Learning Assistance Program

Learning Assistance Program - A Division of the University Counseling Center

The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) is a specialty service of the University Counseling Center. The LAP's primary mission is to provide psycho-educational evaluations of learning difficulties to identify whether any learning disabilities and/or attention deficits are impeding CSU students' academic performance. These evaluations involve in-depth interviews, standardized tests, and specialized screenings. They may require up to 15 contact hours with a counselor, usually over the course of six to eight weeks. LAP counselors interpret results and recommend academic adjustments or possible accommodations. With the students' consent, the counselors will provide reports to advocacy (e.g., CSU's Resources for Disabled Students office) and/or treatment (e.g., CSU's Hartshorn Health Service) resources on the students' behalf.

To determine whether a psycho-educational evaluation might be warranted, fee-paying CSU students express their concerns during a brief meeting with the Triage Counselor at the University Counseling Center, often followed by an initial LAP interview to follow. These contacts are covered by student fees. However, as a specialty service, LAP evaluations incur extra charges. When LAP capacity is limited, or when the students prefer, UCC provides students with a list of other resources in the community which students may contact for assistance.

LAP's secondary mission is to enhance students' academic skills. Currently, we are providing study skills information via our website in both written and podcast formats. In conjunction with other UCC units, we offered a Test Anxiety workshop multiple times in spring 2008.

Please see our current test anxiety/psycho-educational groups

Useful Resources

• Efficient Reading
• Helpful Hints - Notetaking
• Helpful Hints - Memory and Concentration
• How to Keep Calm During Tests
• Managing Your Study Time
• Reviewing for Examinations

Talk with the UCC Triage Counselor about possible LAP services if You:

• Think you might have a learning disability
• Think you might have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or other attention problems
• Get very easily distracted by any little noise or movement when trying to study
• Are on academic probation
• Have a lot of trouble understanding what you read for your classes
• Feel frustrated that, despite your best efforts, you do not seem to get the grades you want

Podcasts

Facts/News

• Boost Your Memory:

  Moving your eyes horizontally back and forth to improve your memory may sound strange, but British scientists are convinced that it works. People who did such eye movements for 30 seconds memorized more of the works on a list than people who didn't. According to Andrew Parker, PhD of Manchester Metropolitan University, "Eye movements may increase hemispheric interaction-the communication between the left and right sides of the brain".