Fueling Futures: Shell’s Lasting Impact on Student Success at LSU

The Shell Tutorial Center is a free resource LSU students can utilize to succeed academically. Offering services from peer tutoring to study strategies workshops, the Shell Tutorial Center helps generations of LSU students build academic resilience. 

“The Shell Tutorial Center stands out by combining robust academic support with metacognitive development. We help students build critical thinking skills and confidence, while also equipping our student employees with leadership tools they carry beyond LSU,” said Alexandra Garcia, director of the Center for Academic Success (CAS).

“With nearly 100 courses offered, 59 hours of tutoring each week, and 24 unique Supplemental Instruction courses placed conveniently across campus, our services are more comprehensive and accessible than many peer institutions.”

During the early 2000s, the CAS ran three tutorial centers. Then, in the Fall of 2009, one centralized tutorial center was established. In 2011, the tutorial center was renamed the Shell Tutorial Center and given a permanent home inside the LSU Library. Shell’s longstanding generosity to the center ensures that students will continue to receive these essential services free of charge.

“Shell has been an incredible partner to LSU, and their decade of support for the Shell Tutorial Center has made a real difference in our students’ lives,” says Troy Blanchard, Interim Executive Vice President & Provost. “Their support has helped the center grow into one of LSU’s most effective tools for improving student outcomes and fostering academic confidence.”

“The Shell Tutorial Center is a powerful example of how industry support can elevate student success.”

Lee Stockwell, Shell General Manager North America Carbon, Capture and Storage and LSU’s Campus Executive

“Shell’s investment in naming the center within LSU’s CAS continues to strengthen the university’s ability to provide exceptional learning support,” said Lee Stockwell, Shell General Manager North America Carbon, Capture and Storage and LSU’s Campus Executive. “We’re honored to celebrate LSU’s recent recognition as the world’s only three-time Center of Excellence. Achievements like this are made possible through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to student success.”

The Shell Tutorial Center not only benefits students seeking academic support but also its student employees, who serve as peer tutors. Each peer tutor is able to refine their own study skills, enabling them to become leaders on campus and leave college with the resources needed to succeed beyond the classroom. 

“Shell is proud to support LSU students in their academic journeys. By investing in peer tutoring and leadership development, we’re helping students build the skills and confidence they need to thrive—both in the classroom and in their future careers,” said Stockwell. 

Looking ahead to the construction of the new LSU Library, Shell made a leadership gift commitment to expand the center’s impact across campus.

“We plan to build more partnerships with campus departments and senior colleges, fostering stronger, more integrated student support. At the same time, we aim to expand both our hours and the variety of tutoring and Supplemental Instruction (SI) options to better serve our broad and growing student population,” Garcia said.

Next Steps

Let LSU put you on a path to success! With 330+ undergraduate programs, 70 master's programs, and over 50 doctoral programs, we have a degree for you.

Experience LSUFind Your MajorBecome a Tiger