Madison Kollar/The Mossy Log
Among the many academic support and resource programs on campus is the Symbolic and Quantitative Resource Center (SQRC), a tutoring space run by students for students taking classes in STEM subjects — including biology, statistics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, economics and physics. Every day of the week except for Saturday, students can pop in J.R. Howard 134 for one-on-one tutoring, collaborative work or a space to study.
The informal student-to-student dynamic promotes a casual and collaborative environment. Sam Van Blarcom ’27 is a mathematics major and a first-year tutor who helps students in different math classes. Contrasting his experience as a private tutor, Van Blarcom shared his personal experience on what makes the dynamic of the SQRC different.
“The tutors and the students are kind of on even footing here, you’re working on homework together, as opposed to teaching or directing you on what to do, and I think that’s nice. I think it creates a more comfortable environment,” Van Blarcom said.
While the SQRC may be a space designed to support students academically, it has also created a tight-knit close community. Colin McLeod ’26 is a chemistry major and second-year tutor assisting students in organic chemistry, a foundational class notorious for its challenging material. As more students connect in the SQRC to work through difficult courses, the shared challenge creates a bond between them and a unique community.
“(Organic chemistry) is really hard. And what happens is that the students really band together. They create a close-knit web of relying on each other and getting to know each other,” McLeod said.
Van Blarcom added to this sentiment, stating that strength lies in numbers, and more tutees increase the learning outcomes for students.
“The students can help each other, and the tutor can come and intervene and help out as well. The more people that come to the SQRC, the more effective it is,” Van Blarcom said.
With its doors open all semester, students are encouraged to utilize the space to work through their assignments or tackle concepts they struggle to digest. Naturally, the SQRC sees fluxes when students use the center: a slow start, quiet periods between exams and deadlines, and a rush at the end of the semester.
“It’s really hit or miss at this time of the year, but in terms of the students’ panic, it’s still kind of early (now),” McLeod said. “Last year, the night before the final, I had something like 70-75% of the entire class in here to see me at one time, which is insane.”
Across different subjects, the SQRC also sees contrasting usage rates. Chemistry consistently sees a large swath of students throughout the year, while other subjects, such as physics and mathematics, see smaller crowds at times. McLeod attributes this to the inherently challenging design of organic chemistry.
“The math crowd seems a bit smaller than the chemistry crowd, so it depends on the subject,” Van Blarcom said.
According to the Lewis & Clark Common Data Set, 22.65% of degrees awarded between 2023-24 were in STEM disciplines, with over half of these degrees from biological/life sciences. Within major requirements, biochemistry and molecular biology and chemistry majors are required to take challenging chemistry courses over several semesters, which may contribute to high usage of the SQRC for chemistry classes.
Despite the inconsistency of student traffic the SQRC may see, tutors remain dedicated to assisting students and will sometimes continue tutoring past closing time. Whether students exceed or meet high standards in their courses or struggle to grasp the material by themselves, the SQRC is a readily available space for all students.
“I think it’s insanely underutilized. The way (organic chemistry) is taught here is that it’s almost impossible to get through it on your own without help. It’s just not how it works. There’s too much going on. You need to have some other external force helping you through it,” McLeod said.
For students: don’t wait until exam periods. The SQRC is a free and supportive place for all students, including non-STEM majors who are taking a class involving quantitative reasoning. With passionate tutors and a welcoming environment, students can pop in to connect and learn together, or simply hang out and enjoy the company.
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