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Tutor Training

Policies and Procedures

 

 

These procedures are for student employees working as peer tutors on the Macon campus.  Drop-in Math, Science, Writing, Foreign Language and Multi-Discipline labs are overseen by the Academic Resource Center (ARC), located in the breezeway of the Connell Student Center.

 

Tutor Goals

  • help students improve their academic skills

  • tutor subject-specific course material

  • share and model subject-specific study skills

  • promote independent learning

  • help promote the services and programs of the ARC

 

Tutor Job Requirements

All Tutors must have at least a 3.0 GPA and sophomore status or higher. Tutors provide individual assistance in one or more designated courses for selected disciplines where they have

  • successfully completed the coursework
  • earned a B or higher grade in the Mercer University course (or when the corresponding coursework has been performed in another venue, earned a B or higher grade in a related, upper level Mercer University course)
  • obtained a signed recommendation from the corresponding academic department

 

Drop-In Lab Duties

  • station yourself in your lab room throughout your entire shift
  • greet and offer to help to students as they arrive in your lab
  • help students yourself or introduce students to staff members who can help them
  • maintain a welcoming demeanor that invites questions from students studying in the lab
  • circulate and make each tutee feel equally important (physically circle the lab room at least 4 times each hour)
  • when feasible, help one student at a time; otherwise, suggest that students in the lab work together or on their own to prepare specific questions
  • collect attendance data

ü      ask tutees to sign in on the lab attendance log (as well as on AccuTrack)

ü      review signatures for readability

ü      review log for accuracy


 

Other Responsibilities

  • use down time to research and practice tutoring techniques or to develop resources
  • strictly limit homework, e-mail, internet surfing and other activities of a personal nature
  • attend and actively participate in all training sessions, including:

ü      training prior to fall and spring semester

ü      training meetings held during fall and spring semesters

ü      peer tutor training at area conferences

  • maintain confidentiality for students, supervisors and faculty
  • stay current with all Mercer e-mail and especially e-mail from and to the ARC
  • assist in the evaluation of the tutoring program and ARC services

 

Punctuality

  • arrive at least 5 minutes before your lab shift begins
  • settle in your lab room before your shift starts

 

Absences

  • notify your supervisor ahead of time so a substitute may be scheduled
  • understand that excessive absences will endanger your job

 

Recording Worked Hours

  • swipe your Bear Card into the AccuTrack station when you arrive and swipe out when you finish your shift
  • work all and only the hours for which you are scheduled
  • mistakes recorded in AccuTrack will be corrected according to the schedule unless your supervisor has approved a schedule change

 

Pay

  • submit time cards – signed in ink – in a timely manner
  • never request tutees to pay for tutoring services provided under ARC auspices

          

Attire and General Appearance

  • dress neatly and comfortably so as to strictly focus you and your tutee on the academic tasks at hand
  • wear identification items provided to you by the ARC in a professional manner
  • adopt a manner that makes it easy for tutees to identify you as a staff member
  •  keep your study materials in an orderly fashion and set them aside so they do not interfere with your ability to be of service 

    

Know Your Resources

  • study skills texts and websites
  • content specific ARC library holdings

 

Report Anything Unusual to Your Supervisor

  • accidents
  • unethical behavior
  • unsafe behavior
  • any damage to ARC furnishings
  • any referrals to other campus resources you may make for a specific tutee

 

Food and Drink

  • no food or drink allowed in public areas of the ARC
  • off-duty staff members may use the break room for snacks or meals

 

Keeping the ARC Clean and Neat

  • push chairs under tables
  • remove trash from the floor and tables
  • neatly return textbooks to shelves and locked storage cabinet
  • empty pencil sharpeners into garbage cans
  • reload staplers
  • reload printer

 

Phone Manners

  • answer the phone with  “Good morning (afternoon, evening), Academic Resource Center.  Your Name speaking.  How may I help you?”
  • limit frequency, duration and volume of personal calls on both Mercer phones
  • no cell phone use in the ARC

 

Evaluations

  • tutors will be evaluated individually by their supervisor twice each semester (in fall during September and November, and in spring during January and March)
  • tutors will meet individually with their supervisor to discuss their evaluations no later than two weeks after any evaluation is conducted by their supervisor