GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS REQUESTING A TUTOR
Wesleyan University Dean’s Office Peer Tutoring Program
Click here to access “Guidelines for Tutors.”
Program Description:
Peer Tutors provide supplementary course-content instruction for students who request them. Tutors are employed by the University, and paid by the Student Affairs Office. Students may request tutors at any point, or be referred to the program by professors or their dean. Tutors are identified by professors, departments and interdisciplinary programs, or by Sarah Lazare, the tutoring program coordinator.
Setting up the tutor-student relationship:
Be clear with your tutor about what you want to get out of your tutoring sessions. Make sure you agree on a schedule and have discussed your needs thoroughly.
Come to an understanding about the practical dimensions of your tutoring relationship. At the first session, do the following:
- Define the number of hours. Generally, it should be 1-2 hours/week. More than 2 hours requires approval from your dean, your professor, or the coordinator in consultation with your dean.
- Define the general schedule.
- Clarify the best contact information for both of you.
- Fill out and sign your portion of the Tutor-Tutee Contract which will be provided by your tutor
Guidelines and expectations:
Be on time for every session. If you must cancel a session, give as much advance notice as possible (preferably 24 hours).
Do as much of your homework as you are able to do before meeting with the tutor and bring questions for the tutoring session. Complete this sentence framework: “I understand how ________, but I do not understand how_________.” The more you describe to your tutor, the better you will learn.
Do not expect your tutor to do your homework. Your tutor will help you understand the concepts behind a problem, or the process of solving it, but s/he will not solve it directly for you.
Having a tutor is a supplement to other class resources. It is not a substitute for attending class, TA sessions and the professor’s drop-in hours.
As a result of meeting with a tutor, you should expect:
- To work hard.
- To improve your skills and understanding of class material.
- To improve your comfort level with class material.
You should not expect:
- An answer to everything in the class.
- A sudden improvement in your GPA.
If you are experiencing problems that your tutor is unable to address, please see your class dean.
If you or your tutor feel the arrangement is not working, either of you may contact the coordinator. (Based on the availability of additional tutors, you may be able to be reassigned another tutor.)
