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Tutoring Program

Tutoring Program

The tutoring program is offered as an additional accommodation for students who have not
achieved a passing grade by the mid point of the term.

The program is designed as an additional strategy when the other required strategies have
not been effective in helping the student understand the material. The program matches a
failing student with an A student for one-on-one tutoring. The goal is for the tutor to not only
help the struggling student with the content of the course but also share and teach
reading/studying strategies that often are the key to their academic success. It’s not just
providing answers; it’s teaching skills that can be applied in any academic or professional
workplace.

These skills have been outlined in the reading apprenticeship program and describe a
complete studying process from preparation, to reading strategies, to participation in a
study group, culminating with class participation or performance on an assessment. To
understand what is expected from students when studying, click on the Reading link on the
left.

Who is the tutoring program for? This accommodation is for the student who has done all
of the following and still has a failing grade:

•       Correctly and diligently completed all the required readings using the multiple
  strategies of reading apprenticeship
•       Correctly and diligently completed any accompanying study guides and/or created
  outlines or summaries of the readings
•        Have used these materials on quizzes, activities, projects, and exams
•        Have completed all quizzes, projects, activities, and exams
•        Is participating in a study group that meets regularly (will need to verify this)
•        Currently has a grade of F

Who is the tutoring program not for? The program is not offered to students with a failing
grade if they have not completed one or more of the criteria listed above. This is because
the failing grade is most likely the result of a lack of diligence in completing all the required
work. In numerous instances when a student has implemented all of the strategies in an
attempt to enter the tutoring program they in fact end up earning a passing grade.

The tutoring program is not offered to students with passing grades. This is not because
there is a disinterest in students improving their grade, but rather a pointed strategy for
failing students specifically. The suggestion for students who would like to improve their
grade is to evaluate what strategies are or are not being utilized from the reading
apprenticeship process. Often there are glaring deficiencies in the studying process that
once rectified the student will move their grade up to a more expected range. There is a
reading survey available to expedite this. Be truthful when filling this out.

Completion of the tutoring program will result in a contract grade of no lower than a D at
60%, however students very often will move their grade up above the 60% D on their own
as performance on quizzes, essays, and exams improves.

How do I become a Tutor? A tutoring position is by invitation only. Invitations will be offered
by the mid point of the term.

Tutors will have demonstrated all the requisite studying skills that in most cases were the
main reason the student has an 'A' grade. However, simply earning an 'A' may not result in
being offered a tutoring position. Tutors need to exemplify good citizenship, honesty,
integrity, have the ability to work well in a collaborative environment, have the time
availability to meet with their assigned student, and in general demonstrate a commitment
to academic excellence.

Those who are offered a tutoring position will be guaranteed an 'A' grade at 94% minimum
as long as they stay in the program. Tutors will not have to complete the second essay
project nor have to take the final exam. Tutors will need to continue to take the regularly
scheduled quizzes so that they are familiar with the content that their assigned student is
working through. Should the tutor have a current grade of, or accrue a grade higher than,
94% that percentage will be recorded as the current grade. Should the tutor earn additional
points by completing the quizzes or graded activities, their overall grade will go up.

Tutors may request an exit from the program at any time, but should that happen, the
student will be required to make up any graded class activities, essays, and/or exams that
were excused under the tutoring program.