Course Tutor Job Description
Each year, the Writing and Learning Commons employs approximately 100 course tutors to facilitate small-group sessions in subjects ranging from accounting to dance to physics. Tutoring is an excellent way to reinforce what you've learned in your courses, develop leadership and communication skills, and meet new people in your program of study. Tutors at the WaLC start at $14.00 per hour and can earn up to $16.00 per hour with training and continued service.
Here’s what the position involves:
- Small-group, appointment-based tutoring
- Flexibility to set your own schedule
- Options to tutor in person or online via Zoom
- Regular communication with course instructors
- Opportunity to earn lifetime tutor certification through the
Before you apply, please review the job description carefully and verify your eligibility for on-campus student employment by reviewing the requirements listed on the student employment ɱٱ.
To apply:
- Review the WaLC’s Tips for Preparing Your Application and use this experience as an opportunity to establish your professional network with professors. įį
- Complete the ()
- Secure at least one faculty recommendation for each course you are applying to tutor. Be sure to specify to your recommenders which position you are applying for and send them the link to complete the WaLC’s online recommendation form. įį
- If you are applying to tutor two or more courses, you will need at least one recommendation from a ĢƵprofessor who teaches each of the classes you are applying to tutor. If your previous professor is no longer at WCU, you may request a recommendation from a different professor in the department who can evaluate your knowledge of the subject.
- If you are a transfer student applying to tutor a course you completed elsewhere, you will need to speak with a WCU professor who teaches the equivalent course to determine if your transfer credit is sufficient to tutor the course at WCU.
Hiring Timeline:
Review of applicants begins on April 1 for summer and fall hiring; review of applicants begins on November 1 for spring hiring. Preference will be given to applicants who have submitted all parts of the application (including faculty recommendations) in accordance with these timelines. The WaLC strives to complete the hiring process for all course tutors by the end of the drop/add period each semester.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for this Position
Knowledge of the course content (as demonstrated by a successful grade in the course and accompanying faculty recommendation); ability to convey information to other students in a variety of ways; effective communication, organization, and study skills. Ability to work with multiple professors and adapt tutoring strategies based on specific professors’ expectations for student learning. Willingness and ability to promote the WaLC’s services to classes and professors.WaLC course tutors facilitate small-group review sessions for specific courses, assist students with developing effective study and self-management skills, and act as a liaison between students and faculty. Specific responsibilities of the position include:
Facilitate Learning
- Conduct small-group tutoring sessions in which each student is actively involved in exploring and learning the material.
- Review course concepts, provide alternate explanations, and offer multiple strategies for reviewing and reinforcing information.
- Model effective organization and study strategies.
- Encourage students to do most of the talking and writing in your tutoring sessions.
- Help students to identify resources and to develop problem-solving strategies they can use when studying on their own.
Act as a Liaison between Students and Instructors
- Communicate with course instructors to learn what they expect of students in their courses and what they expect of you as the tutor.
- Work with other tutors and with instructors to ensure that a tutor visits each class to advertise the WaLC’s services.
- Encourage students to communicate with their instructors outside of class about their progress and any questions they have about the material.
Demonstrate Professional and Ethical Behavior
- Act in accordance with the WaLC's Code of Ethics
- Comply with and enforce the WaLC’s Policies for Students
- Report to tutoring sessions on time and avoid canceling appointments.
- Manage your tutoring schedule in Navigate and maintain a consistent number of tutoring hours for the duration of the semester.
- Establish appropriate boundaries with the students you serve. Notify your supervisor immediately if you are unable to do so.
- Respond to students within the limits of your training, position, and expertise. Tutors are not expected to re-lecture course material, to complete students’ homework for them, to suggest a grade for an assignment discussed in the tutoring session, or to engage in negative talk about an instructor’s teaching methods, grading policies, assignments, or personality. Additionally, tutors are not expected to provide mental health counseling, academic advising, or crisis intervention services.
- Model successful student behavior when questions arise that you are not able to answer. Help students identify other resources that can help them answer their questions (e.g., the course instructor, textbook, or other students).
- Clean up your area at the conclusion of each tutoring session: wipe down whiteboards and tables, throw away trash, and return any borrowed WaLC materials to their appropriate places.
Participate in Tutor Training
- Enroll in USI 202 (Introduction to Peer Tutoring) during your first year of employment (preferably in your first semester). Successful completion of USI 202 and 25 hours of actual tutoring time will qualify you for Tutor Certification through the College Reading and Learning Association and a $.50/hour pay increase. (See also “other conditions of employment” below).
- Read all assigned training materials/manuals.
- Complete assigned onboarding tasks during your first two weeks of work. Onboarding may include meeting with a mentor or completing training modules in Canvas.
- Attend the WaLC’s annual Peer Education and Leadership Conference in the fall semester.
- Refer to training materials/manuals as needed to complete tasks associated with your position (e.g., submitting your timesheet, managing your schedule in Navigate).
Fulfill Administrative Responsibilities
- Accurately record work hours on your myWCU timesheet every week and submit your timesheet every other week.
- Check your catamount email regularly and respond promptly to communications from the WaLC.
- Submit appointment summaries in Navigate each week. Reports are due no later than 8:00 am on the Monday following each appointment.
Minimum Qualifications
Completed employment application, including personal statement. At least one recommendation from a ĢƵprofessor. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements for non-work study student employment, which includes meeting the required number of enrolled credit hours each semester. Additionally, WaLC employees are required to maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA to remain employed.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to applicants who have the ability (along with supporting faculty recommendations) to tutor multiple classes or to fulfill multiple roles (e.g., course tutor and writing fellow, or course tutor and world language conversation assistant). Preference is also given to applicants who can commit to the position for at least two semesters.Review of applicants begins on April 1 for summer and fall hiring; review of applicants begins on November 1 for spring hiring. Preference will be given to applicants who have submitted all parts of the employment application (including faculty recommendations) in accordance with these timelines.
Other conditions of employment
The WaLC’s ability to hire course tutors is contingent upon supply and demand, program funding, and faculty approval and support. The WaLC does not guarantee follow-up with all applicants; applicants will be contacted only if there is a position available that matches their qualifications.
ĢƵ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call 828.227.7218 or email at jobs@wcu.edu.
