Center for Tutoring & Academic Excellence|Loyola University Chicago

Center for Tutoring & Academic Excellence

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Frequently Asked ?'s

Answers to Your Tutoring Questions 

   Who can register for Small Group Tutoring sessions?

The Center for Tutoring & Academic Excellence provides services for LUC undergraduate students.  We are more equipped to handle tutoring requests from freshman and sophomores. However, if you are a junior or a senior in need of help, we still may be able to help, so do complete our Collabortive Learners Request.Click here to complete.

   How and when do I register for Collabortive Learning Tutoring groups?

Registration for Collaborative Learning Tutoring opens 3 weeks prior to the beginning of classes. Registration closes the first business day after the deadline to withdraw from classes with a "W." We highly recommend that you register as early as possible in order to give the CTAE as much time as possible to match you with other participants.

To register for Collaborative Learning Tutoring Groups, click here.

   For how many courses can I request Collaborative Learning Tutoring Groups?

There is no limit on Collaborative Learning Tutoring requests.

However, a group will only form if at least 3 students have submitted a request for the same course/section with the same instructor. Requests which cannot be filled immediately will be tracked and filled when the minimum number of requests have been received (assuming all requests have overlapping availability for group meeting times).

Students are encouraged to make use of the Study Buddy Directory, Fast Lane and Fill-In and Win options in order to expedite their request for assistance. Click on any of the above services to learn more.

   How long are Tutoring sessions?

Tutoring sessions last for 50 minutes.

   When can I expect to begin meeting with my Collabortive Learning Tutoring group?

Some groups begin meeting as early as the second week of the semester.  We begin working to fill your request as soon as we receive it. Depending on the number of other requests we have received for your class and the availability of our tutors, your group could take between 1-3 weeks to form.

   What if I need to miss a Collabortive Learning Tutoring session?

Consistent attendance is the corner stone to academic success. Should you need to miss a session it is required that you contact the CTAE prior to the meeting time of your group. Acceptable means of contact include a phone call to the front desk (773) 508.7708 or an email to tutoringcenter@luc.edu. Any student who is absent twice without notifying the CTAE will be asked to leave the group. Any student who has 3 excused absences for the same group may also be asked to leave.

This policy is enforced due to the volume of requests the CTAE receives. Many students are placed on wait lists for of our service. If consistent attendance is not possible for you our drop-in Study Halls might prove to be more affective for your learning style. For our current schedule of drop-in Study Halls click here.

To appeal your removal from a group due to excessive absences, email us at tutoringcenter@luc.edu.

   Where will my Collaborative Learning Tutoring Session occur?

Most small groups will meet in the Center for Tutoring & Academic Excellence, in the Sullivan Center (room 245) on the Lake Shore Campus.  Some groups maybe scheduled in alternate locations, as space and needs require. The last column of the Study Hall listing will indicate where the study hall will occur. If you are unsure where your scheduled group is meeting, feel free to call the Center at 773-507-7708.

   What is expected of me in a Collaborative Learning Tutoring Session?

The best thing you can do to prepare for your tutoring session is to attend class regularly, take notes, and do your homework - then jot down the content areas you would like to address in group, including specific questions. Your peer tutor wil be prepared to guide the group in reviewing course material and examining problem areas - but he/she will not be "re-teaching" the material. Your peer tutor can review concepts, help you talk through ideas together, and ask probing questions, but this will be based on the questions you and your groupmates bring to the session.

Participation is the key. There are no silly questions! Remember, that if you have a question about a material, it is highly likely that one or more of your groupmates does too. Be sure to bring your books, assignments, and notes to each session. Also, bring any extra materials like a calculator, charts, or articles that may you need.

   What can I expect from my tutor?

Your peer tutor's primary responsibility is to facilitate a learning conversation that helps clarify your questions concerning topics from your class. He/she will be on time and ready to help at every session or will make arrangements with the group to meet at an alternative time/location. He/she will have the subject area knowledge, training, and resources to effectively guide your group toward academic success. You can expect that your peer tutor will keep your sessions professional and confidential. Tutors are interested in your success and want to help you achieve your academic goals. 

   Who else will be in my group?

Groups are comprised of 3-6 students and one peer tutor. Most of the student in the group will be from the same course with the same faculty member.

   What if I have questions between Small Group Tutoring sessions?

Collaborative learning is based on the use of your group’s resources. Groups are encouraged to exchange emails and stay in contact between meetings for precisely this reason. Some tutors do make themselves available to their groups throughout the week. If this is not the case, the CTAE offers many drop-in study halls across a wide range of topics to assist you should you not be able to contact anyone in your group. Click here for our current drop-in study hall schedule.  

   Can I meet with a peer tutor for a one-on-one tutoring appointment?

Collaborative Learning Tutoring Sessions can be far more effective in helping you understand and retain course material than one-on-one sessions. Therefore, the Center for Tutoring & Academic Excellence does not offer one-on-one tutoring appointments. Instead, we have developed a collaborative learning tutoring program similar to that of other benchmark Jesuit universities. Student learning theory suggests that students who interact with each other and the course material in group settings may understand and retain more.

For your convenience, we have compiled a list of private tutoring services in the Chicagoland area. We are not affiliated with these services, and we cannot endorse them. You can find this list by visiting the Local One-On-One page, which provides an online place for Chicagoland tutors to post their services. We will regularly update these pages with additional resources as we identify them.

   What are the qualifications of my tutor?

Tutors are sophomores, juniors, seniors or graduate students. Tutors have earned an "A" in the course they are tutoring and currently have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students receive comprehensive training upon hiring and are required to continue their training throughout their employment. As a center we are certified by the National Tutoring Association (NTA) and the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). Many of our staff have completed the Tutoring certification program that is offered by the NTA. Our staff is fully committed to helping you along your own path towards academic excellence.



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