Tutoring
At Willamette University, the first thing you should do if you’re experiencing difficulty in a course is speak with the professor outside of class. Our faculty members not only teach in the classroom, but also work with students individually to help them learn the curriculum. No one knows the material in a particular course or how to teach it better than your professor, so always start there. We expect you to meet with your instructor before requesting a tutor.
Sometimes students who are working closely with their professors benefit from additional mentoring of the sort that another student can provide. In order to accommodate this need, the CLA Dean’s Office provides a free tutoring service available to all students and for most subjects. (Foreign language departments have their own tutoring programs. In addition, the Language Learning Center in the World Languages Studio in the Learning Commons provides help for language learning.)
Please note that in some departments - often math and chemistry - the demand for tutors is high, and we cannot fill all of the requests for individual tutoring. In such cases, we offer Help Sessions to which the entire class is invited. These are led by more advanced students.
Fall Semester 2013
CHEM 115 Introductory Chemistry Help Sessions, all in Collins 102, are scheduled each week Sunday-Thursday 7:00-9:00 pm.
CHEM 225 Organic Chemistry Help Sessions, all in Collins 105, are scheduled each week Sunday-Thursday 7:00-9:00 pm.
MATH 140 Modeling with Calculus Help Sessions with student preceptors, all in Ford 201, are scheduled each week Sunday 2:00-10:00 pm, Monday 7:00-9:00 pm, Tuesday-Thursday 7:00-10:00 pm.
The Economics Department provides evening drop-in tutoring for their courses as follows:
ECON 230 Economic Statistics tutors are scheduled 7:00-9:00 pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings in Smullin 159. The tutors are Greg Ebert and Jenna Bergold.
An ECON 357 Intermediate Microeconomics tutor, Brad Russell, is available Mondays from 7:00-8:30pm in Ford 224.
Students wanting individual tutors are expected to have met with their professors outside of class and (when group sessions are available) to have attended at least three group sessions. In addition, students are encouraged to form their own study groups. Requests for tutors (individual or small group) will be considered by the Director of Academic Support in consultation with the professor. An appointment with the Director of Academic Support is usually required.
How our Program Works
When you request tutoring, we contact the professor of your course and ask the professor to recommend possible tutors. Sometimes professors suggest advanced students who have previously taken the course in which you are enrolled. In other cases, they may suggest students who are currently enrolled in the course and doing particularly well. When faculty respond with names of possible tutors, we email the students they have recommended to ask if the student is interested in tutoring. (On occasion no one qualified is available to tutor.) We then select a student to serve as your tutor. Once a pairing has been set up, tutors and students develop a tutoring schedule that works for their individual needs. Tutors are paid for up to 2 hours per week per student, and they can work with more than one student at a time if the students are willing.
Other Questions or Concerns?