Support Programs

Please visit the Campus Supports webpage for information on the Career Closet, Counseling Services, Dean of Students Office, Wellness Center, and Wesley Food Pantry.

The Computer Technology Center provides students and District 505 residents with opportunities to complete computer courses using a self-paced format, as well as gain assistance with computer skills from qualified staff and peer tutors. Students can choose from free tutorials that cover basic computer literacy skills, or a variety of low-cost, open-enrollment courses covering topics from keyboarding to advanced-level Microsoft Office applications. Students are welcome to visit the open classroom in room X231, located in the Learning Commons, to complete coursework, study online, or receive in-person help. For specific information about courses and hours, call the Business/Computer Science and Technologies department office at 217/353-2099 or visit us online at parkland.edu/ctc.

Parkland College has a wide range of academic support, resources, and student services to help you be successful in and out of class. Similar to this Digital Student Handbook, the new student portal called Connect, will bring together the most important links and services to one central place, fully accessible and optimized for your mobile device.  

• Access key services – Parkland email, Cobra Learning, Student Orientation, and Self-Service. 
• Stay on track – Registration, class schedules, key deadlines, and more.  
• Get help – Tech services, counseling services, Learning Commons, career services, and more.  
• Navigate campus – Clubs and activities, campus maps, student newspaper, Betsy’s Bistro menus, and more.   
• Go to Connect with your campus! 

Welcome to the all-new Parkland College Learning Commons! Located in the former Library space in the College Center, the Parkland College Learning Commons brings together information resources, technology (including loanable laptops and calculators), and study help into a one-stop shop to help you achieve academic success.

In the PCLC you’ll find comfortable places to study, research, browse, and work with tutors, faculty, and your friends. The main floor offers a variety of group and collaborative work areas as well as internet-enabled computer stations, or you can head to the third floor for individual silent study zones. Librarians and Academic Specialists are available to assist and guide you in using all the resources available to you, including information literacy, writing help, and walk-in learning assistance and tutoring. 

Bring your Parkland ID to the Learning Commons to check out the range of services we offer. Studying from home? Full-text databases are available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with live online assistance available during opening hours.  Call 217/373-3839 or visit the  Learning Commons website to learn more.

The Peer Tutoring Program is designed to help students understand course material, complete assignments, and prepare for tests. Peer tutors are students who have excelled in their classes and received tutor training. Tutoring is available for accounting, biology, chemistry, computer information systems, computer science, economics, mathematics, physics, Spanish, and others. Visit the Tutoring webpage for additional information.

Our faculty staffing the Center can help students with a wide variety of challenges such as organizing speeches, creating visual aids, speech anxiety, and of course coaching them in delivery of their speeches. Visit the Presentation Center webpage for more information.

The Parkland Science Commons is a physical space designated for Natural Science course instructional support. Our goal is to help you succeed in your science courses. We are here to help!

• The Science Commons is staffed with Parkland Instructors with a variety of expertise.
• All students taking Natural Science courses are welcome.
• Located in the L-wing of the college, outside of L127 (Note: we are not located in the Learning Commons.)
• For the current schedule of hours and instructors, click here.

TRiO Student Support Services is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is designed to assist participants with meeting their educational, personal, and career goals. Parkland TRiO accepts 180 students each school year. TRiO scholars have access to the following free academic support services:

• Dedicated and knowledgeable advisors who provide holistic advising and mentoring
• Programming and personalized assistance in planning your college and career path
• Comprehensive planning and transfer preparation, including four-year college tours
• Skill-building workshops designed to meet the unique needs of each participant
• Opportunities to build community through cultural and social activities
• One-on-one tutoring for all Parkland courses, available in-person or online
• Financial literacy education and FAFSA completion assistance
• Computer lab and study space with free printing

Because TRiO is funded by a federal grant, applicants must demonstrate a need for academic support and meet ONE of the following eligibility requirements:

• Be a first-generation college student (neither parent has a four-year degree) OR
• Be eligible based on income guidelines (for most students, this means receiving a Pell grant through financial aid) OR
• Be registered with Parkland’s Office of Accessibility Services

For more information about TRIO services and eligibility, and to apply, please visit the TRiO website or our office in room U252.

The Writing Lab, located in the Learning Commons on the second floor of X-Wing, is a free, walk-in service where writing faculty can provide you with help at any stage of your writing in any course—from getting started to citing sources correctly—as well as with writing transfer essays, job application letters, and other academic projects. The Writing Lab is open Monday to Friday.

Please to go the Writing Lab page on the library site to see our semester schedule and find useful links to additional writing resources, including MLA and APA documentation.