Academic Center for Excellence

Schedule Appointment FAQs from Students Contact ACE Staff

The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) is open to all Faulkner University Students. All services available are free of charge.

Students may visit the ACE at any time during regular center hours. The use of computers, printers, and other academic resources does not require students to sign up in advance. Walk-ins are also welcome for peer tutoring, but dependent on tutor availability. If possible, the ACE recommends signing up in advance for peer tutoring.

ACE Services

Study Space – Designed for both independent and group study

Computer and Printer Usage – Including various software programs such as Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, and other discipline-specific programs

Academic Resources – Style guides, textbooks, handouts, videos, and other resources

Peer Tutoring – Accounting, Bible, Business, English, Math, Science, Spanish, and various other subjects. All ACE staff members have undergone training and obtained certification through the National Tutoring Association.

To view available appointments and reserve a tutoring session, students should download the Penji app from your app store.

Instructions for scheduling an appointment

Visit https://web.penjiapp.com or download the Penji App from your App store.

First-time visitors will need to register for an account using their Faulkner email address (StudentID#@faulkner.edu).
Once an account has been created, students can then select to schedule themselves for a single or weekly 30-minute session.
Check out our guide Penji Tutoring Guide (Students)

Students can also reserve an appointment by calling the center at 334-386-7294 or emailing ace@faulkner.edu.

What to expect at your tutoring session

When you first arrive for your appointment, one of our tutors will greet you with a welcoming smile and invite you to have a seat beside him/her.
The tutor will ask you what you are hoping to accomplish during your time together and will then tailor the session to fit your needs and help you accomplish your goals.
You should expect to be actively engaged in the session by sharing your thoughts, asking questions, and having a conversation with the coach.

At the Academic Center for Excellence, we believe that the person (that’s YOU) is more important than the product (whatever assignment you’re working on).

While we would love to see you walk away and earn an “A” on a particular assignment, that is not the goal of our time together. Our ultimate goal is to work with you until you have attained the skills you need to do well on every assignment and the wisdom you need to use those skills in a powerful and meaningful way!

TutorMe

Students also have access to TutorMe, which provides 24/7 online tutoring in over 300 subjects. TutorMe is located inside each Canvas course in the course navigation menu. TutorMe is available to all Faulkner students at any time and at no additional cost.

All Faulkner students are allotted 90 minutes per week. Students who need additional time credited to their TutorMe accounts should email ace@faulkner.edu to request additional time.

Frequently Asked Questions - Students

What if I need help outside of ACE availability?

Where is the ACE located?

When is the ACE open?

How much does it cost to visit the ACE?

How do I make an appointment?

To sign up for peer tutoring, students will need to visit https://web.penjiapp.com or download the Penji App. First-time visitors will need to register for an account using their Faulkner email address. Once an account has been created, Students can then sign up for a single or weekly 30-minute session. Students can also sign up for an appointment by calling the center at 334-386-7294 or emailing ace@faulkner.edu.

How long will my session last?

Who will be helping me?

What kind of assignments do you help with?

What type of help will I receive?

What should I do if I need to cancel/reschedule?

If you need to cancel an appointment, please visit https://web.penjiapp.com and log in to your account. From there, select the session you wish to cancel. This action will open a new page with your session details. At the top right-hand corner, you will see three dots. Click on the dots, then click “Cancel Session.” Next, briefly explain why you canceled and click submit. After canceling the appointment, be sure to find another available appointment time that works with your schedule and reserve that session.

What happens if I skip my appointment without cancelling?

We want to ensure that our time and services are being used as effectively as possible. As such, if you skip an appointment without canceling, you will be marked as a “no-show” for that appointment. After the third no-show, you will be blocked from the scheduling system. You can always walk in and work with a tutor if one is available, but you will not be able to reserve a time in advance. A blocked account will be blocked for 30 days after the third missed appointment.

What if I am late to my appointment?

If possible, please inform the ACE that you still plan to attend your session but will be arriving late. This can be done through the Penji app. If you are a few minutes late, you may begin your session as usual. However, it will still need to end at the scheduled time if the following session is booked. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you will be marked as a no-show and your appointment may be given to the next person in line.

Frequently Asked Questions - Faculty

Can I refer a student to the ACE?

Yes! If you notice that a student is struggling in your course, we encourage you to make a referral through SOAR. To make a referral in SOAR, first search for the student and pull up his/her profile. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will find a section titled “Log Entries.” From this section, click on “Student Update,” and it will give you the option to make a “Tutoring Referral.” After receiving a referral, the ACE will reach out to the student, informing them about our services and inviting them to our center.

How can I encourage my students to visit the ACE?

Insert a brief statement about the ACE on your syllabus
Post an ACE Flyer on your office door
Explain the benefits of visiting the ACE
Invite one of our tutors to make a brief presentation in your class
Regularly remind students about the ACE services, particularly before major tests or assignments
Offer extra credit for attending an ACE session and providing evidence of learning
Make a referral in SOAR for individual students who are struggling in your course

How will I know when my students visit the ACE?

Do the tutors discuss grades with the students?

Do you complete the work for the students?

Extended Campuses

Learning Support Rooms are available at each of the extended campuses, and they provide students with access to videos and reference materials regarding academic skills, study skills, and various disciplines. Students also have 24/7 access to TutorMe, an online tutoring platform located in Canvas courses in the course navigation menu.

Policies and Procedures

ACE Services: All services are free of charge to Faulkner University students. Students should bring their iPad/iPhones to scan QR codes.

Making Appointments: Appointments can be made in advance by signing up at https://web.penjiapp.com or download the Penji App. Students can also call the center at 334-386-7294 or email ace@faulkner.edu. Walk-ins are unlimited but dependent on tutor availability and appropriateness.

Session Length: Tutoring sessions are scheduled in 30-minute increments. Students may sign up for two (2) thirty-minute sessions per week per subject.

Preparing for Appointments: Students are expected to arrive to the session on time with all materials necessary for the session (assignment instructions, pencil, etc).

Tutoring: ACE tutors are trained to guide students through the process of learning. Please note that tutors will never complete an assignment for a student. Instead, they will provide assistance by answering questions, asking questions, explaining concepts, and providing resources for a given topic. Students should expect each tutoring session to be an active, ongoing conversation with the tutor. This type of session will better enable students to become capable, independent learners.

Additional Time: The 30 minute session may be exceeded only if 1) the next session is available and 2) the tutor thinks an extension of time would be profitable. Otherwise, the student may sign up for another session at a later time.

Missed Appointments: Each time a student fails to report for a session, the student’s tutor will mark him/her as a “no show”. After the third no-show, the student will be blocked from the scheduling system. Students can still walk in anytime and work with a tutor if one is available, but they will not be able to reserve a time in advance. A blocked account will remain blocked for 30 days after the third missed appointment.