Peer Assisted Learning


Welcome to Peer-Assisted Learning (PALs)!

No need to schedule an appointment! Just drop in and attend a group session listed below. Have a question? Call 509-963-1270 or email us at learningcommons@cwu.edu.

PALs Tutoring Groups are learning communities, focused on a specific course and section, where students practice positive study habits, learn new study skills/strategies, get to know their classmates, and strengthen their understanding of class content. PALs groups meet weekly, led by a trained Group Facilitator.

Facilitators are CWU students who have successfully completed the course with a 3.3 or higher. PALs sessions will include an overview of key concepts for that week, problem-based group activities and practice problems, test preparation, and study skills/strategies.

PALs sessions typically start the second week of classes and will be in-person and/or online through Zoom.

Faculty, would you like to request to have PALs support for your courses? Fill out the Peer Assisted Learning Request form.

Please check each individual subject for specifics on current PALs locations, dates, and times. 

Fall Quarter Hours


  • Biology

    Liz Pachaud

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours: 

    • Monday: 12-3 PM
    • Tuesday: 3-6 PM
    • Wednesday: 3-6 PM
    • Thursday: 12-3 PM & 4-7 PM

    Courses

    • Biology 181
    • Biology 201
    • Biology 213
  • Business and Economics

    Luke Hogan 

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Shaw Smyser CAT Center (4th Floor)

    Hours

    • Monday: 4:30 PM - 8 PM (Brooks Library Learning Commons)
    • Tuesday: 1 - 4 PM (CAT Center) & 5 - 8 PM (Brooks Library Learning Commons)
    • Thursday: 1 - 5 PM (CAT Center) & 5:30 - 7:30 PM (Brooks Library Learning Commons)

    Courses

    • ECON 130
    • ECON 201
    • ECON 202
    • MGT 200
  • Chemistry

    Quaid Hunt

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours

    • Tuesday: 10 AM - 1 PM 
    • Wednesday: 11 AM - 1 PM 
    • Thursday: 10 AM - 1 PM

    Courses 

    • CHEM 111
    • CHEM 181 
    • CHEM 183 
    • CHEM 361 
  • Computer Science

    "Tony" Tri-Tran

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours

    • Monday: 3 - 6 PM
    • Tueday: 3 - 6 PM
    • Wednesday: 3 - 6 PM
    • Thursday: 3 - 6 PM
    Courses
    • CS 110
    • CS 111
    • CS 112
    • CS 301
    • CS 302 
    • CS 311

    Kaltoum Mai Moussa Chetima

    Location: Des Moines campus

    Hours

    • Monday: 9 - 11 AM, 12 -1 PM, 3 - 6 PM
    • Tuesday & Thursday: 9 - 11 AM, 12 -2 PM & 4 - 6 PM
    Courses
    • CS 302
    • CS 312
  • English

    Madilyne Nelsen 

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours

    • Tuesday: 2 PM - 5:30 PM
    • Thursday: 2 PM - 5:30 PM
    • Friday: 10 AM - 1 PM
    • Sunday: 4 - 8 PM  
    Courses
    • ENG 320
    *Madilyne's schedule change is for this week only. Her sessions will go back to their regular hours again starting Friday 10/30.
    Sunday, 10/25: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
    Monday, 10/26: 2:00pm to 5:30pm
    Wednesday, 10/28: 4:00pm to 5:30pm

     

  • Finance and Accounting

    *Fall PALs Hours TBD*

  • Geography

    Faith Nolander

    Location: Discovery Hall 111E

    Hours

    • Monday: 12 - 3 PM
    • Tuesday: 12 - 3 PM & 2:30 PM - 5 PM
    • Wednesday: 12 - 2 PM
    • Thursday: 12 PM - 2:30 PM & 3 - 6 PM

    Courses

    • GEOG 101
  • Geology

    Faith Nolander

    Location: Discovery Hall 111E

    Hours

    • Monday: 12 - 3 PM
    • Tuesday: 12 - 3 PM & 2:30 PM - 5 PM
    • Wednesday: 12 - 2 PM
    • Thursday: 12 PM - 2:30 PM & 3 - 6 PM

