TRiO Student Support Services

Center for Diversity & Enrichment | TRiO Student Support Services | TRiO Upward Bound

Need a Tutor?

Why would I need a tutor?

Do you want excel in a course?

Do you struggle with a specific subject area?

Do you want a structured time each week to devote to studying for a class?

Are you interested in the semester started on a positive note?

Do you want to engage in a small study group with a peer tutor who previously took that course and did well?

The students who seek tutors in our office do so for many reasons, including the ones listed above. Look at your course schedule today and consider requesting a tutor - the earlier you request th etutor, the more likely it is you will be assigned one!

Tutoring Facts

Forty-two percent of 2005-2006 NDIL tutors were TRiO/SSP eligible students.

Over 600 requests for tutoring were made in 2005 – 2006: over 90 percent were assigned to tutors.

Nearly one-third of the requests (203/641) were for chemistry and mathematics tutors. The course requests covered a wide range of majors: sciences, mathematics, business, and the languages were represented in the top five requests by department for 2005 – 2006.

Become a Tutor

Come to 310 Calvin Hall for an application packet; leave the filled-out application form with a secretary.

Tutor Application

You will also need to have a Faculty Referral form filled out and turned into the office.

To be considered for an interview, you must meet these qualifications:

University of Iowa (UI) student with a minimum 3.0 UI GPA

A minimum grade of “B” in the courses you want to tutor

Can work 5 – 20 hours per week

Tutoring

Tutoring in our program is designed to assist students with understanding content/concepts and to provide learning strategies that facilitate independent/lifelong learning.

The majority of students using tutoring services want to improve their performance level/outcomes in coursework from "good to great" and do not fit the mental model many have of the student who is "clueless." We encourage students to seek tutoring to enhance their skills and performance in the classroom. We have a few cues in our sidebar for determining when to seek tutoring.

Students receive individual or small group tutoring sessions specific to the course(s) they request. Tutoring requests will be taken for any class, though there is NO GUARANTEE that a tutor will be found for every request. The assignment rate for requested courses is between 82-90 percent each semester.

Students are strongly advised to work with their professors and/or teaching assistants while tutoring requests are being filled. If a tutor cannot be found, students are referred to other services like the Tutor Referral Service.

Tutoring sessions occur on a weekly basis, and students can request to be tutored for one or two hours per week. The program is designed to help tutees discover how they best learn new material. Tutors are also students and can provide a different perspective on successful strategies for student life at the University of Iowa.

Read the Tutoring FAQ's

Tutor assignments/requests must be made in a meeting with a counselor in our office. The following forms will be completed and evaluated in advance or at the time of the appointment:

Student Eligibility Form (pdf)

Request for Tutoring (pdf)

Tutorial Assistance Agreement (pdf)

Tutoring Do's and Don’ts

*Do's*
	Request a tutor early in the semester
	Take responsibility for your own learning
	Come prepared for each tutoring session
	Call your tutor 8 hours in advance if you cannot make your session and reschedule for sometime that same week
	Share with your tutor any information on how you learn best
	Communicate with your counselor if things are not going as well as you desire with your tutor
*Dont's*
	Expect your tutor to do the work for you—especially homework
	Cancel on your tutor at the last minute—8 hours advance notice required if you must reschedule
	Use this tutoring service as “drop-in” or “as needed”
	Consider tutoring an accommodation if you have a disability

Center for Diversity & Enrichment | TRiO Student Support Services | TRiO Upward Bound