The Peer Learning Commons (PLC) at Bates is located on the Ground Level of Ladd Library. The PLC houses two learning support centers: the Student Academic Support Center (SASC) and the Student Writing & Language Center (SWLC). 

SASC provides peer tutoring in introductory and intermediate level courses  across the curriculum but primarily in mathematics, statistics, digital and computational studies, quantitative social sciences, natural & physical sciences, and music theory. SASC also provides support in learning strategies and study skills through peer tutoring and targeted workshops. 

SWLC provides peer tutoring for student-writers and language-learners across the curriculum at any stage of the writing or language-learning process. This includes course-attached writing tutors for every First-Year Seminar ([W1]); tutoring and support programming for interdisciplinary and field-specific writing ([W2]); support for senior thesis/capstone ([W3]); and peer tutoring for entry- and mid-level language courses, for practice writing and speaking in those courses, and for multilingual students seeking support for writing in English as a Second Language or writing English for Academic Purposes. 

Both SASC and SWLC provide support for public speaking and presentations as well through the availability of the PLC’s Davis Family Foundation Presentation and Speaking Practice Studios.