Miami Students Take the Lead at Peer Academic Support Conference
Miami University students in the Rinella Learning Center played a leading role in this year’s 4th annual Heartland College Learning Center Association (HCLCA) peer academic assistance virtual conference, held Feb. 9–12, 2026.
Miami Students Take the Lead at Peer Academic Support Conference
Miami University students in the Rinella Learning Center played a leading role in this year’s 4th annual Heartland College Learning Center Association (HCLCA) peer academic assistance virtual conference, held Feb. 9–12, 2026.
Miami University students in the Rinella Learning Center played a leading role in this year’s 4th annual Heartland College Learning Center Association (HCLCA) peer academic assistance virtual conference, held Feb. 9–12, 2026.
This year was the largest conference in the event’s history, with 261 student staff members from 12 institutions attending at least one session during the four-day, peer-to-peer conference. Both the number of participating institutions and overall attendance set records this year.
Miami is a founding institution of the conference, and has played a key role in its growth and success.
A Growing Midwest Collaboration
The conference began in 2023 when Miami University, Ohio University, and Ball State University received a collaboration grant through the International College Learning Center Association (ICLCA). The initial grant supported speaker stipends and door prizes and launched what would become a fast-growing regional partnership.
In 2025, the HCLCA, the Midwest affiliate of ICLCA, began sponsoring the conference, expanding participation to any school within its membership. That sponsorship, combined with outreach from the founding institutions, helped the conference grow from three schools in 2023 to nine in 2025, and now 12 in 2026.
The conference is quickly becoming a signature opportunity for peer academic support students across the Midwest.
Miami Students Share Expertise and Experience
The conference is also an opportunity for Miami students to share their expertise. This year, 12 Miami tutors and Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leaders presented five conference sessions, sharing their expertise with peers across the region. Topics reflected both practical skill-building and the heart of peer education:
- Tutoring and Coaching in Emergency Situations: Mitigating Stress and Managing Expectations, Anna Solace (SI Leader)
- Building Confidence in Supplemental Instruction Leaders, Danah Al-Muhtaseb and Payton Sullivan (SI Leaders)
- Building Community in the Tutoring Center, Rachel Ryan, Zach Ohler, Celia Powers, Mason Welch, and Conner McCammon (Tutors)
- Finding Balance: Prioritizing Mental Health while Being an Effective Supplemental Instruction Leader, Madelyn Leiter, Gina Sciarretti, and Ally Gitler (SI Leaders)
- From Crickets to Cheers: Gamifying Your SI Session, Nishka Avunoori (SI Leader)
The sessions incorporated interactive elements such as role-play, problem-solving, gamification strategies, and facilitated discussions, modeling the same active learning approaches Miami students use in their own tutoring and SI sessions.
Beyond Presentation: Growth in Confidence and Community
For student presenters, the conference is more than a bullet on a resume. It’s an opportunity to build confidence, leadership skills, and connections across different institutions.
“This was my first time presenting at the HCLCA conference, and it was very rewarding not only to present, but to use the opportunity to really reflect on the community we've built in [the Rinella Learning Center] and how we can continue to grow,” shared Celia Powers, tutor. “It was cool to have been able to create a presentation that people seemed to care a lot about.”
Anna Solace, who has now presented at the conference for three consecutive years, reflected on her growth:
“Having this be my third year presenting at the HCLCA Conference has been immensely meaningful to my development; not only as a supplemental instructor, but also as a presenter and future professional. Presenting over Zoom to a large audience of peers I didn’t know was initially intimidating, but each year I’ve grown more confident and comfortable sharing my experiences.”
A Peer-Led Model of Learning and Leadership
What makes the HCLCA conference unique is its peer-to-peer structure. The rapid growth of the conference underscores the value of student-led professional development and cross-campus collaboration. For Miami students, it also reflects the strength of the community within the Rinella Learning Center.
“I think that the amazing support that we head tutors received from our peers during our presentation speaks to the thriving community that we are growing in the Rinella Learning Center, and to the amazing community here at Miami,” said Mason Welch, tutor.
As the conference continues to expand, Miami remains at the forefront as a leader in empowering students to share their knowledge, support their peers, and develop as confident professionals.