    Courses

    • GEOL 101
    • GEOL 201
    • GEOL 320
    • GEOL 370
  • History

    *Fall PALs Hours TBD*

  • Information Technology

    *Fall PALs Hours TBD*

  • Math

    Orion Haury 

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours 

    • Monday: 3 - 6 PM
    • Tuesday: 5 PM - 6:30 PM
    • Thursday: 12 PM - 1:30 PM & 4 - 6 PM

    Courses

    • MATH 100A
    • MATH 153

    Lucas Johnson 

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours

    • Monday: 4 - 7 PM
    • Tuesday: 4 - 8 PM
    • Wednesday: 4 - 8 PM
    • Thursday: 4 - 8 PM
    Course
    • MATH 100B
    • MATH 152 

    Kaltoum Mai Moussa Chetima

    Location: Des Moines campus

    Hours

    • Monday: 9 - 11 AM, 12 -1 PM, 3 - 6 PM
    • Tuesday & Thursday: 9 - 11 AM, 12 -2 PM & 4 - 6 PM

    Courses
    • MATH 260
  • Music

    Kailey Henry

    Location: McIntyre Music Building Room 220

    Hours

    • Monday: 2 - 6 PM
    • Wednesday: 3 - 7 PM
    • Friday: 2 - 6 PM

    Courses (Aural Skills / Theory Y1)

    • MUS 144A
    • MUS 144

    Connor Hoiland

    Location: McIntyre Music Building Room 213

    Hours

    • Wednesday: 5 - 7 PM 

    Courses (Piano)

    • MUS 151A
    • MUS 152A 

    James Correa

    Location: McIntyre Music Building Room 220

    Hours 

    • Tuesday: 11 AM - 2 PM
    • Thursday: 11 AM - 1 PM
    • Sunday: 4 - 6 PM 

    Courses (Theory Y2)

    • MUS 244
  • Nutrition

    Avery Laramore

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours

    • Monday: 6 - 7:30 PM
    • Tuesday: 10 AM - 1 PM
    • Wednesday: 3 - 5 PM
    • Friday: 2 - 3 PM
    • Sunday: 5 - 7 PM

    Courses 

    • NUTR 101
    • NUTR 240
  • Physics

    Fermin Briseno

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours

    • Monday: 4:30 PM - 8 PM
    • Tuesday: 10 AM - 11:30 AM
    • Thursday: 10 AM - 11:30 AM

    Courses 

    • PHYS 111
    • PHYS 121
    • PHYS 181

    James Lewis 

    Location: Learning Commons

    Hours

    • Tuesday: 4:30 PM - 8 PM
    • Thursday: 4:30 PM - 8 PM
    Courses
    • PHYS 106
    • PHYS 111
    • PHYS 121
    • PHYS 181
  • Political Science

    Liz Pachaud 

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours: 

    • Monday: 12-3 PM
    • Tuesday: 3 - 6 PM
    • Wednesday: 3 - 6 PM 
    • Thursday: 12 - 3 PM & 4 - 7 PM

    Courses 

    • POSC 270
  • Psychology

    Quaid Hunt

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours

    • Tuesday: 10 AM - 1 PM 
    • Wednesday: 10 AM - 1 PM 
    • Thursday: 10 AM - 1 PM

    Courses 

    • PSYCH 362
  • Theatre

    Madilyne Nelsen

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours:

    • Tuesday: 2 PM - 5:30 PM (Learning Commons 1st floor)
    • Thursday: 2 PM - 5:30 PM (Learning Commons 1st floor)
    • Friday: 2 - 4 PM (Hebeler Room 116)
    • Sunday: 4 - 8 PM (Learning Commons 1st floor)

    Courses 

    • THEA 107
  • World Languages

    Ariana Fox-Warren

    Japanese Language

    Location: Brooks Library Learning Commons (1st Floor)

    Hours

    • Tuesday: 2 - 5 PM (In-person)
    • Thursday: 3 - 5 PM (In-person)
    • Friday: 1 - 2 PM (Online Zoom Tutoring only) & 2 - 4 PM (In-person)

    Courses 

    • JAPN 151
    • JAPN 251

Please note that the schedule is populated during the first week of classes so we can survey students about the best possible meeting times. The schedule will update as we finalize times, and they will typically be complete prior to the second week of classes each quarter. While most PALS sessions are in-person, some subjects may be online only or have an online option.

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