Success Centres

All co-ordinators specializing in English and writing can help you with reading comprehension and study skills. They also support essay writing skill development, including thesis statements, organization and cohesion, paragraph focus and development, introductions and conclusions, and integrating sources. Editing and proofreading strategies, as well as common grammar errors, can also be reviewed.

Math support covers a broad range of fields, including basic math, calculus, statistics, and second-year math. Science support covers studies in physics, biology and chemistry. All co-ordinators specializing in Math and Science can help with upgrading, first-year math, and statistics.

Help with business courses is provided by peer mentors. 

In-person business tutors are available at the Kelowna and Penticton campuses.  For information about the Kelowna tutors, contact tlckelowna@okanagan.bc.ca for details. In Penticton, check the schedule posted outside the Success Centre.

There is help available in a variety of subjects:

• Computer Science
• English Language Learning
• Human Kinetics
• Language learning strategies
• Spanish
• Water Engineering Technology

Contact tlckelowna@okanagan.bc.ca for a referral to a subject expert or peer mentor.

Is there a fee to use the services of the Success Centres?

No! Students registered in any Okanagan College course or program may access the services offered by the Success Centres at no cost.

Who are the Okanagan College Success Centre Coordinators?

The Success Centre Coordinators are experienced staff who specialize in a variety of subject areas and provide learning assistance to all students in a welcoming and safe learning environment.

Will a Success Centre Coordinator help me with a take-home exam?

Generally, no. Unless you have written authorization from your instructor that a Success Centre Coordinator can assist you with a take-home exam, the Coordinators will not be able to give you feedback.

Can the Success Centres help me with study skills or time management?

While the Success Centre Coordinators may be able to provide some general advice on these topics, students should book an appointment with an Okanagan College Counsellor for more in-depth assistance.  

What if I need help in a subject that’s not listed?

Check with your campus Success Centre to see if a Success Centre Coordinator located at another campus may be capable of assisting (virtual appointments are available).

Will a Success Centre Coordinator discuss my meeting with my instructor?

No. All information, including who visited and for which courses, is considered confidential. It is up to you if you choose to tell your instructor that you used the Success Centre services.

Will a Success Centre Coordinator proofread or edit a paper for me?

No. To ensure a paper remains the exclusive work of the student’s (see Okanagan College’s Academic Integrity Policy), Success Centre Coordinators do not proofread or edit papers. Coordinators can assist students in developing and practicing their own proofreading and editing skills. 

What will an English and Writing Success Centre Coordinator help me with?

They can help you with understanding assignment guidelines and course expectations. They can work with you to improve areas of your writing such as structure, grammar and punctuation. They can recommend valuable resources or offer new ways of thinking to facilitate understanding and promote independence.

Can I make an appointment for a group project?

If you will receive a shared mark for a group project, the Success Centre Coordinator is happy to meet with all the members of your group at the same time. However, if you have been assigned a specific section of the group project to work on individually, you may meet with the Success Centre Coordinator on your own to discuss this section. The Success Centre Coordinator will not comment on the work of individuals not present during the appointment.

Can you help me with me with a resume or cover letter?

Yes, but only if the resume or cover letter are part of your course curriculum. For general job search resources, please visit OC’s Student, Grad, and Co-op Employment website.

How should I prepare for my visit.

We can make the best use of our time together if you send the assignment details and any draft writing ahead of the meeting time. Also, you should be prepared to identify specific areas of concern in your course or assignment. 

How should I prepare for my visit with a Math & Science Coordinator?

Before you visit a Math & Science Coordinator, it is important that you review, and bring with you, any course material such as notes or examples from class and any assigned textbook material. Be prepared to show the work that you have done so far, and try to explain where you are getting stuck or what you do not understand about the problem. 

What will a Math & Science Coordinator or Student Learning Assistant help me with?

They can help you review and apply concepts you have learned in class and offer immediate feedback as you work through a question. They can assist you in finding resources to help answer your questions when necessary, and help you build skills to become a better learner.

If I miss a class, can the Success Centre Coordinators or Student Learning Assistants help me catch up?

If you have missed a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a peer and/or meet with your instructor. Success Centre Coordinators and Student Learning Assistants cannot recreate a missed lecture for you. Once you review the notes on your own or with a classmate, a Coordinator will be happy to help you clarify any areas you have highlighted for review.

Can a Math & Science Coordinator or Student Learning Assistant check my assignment for mistakes?

While Math & Science Coordinators and Student Learning Assistants will not check over assignments for errors, solve problems, or provide answers to questions on course assignments, they will provide additional guidance and clarification. You can specify which questions you are struggling with and they can focus on those concepts. They will assist in understanding course concepts while working through examples and practice problems with you.  

How much time can I spend with the Math & Science Coordinators or Student Learning Assistants for drop-ins?

The drop-in assistance is designed to help you understand a concept and then allow you to work through it on your own. You are welcome to come back multiple times if you need to.  During peak periods, the time the Coordinators or Assistants are able to spend with an individual student may be limited to accommodate all students seeking assistance.

Language skills

• Reading
• Speaking
• Speaking - Multi-Level
• Academic Word List
• Pronunciation - Video
• Spelling Rules
• Idiom Site
• Frequently Used Words
• Grammar
• ​Vocabulary
• Reading
• Speaking & Pronunciation
• Listening

Test preparation

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Canadian Listening & Speaking Test (CELPIP)
• TOEFL & TOEIC
• Cambridge Exams

Language practice

• Idioms - Practice Paragraph
• Idioms - Practice Questions  |  Idioms - Practice Questions Key
• Vocabulary Building (adjectives)
• Vocabulary Building (adverbs)
• Vocabulary Building (nouns)
• Vocabulary Building (Prepositions)
• Vocabulary Building (Pronouns)
• Vocabulary Building (Verbs)

Math

• Khan Academy Tutorials​
• Various math videos by Bryan Penfound

Statistics

• Statistics Interactive

Biology

• Khan Academy - Introductory Biology​
• Biology videos

Chemistry

• Periodic Table
• Khan Academy Chemistry​

  ​Physics

• Khan Academy Physics​
• Phet - interactive simulations​
• Free online text for PHYS 112/122