
Westchester Vitale Center for Academic Excellence and Innovation
Students are invited to use our expanded and refurbished facilities at the Westchester campus for individual study, writing, and research. Resource-rich rooms are also available for group study. *
*Group study rooms are available on a first-come/first-served basis for no more than two hours. Please note that food and beverages are not allowed in the study rooms.
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Augmented and Virtual Reality Lab for group and individual study.
Ideum Multi-Touch Table
The Vitale Center for Academic Excellence and Innovation has added a 55-inch Ideum Multi-touch Table to enhance student learning. Learning modules in various disciplines will be added to allow students to review material independently or with tutors. Stay tuned for details as content is added.
Online Tutoring
The Center for Academic Excellence and Innovation also offers tutoring in Writing, Math and the Sciences online via Blackboard Collaborate. Visit to set up an appointment for a video/voice conference with a tutor or writing specialist. Once you have booked an appointment in Compass, you will be contacted by a tutor within 24 hours with further instructions about your session. If you do not receive a follow-up email from the tutor within 24 hours, please contact the tutor directly via their mercy.edu email address.
Graduate Application Essays
Writing specialists are happy to meet with B´ÎÔª students interested in applying to graduate school and working on their graduate application essays and statements of purpose.
Learning Centers
Westchester
Library Learning Commons
Main Hall
(914) 674-7402
Bronx
Math, Science and General Subjects
Rooms 4225 and 4227
(718) 678-8905
Writing and Languages
Room 4229
(718) 678-8906
Manhattan
3rd Floor, Room 315
(212) 615-3361
Contact Us
Rajesh Kumar
Executive Director, Student Affairs
rkumar@mercy.edu
(914) 674-7798
Steven DeRosa
Associate Director, Writing & English
sderosa1@mercy.edu
(914) 674-7282
Maria Mordan
Associate Director, Math
mmordan@mercy.edu
(914) 674-7573
Christian Lucio
Learning Support Manager, SLA
clucio@mercy.edu
(914) 674-7440
Brian Levine
Learning Support Manager, Gen Ed
blevine5@mercy.edu
(212) 615-3361
Albany Perez
Learning Support Manager, STEM
aperez10@mercy.edu
(718) 678-8774
Christina Heyward-Blanding
Administrative Assistant
cblanding1@mercy.edu
(914) 674-7402
Tutoring FAQs
The Learning Centers provide tutoring in English, math and the sciences as well as in a wide range of other undergraduate subject areas.
Yes, please come to all tutoring sessions with an assignment you've already started and with clear directions (preferably written instructions) from your instructor about the requirements of your assignment.
Make a good effort to get as far as you can with your assignment before meeting with your tutor. Think about the issues you'd like your tutor to address during the tutoring session. The more prepared you are, the more you will get out of your tutoring session.
If you cannot keep an appointment, please call the Learning Center at which your appointment is scheduled as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment. The tutor will probably not be able to hold your spot if you are late.
If you need to cancel your tutoring session, you can email tutoring@mercy.edu