Tutor Program FAQ

How does group tutoring work?

• Students work with peer tutors in groups of 4 – 6 students, who are all in the same course and have the same professor. Groups meet two times weekly, throughout the semester.
• Tutoring sessions are held Monday-Thursday, during the day or evening, and Fridays during the day and are conducted in classrooms on campus.
• Course material is not “re-taught” to students in the traditional sense. Instead, tutors use the course material to develop learning strategies and other “hands-on” activities that require students to work and manipulate the subject matter. As a result, students develop effective strategies and critical thinking skills.

What happens if there are no peer tutors available, groups are full or schedules don’t match?

Sometimes student schedules don’t match the available group times. Adjustments have to be made or additional tutors hired, which takes time. If you have not heard from the Tutor Program in ten working days, please call the office at 581-2351.

An assignment letter will be sent via your First Class email, which will include your tutor’s name and the days/times of the sessions. Once assigned, it is your responsibility to contact the tutor to arrange for a first meeting. We ask students to wait 24 hours before emailing their tutors, to allow for tutors to pick up their assignment materials.

Please note:

Group times are subject to change in order to complete groups and accommodate the demand for tutoring. This is avoided when possible, but is sometimes necessary given the available resources.

When do I contact my tutor to find the location of my tutoring sessions?

Students have seven days to email their tutor from their initial assignment date. Once contact has been made, a First Meeting will be scheduled and a contract signed, which confirms tutoring has commenced.  If the first meeting is not held within the 7-day time period, their tutoring slot may be given to another student.

When will the actual tutoring sessions begin?

Your first meeting with your tutor will be one-on-one to assess the difficulties you are having with the course, to sign your Tutee Contract and to get to know each other. You will “join” the others in the group after your first meeting has taken place.

What happens at the first meeting and what are my responsibilities?

Be prepared to discuss specific problems you are having with the course. (i.e., Do you have difficulty with word problems, taking notes, integrating previously learned material, etc.)

Bring ALL books and material relevant to the course. (i.e., the syllabus, class notes, tests, reading assignments, etc.).

Be prepared to sign a tutoring contract, which states that you will do the following:

• Attend all of your classes, recitations, and labs. Tutoring is not to be used as a substitute for class instruction.
• Go prepared to every session. This includes completing all reading and homework assignments for class, as well as any work assigned by your tutor prior to your scheduled meeting time. Tutoring sessions are not homework sessions.
• Email your tutor 24 hours in advance if you cannot attend a session, with the reason why. Services will be discontinued if students miss THREE sessions*.

*Given the volume of work and the speed at which the semester progresses, students cannot afford to miss or be unprepared for tutoring sessions. Students who do not meet these responsibilities will lose their tutoring privileges for the current semester. If there are extenuating circumstances, you can request a meeting with the Coordinator.

Will my professor know I am being tutored?

Tutors have the option and are encouraged to meet with instructors. The intent is to clarify expectations of the instructor; course prerequisites and how tutors may best assist their groups. We ask that you do this too. Professors are considered the primary resource of information and assistance for any course. Working with professors may well eliminate the need for tutoring!

What if you get a job, add/drop a course, change grade status to audit or pass/fail, or move to a new address?

If you move, you need to notify both your tutor and the Tutor Program immediately. Changes to your class/work schedule may require a new group assignment. Students are no longer eligible for tutoring once they change their grade option to audit or pass/fail. In any event, keep the Tutor Program informed!

What if you don’t like your tutor or the group dynamics?

If at any time you would like to discuss the progress of your group, group dynamics, program philosophy or need a scheduling change, we encourage you to first share your concerns with your tutor. It is difficult for tutors to make changes if they are not aware of your problems. You may also contact Tutor Program professional staff members at 581-2351.

How can you get the most out of my tutoring experience? And should you be concerned if you don’t see immediate progress?

To get the most out of tutoring sessions, be an active participant. Tutoring can increase your overall understanding of the material and help improve your course grade depending upon the time, energy and effort YOU commit to the learning process. The more you put into this experience, the more you will learn.

Do not expect miracles to happen right away! Progress is made as you work and learn together over a period of time, not as a result of one or two meetings.

What if you no longer want or need to be tutored?

The Tutor Program’s goal is for each student to develop successful study skills and learning strategies, so that they no longer require academic assistance. If you no longer need assistance, notify your tutor and the Tutor Program office at 581-2351 and let us know the reason why. These reasons are documented for program evaluation purposes.

How can you give feedback to the Tutor Program about my tutoring experience?

A Four Week Follow-Up Progress Report is emailed to all students receiving tutoring services. Its purpose is to assess your degree of satisfaction with tutoring. The information is also used to evaluate the continued employment of tutors for the following semester. Your comments will remain confidential.