Tutoring

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WHO RECEIVES SERVICES: Any WVU Parkersburg student may receive a maximum of two hours of tutoring per week per course for a maximum of two courses. Tutoring is provided at no charge to students.

(1) Students may apply or be referred by faculty to the Learning Center for tutoring. In either case, tutees fill out an Application for Tutoring. The Learning Center Director reviews the application directions with tutees, emphasizing the importance of listing as many available times for tutoring as possible. This makes placement with a tutor more likely.

(2) At the time of application, the Learning Center Director attempts to schedule tutoring within the existing tutor schedules. If this is not possible, one of the following may occur:

a. Tutees are told the Learning Center will contact them as soon as a tutor can be recruited for them, usually within a week, OR

b. Tutors may be asked to expand or change their schedules to accommodate applicants.

(3) All tutees will initially be assigned to group sessions. The Center will attempt to assign tutees from the same class and instructor to the same group. Tutors will determine the optimum number of tutees to be assigned to a particular group to ensure successful tutoring. Tutors or course instructors may consult the Learning Center Director if individual sessions are deemed necessary for a tutee’s success.

TARDINESS, MISSED, OR CANCELLED SESSIONS: Tutoring sessions are scheduled to start at the top of the hour or on the half hour. Sessions are fifty minutes long, which allows both tutors and tutees time to get to their next class or tutors to prepare for their next session. If a tutee is late for a session, tutors will discuss the tardiness with the tutee that same session, including reviewing the tutee contract. If the tardiness occurs again, the tutee is told that any future tardiness will be considered a missed session. Tutors then follow the same policies as with missed or cancelled sessions.

If tutees miss two group tutoring sessions, their place in a group can be assigned to other tutees if the group has reached its optimum number. When services are discontinued, the Learning Center Director notifies the tutees in person or by phone.

Tutees must contact the Learning Center and/or notify the tutor if they need to cancel an individual tutoring session. During the initial tutoring session, the tutor and tutee will discuss the amount of notice each requires to avoid making a special trip to campus for a session. The Learning Center Director will make every attempt to notify the tutor and tutee of any cancellations. If tutees fail to cancel an individual tutoring session OR cancel two individual sessions, their appointment time may be assigned to another tutee. The Director will notify students that tutoring services have been discontinued using the same procedure as with group sessions. Tutees may appeal the termination of individual or group tutoring to the Center Director.

Tutee’s Learning Center Exit Survey: At the end of the semester or when tutees discontinue tutoring services, tutors ask tutees to fill out an Exit Survey. These surveys are filled out in the Center to ensure that they are completed and returned. A copy of these surveys will be given to tutors as feedback regarding their tutee’s perception of tutoring services. The Learning Center Director will discuss any significant problems noted on the Exit Survey with the affected tutor.

Learning Center tutors are currently enrolled WVU Parkersburg students who have been recommended by faculty members. The Learning Center also has an Adult Basic Education tutor and volunteers.

What students tell us
At the end of the semester, tutees are asked to fill out an exit survey. Below are some of the typical quotes from these surveys.

What the data tells us
One semester, the Learning Center had 374 students who started tutoring. The percent of successful students who stayed in tutoring was 90%. 98% of students who received tutoring one semester registered for the next semester.

RECRUITMENT OF TUTORS: Learning Center tutors are currently enrolled WVU Parkersburg students who have been recommended by faculty members. The Center recruits students who have demonstrated 1) a superior mastery of the course content they will tutor, 2) good interpersonal skills, and 3) a caring and compassionate attitude toward other students. Upon the recommendation of the faculty member, the Center Director interviews prospective tutors to determine their interest in tutoring and to assess personal qualities required to be effective tutors.

HIRING & PAYROLL PROCEDURES: Tutors are paid $7.25 an hour for scheduled individual or group sessions, approved drop-in hours; tutor training; and tutor meetings.

Tutors must review and sign a Learning CenterTutor Contract which defines the commitment tutors are expected to make to the Center and the tutees with whom they work: