Peer Tutors & PAL Leaders

Math Resource Center & Emporium Math Lab Tutor Roles and Responsibilities

Apply To Be a MRC Tutor

Summary:

Math Resources tutors support REACH’s mission to cultivate a learner-centered experience for undergraduate success by engaging students in active learning and promoting their growth as independent learners. They may work online and/or onsite in the Math Resource Center (MRC), Emporium Math Lab (EML), and/or BAB 217/248. Tutors maintain a welcoming and enriching center environment while providing academic support for intervention courses and/or drop-in students. They also utilize best practices and strategies to promote student success in courses including:

• GEN 103/104
• MATH 105, 111, 180, 190, 205 and 206
• ENGR 100, 101 and 102

General Responsibilities:

• Engages students in mathematical problem-solving, cognitive scaffolding and critical thinking processes to improve study skills and academic performance.
• Communicates effectively with students, fellow tutors and supervisors.
• Applies active listening and questioning strategies to identify student needs; conducts appropriate follow-up.
• Promotes an enriching learning environment by demonstrating respect for the university’s student population and actively seeking opportunities to assist students.
• Demonstrates and maintains content knowledge for subjects that are tutored.
• Monitors student sign-in/out on TracCloud.
• Fulfills payroll requirements by signing in/out of TracCloud and completing biweekly timesheets correctly and promptly.
• Attends required trainings and staff meetings; completes online training for intervention courseware.
• Understands and follows REACH/Math Resources policies and procedures.
• Complies with University Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Performs other duties as assigned, such as:
  • Supporting GEN 103/104 classroom facilitation and test proctoring.
  • Helping students with center computers and software.
  • Creating learning resources, handouts, and/or website materials.
  • Assisting with Math Resource Center marketing and advertising.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled at the University of Louisville with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for last semester.
• Minimum math proficiency: An A or B in math courses you will tutor.
• Possess a good understanding of computer operating systems, network connections, email and other campus technologies.
• Submit two recommendations, one of which must be from a former or current professor who is familiar with your math ability.
• Possess a strong work ethic and maintain a welcoming and approachable demeanor.
• Must be responsible, dependable, honest and mature.
• Must be friendly, patient and sensitive to students and their individual needs.

Evaluation:

Observation of new staff and supervisor evaluations of all tutors are conducted each semester. The purpose for each observation and evaluation is to recognize and indicate good practice and to also help each tutor improve his/her performance.

Learning Resource Center Tutor Roles and Responsibilities

Apply to be an LRC Tutor

Summary:

Scheduled tutors work in the Learning Resource Center to provide academic support for small groups of students enrolled in undergraduate courses. They assist students in understanding, practicing and applying material while providing content-specific strategies to help students succeed in their courses. They encourage students to continue to develop as independent learners. Tutors for the Learning Resource Center may working BAB 250, Ekstrom Library or the Speed School Academic & Leadership Center (ALC)

General Responsibilities:

• Meet with student during regularly scheduled weekly sessions and communicate changes to these appointments.
• Attend tutor training and staff meetings at the beginning and mid-points of each semester as required.
• Provide suggestions to help students develop content study skills in their courses.
• Assist students in developing critical thinking skills and strategies, and regularly review the Critical Thinking Rubric with students
• Arrive on time for weekly appointments.
• Monitors sign-in/sign out on TracCloud of tutees and self for recording and payroll purposes and signs time sheets biweekly.
• Contact supervisors in a timely manner when there are changes in their schedule, running late or need to cancel a session for any excused reason (illness, emergency).
• Record notes after each appointment summarizing the goals, tasks and accomplishments of the session.
• Maintain course content knowledgeable each semester by reviewing material, checking for syllabus and content changes and working with professors as needed.
• Refer students to appropriate resources as needed when questions cannot be answered (REACH resources, professors, etc.).
• Maintain knowledge of REACH services across campus.
• Comply with University Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Attend an evaluation meeting with their supervisor each semester.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled at the University of Louisville with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last full-time semester.
• Candidates will need to obtain one (1) faculty recommendation per subject they wish to tutor (e.g., BIOL, ECON, SPAN, etc.).
• Candidates who only plan to tutor in one subject will also need to obtain a second recommendation from another source (e.g., advisor, other employer, other faculty member).
• Expertise in course content or programming languages that you will tutor.
• Possess a strong work ethic and the ability to maintain a welcoming and approachable presence.
• Must be responsible, dependable, honest and mature.
• Must be friendly, patient and sensitive to students and their individual needs.

Evaluation:

Observations of new tutors are conducted each semester by the Coordinators or Master Tutors. These observations are primarily for the tutor’s own professional development in tutoring skills and pedagogy. They will indicate good practices and to help tutors improve their sessions as needed for the benefit of all tutees.

Job performance evaluations are required for all tutors each semester with the supervisor. Tutors must receive a satisfactory evaluation in order to achieve tutoring certification levels.

Peer Assisted Learning Facilitator Roles & Responsibilities

Apply to be a PAL 

Summary:

PAL Facilitators (PALF) are required and paid to sit in on the assigned course to refresh and update notes; paid to plan, create and post worksheets, study materials, practice exams for study sessions and exam reviews and meets weekly with Course Professor; paid to provide at least 3 hours of study sessions per week. Total work commitment is an average of 10 hours per week. Applicants need to have a GPA of 3.0 or better and received an “A” in the course(s) you are assigned to PAL.

General Responsibilities:

• Functions as a model student in the programmatic framework of PAL.
• Provides teaching methods and forms of learning assistance that are useful in helping students assimilate the course content and become more effective learners.
• Attends all class sessions, takes notes for the specific course content, reads all assigned materials (text and supplementary), schedules and conducts a minimum of three (3) PAL sessions (50 minutes in length) each week.
• Integrates study strategy techniques with the course content
• Collects data that documents the attendance and participation of students, and the effectiveness of the PAL model.
• Attends tutor training and staff meetings as required.
• Develops and maintains relationships with the course content professor, student participants, the PAL Supervisor and the REACH coordinator in the implementation of the PAL model.
• Administers student evaluations at the end of each semester.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Evaluation:

The PAL supervisors working with the coordinator for PAL conduct observations for all PAL leaders each semester. The coordinator reviews these observations. Additionally, PAL supervisors evaluate PAL leaders each semester. The purpose for each observation and evaluation is to recognize and indicate good practice and to help each PAL leader improve his/her study sessions as needed for the benefit of all student participants.