Academic Personal Trainers

Although APTs are trained first as tutors, they are peer coaches. Your APT’s role in your meeting is to provide a solid foundation for your academic success through conversations on creating study schedules, setting academic goals, balancing your academic and social life, referring you to other services on campus when necessary, etc. Your APT will provide helpful hints for taking notes or studying for a class, but a session with an APT does not cover course content.

Instead, APTs are trained in how to coach you in the necessary tools for your academic success. If you do require assistance with specific course material, your APT will help you connect with a Learning Center content or writing tutor.

Working as a peer tutor helps the APT understand the Learning Center’s services and operation so he/she can guide you in your quest for academic support. Working closely with the professional staff of the Learning Center insures that the APT acquires the skills necessary to be an effective academic coach.

All of our academic personal trainers have successfully completed ENG390: Theories and Practices of Writing Tutoring. These students have been selected, as they have diverse backgrounds, different majors, and differing struggles and strengths. APTs continue training throughout the semester.

First, all meetings with academic personal trainers are individual. If you would like to work with an APT, you must make an individual appointment. Please log in to your MyPlattsburgh and go to Cardinal Star to schedule an individual appointment with an APT

Second, meeting with an APT is not a one-shot deal. You should plan on meeting with your APT several times throughout the semester. Both you and your APT make a commitment to work with each other at your first meeting.

During the first meeting, you and your APT will spend some time getting to know each other. Together you will identify the areas you would like to work on and make a plan to work towards your goals. At your next meeting, you and your APT will discuss the obstacles to your academic success. You will most likely start with goal setting and time management, but remember that your concerns drive the session. The APT is here to guide you in acquiring the skills necessary for your academic success.

At your next meeting, you and your APT will discuss the obstacles to your academic success. You will most likely start with goal setting and time management, but remember that your concerns drive the session. The APT is here to guide you in acquiring the skills necessary for your academic success.

What Is Expected of Me?

Essentially, your relationship with your APT is built on respect and trust. The APT will treat you with respect and expects the same. The APT trusts that you will be honest with him or her and you can expect the APT to be honest with you.

In order for your first few meetings with your APT to be effective, you should bring all of your course syllabi to the first and second meeting. At later meetings, the APT may ask you to bring specific course work, like a textbook or course notes, so the two of you can reinforce the skills that you are using and share new ideas for studying with you.

Since you make an appointment with an APT, it is important to remember to be on time for your meeting and understand that the APT can only meet with you for one hour once a week. The Learning Center Cancellation and No Show policy applies to appointments with APTs as well. So remember three cancellations or two no-shows will mean dismissal from the program for the remainder of the semester.

How Do I Set Up a Meeting?

All APT meetings will be conducted remotely via Zoom for the Fall 2020 semester. To set up an appointment:

Go to www.plattsburgh.edu.
Click MYPLATTSBURGH and log into MyPlattsburgh
Click on the Cardinal Star icon — the first icon at the top of your page
You should now see your Cardinal Star Success Network; your connections are anyone you have a relationship with on campus (your instructors, advisors, coaches).
Underneath your connections, you will see your services. The first two boxes that appear are part of the Learning Center.
To schedule an Academic Personal Training (APT) appointment, click SCHEDULE in the Learning Center: Academic Personal Trainer box.
To schedule a writing appointment (any writing assignment for any class), click SCHEDULE in the Learning Center: Writing Tutoring box.
For either service, the next screen will ask you: What do you need help with?
Click: Academic Personal Training or Assistance with writing assignment and click CONTINUE at the bottom.
Click the day (we schedule a week in advance) and time you are available for tutoring and click CONTINUE at the bottom.
On the next screen, you are encouraged to write a what you will need help with during your session. Your tutor will see these notes.
You will receive an email confirmation of your appointment that includes a Zoom link.

please contact the Learning Center at [email protected].