Appalachian State University Tutoring Center

What Appalachian State University Tutoring Center does

The Disco Student Learning Center (SLC) is an academic support department within Appalachian State University's University College, established in 1972 and operating at Boone and Hickory campuses in North Carolina. The center delivers a portfolio of interconnected services to currently enrolled undergraduate students, including subject-specific peer tutoring (in-person and via Zoom), one-on-one academic success coaching, drop-in support and PEAK workshops, supplemental instruction embedded in selected courses, and a 1-2 credit academic success course catalog (US 1531 and US 2000-2005). It also administers a structured Academic Resilience Program for students on academic probation and operates Testing Services for licensure, certification, and graduate school entrance exams.

The underlying technology stack is conventional and entirely third-party: TracCloud serves as the centralized appointment scheduling platform (accessible via App State credentials), AsULearn is the university LMS used to publish supplemental instruction schedules, Google Applications provides productivity tooling, and Zoom enables virtual tutoring sessions. The center's most notable technical differentiator is its CRLA International Tutoring Training Program Certification (ITTPC), which standardizes tutor recruitment, training, minimum tutoring hours, and regular evaluation. A Midterm Grade Reports mechanism collects faculty feedback during Weeks 7-10 to route at-risk students into coaching and improvement resources.

The business model is institutional rather than commercial. Core tutoring, coaching, supplemental instruction, and drop-in services are provided free of charge to enrolled undergraduates, funded through Appalachian State University's operating budget and state appropriations as a public university. The academic success courses generate modest tuition revenue (1-2 credit hours billed at standard university tuition rates) and Testing Services may charge fees for external exams. Customer segments are entirely internal: primarily all currently enrolled undergraduates, with defined sub-segments for students on academic probation, Hickory Campus / App State Online enrollees, and undeclared majors in University College. Distribution is direct-to-student via two physical campuses, virtual Zoom delivery, and a self-service TracCloud portal.

Name

Appalachian State University Tutoring Center

Legal name

Disco Student Learning Center at Appalachian State University

Website

https://studentlearningcenter.appstate.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Academic support department at Appalachian State University providing free peer tutoring, academic success coaching, supplemental instruction, and graded academic success courses to currently enrolled undergraduate students across Boone and Hickory campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Academic Support Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDALABAF

Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Academic Advising, Career Services & Student Success

SECONDARYEDANAHAK

Remedial & Credit Recovery Learning Centers

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Small-Group Tutoring & Learning Centers

SECONDARYEDANAJAF

Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Remedial, Credit Recovery & Academic Catch-Up Programs

Keywords

• Academic tutoring services
• Supplemental instruction programs
• Academic success coaching
• Peer tutoring programs
• Student learning support

Headquarters

HQ city

Boone

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: Services are provided free of charge to enrolled undergraduate students, funded through Appalachian State University's operating budget and state appropriations as a public university.
2. Academic Success Courses: 1-credit and 2-credit graded elective courses (US 1531, US 2000, US 2001, US 2002, US 2003, US 2004, US 2005) available year-round. Students pay standard university tuition rates for these courses as part of their enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Disco Student Learning Center provides free academic support services to currently enrolled undergraduate students at Appalachian State University, including subject-specific peer tutoring in math, statistics, business, physics, and computer science; one-on-one academic success coaching; supplemental instruction group study sessions; drop-in support and PEAK workshops; a structured Academic Resilience Program for students on academic probation; and graded 1-2 credit academic success courses billed at standard university tuition. Services are delivered at the Boone and Hickory campuses and virtually via Zoom, with appointments managed through the TracCloud scheduling portal.

