The Learning Center

The Learning Center (TLC) is a program designed for learning-disabled students who desire a college education. The program is not one of remediation, but is rather a program to assist individuals in becoming successful college students. Students must supply documentation of a primary learning disability at the time of application.

The mission of the TLC program is to enable students to function independently in the college environment. We feel that an individual approach will help to identify specific ways of improving the learning process.  We place emphasis on developing self-help strategies and study techniques. TLC is committed to working personally with learning-disabled students to help them achieve their very best.

Personalized Learning Schedules

Learning disabilities are lifelong disorders that affect the manner in which individuals select, retain, and express information. In other words, individuals with learning disabilities experience difficulty in interpreting incoming and/or outgoing information, which becomes "scrambled" as it travels between the senses and the brain. In adults, learning disabilities are commonly recognized as deficits in comprehension, written expression, math computation, spelling, and/or problem solving. Less frequent, but no less troublesome, are problems with organizational, time management, and social skills.

The TLC program builds a personalized learning schedule for each student, focusing on:

• Mastering test-taking strategies
• Improving the quality of written work
• Managing time effectively
• Learning various research skills
• Developing memory and concentration techniques

These specialized schedules enable the student to demonstrate mastery of the information being tested by minimizing or eliminating the impact of his or her learning disability.

Testing/Classroom Accommodations

Students with documented learning disabilities may receive legal testing/classroom accommodations as deemed necessary and appropriate under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The purpose of providing these accommodations is to enable the student to demonstrate mastery of the information being tested by minimizing or eliminating the impact of his or her learning disability. Although the student may not need to use every accommodation in each class session, the student is entitled to all of the accommodations listed on his or her individual accommodation form.

For more information on personalized learning schedules, testing and classroom accommodations, or any of The Learning Center's services, please call 732.987.2650 or e-mail cohenp@georgian.edu.

Staff & Hours

• Patricia A. Cohen, Director
  Patricia A. Cohen holds a B.A. in Psychology from GCU and a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University. Ms. Cohen began working for the Department of Psychology at GCU in 1986, teaching Abnormal Psychology, Child Development, Basic Counseling, and Dynamics for Group—a course she taught for l3 years. In 1992, Ms. Cohen began working in the Department of Sociology, teaching Introduction to Sociology, Marriage and the Family, and Intergroup Relations—a course she has been teaching for 12 years. In addition to serving as GCU's 504 Officer for all students with disabilities, Ms. Cohen recently earned her M.A. in Theology and has served as an expert consultant to several outside organizations on the detection and treatment of depression in adolescents.
  
• Barbara Parisi, Secretary
  Barbara Parisi has over 30 years of secretarial and administrative experience and is involved in a variety of community volunteer activities. She has been with The Learning Center since 1999.
  
• Luana Fahr, Academic Support Specialist
  Luana Fahr holds a B.S. in Business Management from St. Francis College and an M.S. in Secondary Education from St. John’s University. Prior to joining GCU, Ms. Fahr spent sixteen years of her career teaching high school mathematics in New York and has taught both honors regents classes and remedial classes.  She also has experience with middle school, where she was the coordinator of the St. Jude Math-a -thon in Brooklyn, New York.  Ms. Fahr is currently an instructor at GCU for basic skills math classes.  She has also taught basic skills reading and writing. Over the years, she has worked with students on a variety of subjects, both in and out of the classroom.
  
• Marie Mascitelli, Academic Support Specialist
  Marie Mascitelli holds a degree in education, elementary school, K–8, with a minor in psychology, which she used to teach third and fifth grade in the Passaic School District for 18 years. For the past 12 years, Ms. Mascitelli has been tutoring students in subjects ranging from composition and grammar to algebra and geometry. She is actively involved in community volunteer activites, particulary in service of the Howell Township Public School System.
  
• Linda Harden, Academic Support Specialist
  
• Don McKeon, Academic Support Specialist

Semester Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Call for evening hours.

Summer Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tutoring hours vary according to student needs.