Oregon State University students now have expanded academic support in the Valley Library, with mathematics, chemistry, biochemistry and physics support coming together in a renovated space on the library’s third floor. The centers are open to all OSU students taking the courses they support.
The College of Science’s Pi Hole, Mole Hole and Wormhole are located near the Academic Success Center’s new Valley Library location, creating a central hub where students can find course-specific help as well as support with studying, planning and academic goals.
The changes include expanded hours and online options, new support for select biochemistry courses and easier access to help across several foundational science and mathematics courses.
More support for mathematics, chemistry, biochemistry and physics courses
The Pi Hole is a new dedicated support center for students taking MTH 103, 105, 111 and 112. Previously, support for all mathematics courses was based in the Math and Statistics Learning Center. The new Pi Hole brings support for 100-level mathematics to the Valley Library, with expanded virtual help and in-person tutoring extending into the evening. The Math and Statistics Learning Center continues to support other mathematics coursess location in Kidder Hall.
The Wormhole, which supports introductory physics courses, moved from Weniger Hall to the Valley Library previously. Its in-person and virtual hours remain the same. The new location puts physics help alongside mathematics and other science support, making it easier for students taking courses across these subjects to find help in one place.
The Mole Hole, which has served students in the Valley Library for more than 15 years, has expanded into a larger, renovated space. It continues to support general, organic and physical chemistry courses and now offers remote support for students in in-person courses who cannot make it to the library.
For the first time, students in select biochemistry courses also have dedicated course support in the Mole Hole. Previously, biochemistry support was offered in separate, course-specific locations. Bringing it into the Mole Hole gives students a consistent place to find help and creates more opportunities to study together.
Together, the changes put support for several closely connected subjects within steps of one another. A student taking mathematics, chemistry and physics, for example, can now find support for all three on the same floor of the Valley Library.
The College of Science is also opening a new Statistics and Data Science Learning Center in Weniger Hall 228. The center will host office hours for all statistics and data science courses offered by the Department of Statistics and Data Science. Hours will be posted as the schedule is finalized.
The College of Science offers five academic support centers in all. Students can find current hours, supported courses, virtual options and locations for the Pi Hole, Mole Hole, Wormhole, Math and Statistics Learning Center and Vole Hole on the College of Science Academic Support Centers website.
A central location for academic support
The Academic Success Center has also moved from Waldo Hall to the third floor of the Valley Library. Students can meet with academic strategists for help with planning, studying and finding campus resources or make academic coaching appointments to work on academic goals and strategies.
These services complement resources already available throughout the Valley Library, including the Writing Studio, Learning Commons, Media Hub, Library of Things borrowables center, research and information services, and reservable study rooms. Students can explore additional university resources through Academic Support at OSU.
The renovated College of Science space was made possible with generous support from Oregon State donors. The project supports OSU’s broader goal of making academic help easier to find and access and keeping pathways to academic success open for students.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to explore the new spaces during the Academic Support Open House from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, on the third floor of the Valley Library.