Product overview

The Disco Student Learning Center (SLC) at Appalachian State University is a unified academic support service that provides holistic support services for undergraduate students. The center operates as a single integrated service offering multiple interconnected programs: Tutoring Services (peer tutoring in math, statistics, business, physics, and computer science), Academic Success Coaching (one-on-one personalized support), Drop-in Support (PEAK workshops and general academic assistance), Academic Success Courses (1-credit graded electives in time management, study skills, and reading), Supplemental Instruction (peer-led study halls for difficult courses), Academic Resilience Program (structured probation support), and Testing Services. All services are designed to foster self-advocacy and develop academic independence, with free services available to enrolled undergraduate students at both Boone and Hickory campuses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tutoring Services Subject-specific peer tutoring in Math, Statistics, Business, Physics, and Computer Science, available free of charge both in person and via Zoom to currently enrolled undergraduate students. Offered by appointment or via drop-in.
• Academic Success Coaching One-on-one individualized support recognizing student strengths, helping navigate academic challenges, and creating personalized success plans. Coaches are trained Graduate Assistants providing support with time management, organization, and study skills.
• Drop-in Support Convenient drop-in support services including tutoring, general academic skill guidance, PEAK workshops, and specialized sessions on topics like time management, study skills, organization, and test anxiety.
• Academic Success Courses 1-credit-hour graded elective courses including Time Management in College (US 2000), Effective Study Skills (US 2001), Power Reading (US 2002), Technology for Enhanced Learning (US 2003), Major & Career Exploration (US 2004), and College to Career (US 2005). Offered year-round in online, hybrid, and face-to-face formats at standard university tuition.
• Testing Services Wide variety of tests including licensure, certifications, and graduate school requirements. Available at both Boone and Hickory Campus locations; fees may apply.
• Academic Resilience Program Structured support program for students on academic probation including Academic Resilience I (2-credit course), Academic Resilience II, and the Academic Success Workshop. Includes mandatory coaching appointments, personalized success plans, and progress tracking to return to good academic standing.
• Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program utilizing peer educators (SI Leaders) who work with specific faculty and courses to design and facilitate group study halls. SI sessions help students gain better understanding of course content, improve study skills, and potentially earn higher grades.
• Resources and Strategies Academic success resources including Four-Year Academic Roadmap, tips for communicating with professors, time management guidance, note-taking strategies, and TracCloud scheduling tutorial.
• Midterm Grade Reports Mechanism for collecting faculty feedback at semester midpoint, connecting students with targeted support, encouragement, and improvement strategies. Faculty submit reports during Week 7-10 of the semester.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students who attend SI sessions regularly can earn up to a letter grade higher than those who choose not to attend

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• TracCloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationTracCloud is the appointment scheduling platform used for booking tutoring, academic success coaching, writing center, and academic advising appointments. Students log in with App State credentials to schedule and manage appointments.
• HandshakesupportingTechnology or IntegrationHandshake is the university's career and student employment platform used to post and apply for student positions (tutors, PALs, SI Leaders, front desk assistants) at the Disco Student Learning Center.
• CRLA (College Reading & Learning Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRLA provides the International Tutoring Training Program Certification (ITTPC) standards that govern the SLC's peer tutor training program. The certification ensures tutors meet requirements for hiring, training, tutoring hours, and evaluation quality.
• Career Development CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Career Development Center for joint academic success courses: US 2004 Major & Career Exploration and US 2005 College to Career, offered in collaboration with career services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chegg Study: Broad study support and tutoring service targeting college students with textbook solutions, expert Q&A, and tutoring — overlaps with the SLC's tutoring, study skills, and academic resource offerings as a broader incumbent.
• Kaplan Tutoring: Large incumbent educational services company offering subject tutoring, test prep, and academic support to college students — comparable to the SLC's combined tutoring and testing services portfolio, though delivered commercially.
• Smarthinking (Pearson Online Learning Services): Pearson's online tutoring service for higher education institutions offering subject tutoring, writing support, and ESL — a broader incumbent providing comparable services to colleges, overlapping with the SLC's core tutoring and writing center functions.

Direct peers

• TutorMe: On-demand online tutoring platform offering subject-specific tutoring to college students through institutional partnerships — directly comparable to the SLC's virtual tutoring and appointment-based services delivered via Zoom and TracCloud.
• Tutor.com: Online tutoring platform that contracts directly with colleges and universities to provide on-demand subject tutoring to enrolled students — overlapping directly with the SLC's tutoring service for undergraduates, but delivered remotely rather than on-campus.
• Varsity Tutors (Nerdy): Online tutoring and academic support provider serving K-12 and college students with subject tutoring, test prep, and live instruction — overlapping with the SLC's tutoring and testing services for undergraduates.
• Brainfuse: Provides online tutoring, writing assistance, and academic support to college and university students via institutional partnerships — directly comparable to the SLC's tutoring, writing support, and academic skill-building offerings.
• Knack: Peer-to-peer tutoring and academic support platform built for college and university campuses — directly comparable to the SLC's peer-tutor-led model and supplemental instruction approach.

Emerging players

• Course Hero: Study resource and tutoring marketplace serving college students with on-demand homework help, tutoring, and study materials — partial overlap with the SLC's subject tutoring and academic skill resources.
• Wyzant: Online tutoring marketplace connecting students with private tutors across subjects — partial overlap with the SLC's subject-specific tutoring, particularly in math and sciences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AppstateDiscoSLC
• Instagraminstagram.com/AppstateDiscoSLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/appalachian-state-university-tutoring-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Appalachian State University Tutoring Center