SSS Tutor Guide

Review the following information to learn more about applying to be a tutor, waiting as a potential tutor, and preparing to be a working tutor for SSS.

Applying to be a Tutor with SSS

  1. Fill out the online tutor application (A) and submit.
  2. When contacted by SSS Tutoring Services staff via email, follow directions for filling out the tutor application (B) and set an appointment for an interview.
  3. After the interview, if notified via email, follow directions for filling out the tutoring application (C) and/or the current semester Tutor Line-up survey.

As a Potential Tutor | Prior to Receiving an Assignment

  1. Complete The Online Orientation to Tutoring Services (TOOTS).
  2. Review the following information carefully to prepare for meeting with a student for tutoring. Advanced preparation promotes quality tutoring.
    • First Meeting – Rapport
      • Use as a guide to the first meeting with each student. Sample questions are provided to get to know both student and course material.
    • TC-LC-NS email guide
      • Use as a guide to tracking timely cancellations, late cancellations, and no shows each week of the semester. Each event must be reported.
      • Tutors are paid one (1) hour for each late cancellation and no show.
    • Tutoring Contracts | PRINT AND TAKE TO FIRST APPOINTMENT
      • Become familiar with what is expected of the student, and prepare to reinforce the importance of these points with each student.
    • Tutoring Schedule
      • Create a written schedule with the student for the entire semester. Regular, consistent tutoring is important for student progress.
  3. Wait for notice of an assignment.

As a Working Tutor | Receiving a Tutoring Assignment

    1. Contact the student immediately upon receipt of a tutoring assignment (generally sent via email). (Do not text a student without permission.)
      • A) INITIAL EMAIL OUTREACH: Send an email to the student immediately, asking the student to contact you (preferably via phone) to set a 30-45-minute initial meeting (day/time/place). (This is not the time to try to set a schedule for the entire semester.)
      • B) FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALL: If there is no contact within two days, follow the email with a phone call, leaving a voice message, if necessary.
      • C) FOLLOW-UP EMAIL: If there is no contact within three days, follow with one more email (you may simply forward your original message to them if you prefer).
      • D) RETURN STUDENT: If there is no contact by the end of a week’s attempts, send an email to the SSS staff member who sent the assignment. She will reach out to the student for clarity and either confirm or cancel the assignment.
    2. Plan to meet for the initial appointment. (Refer to the TC-LC-NS email guide for detailed directions and samples for scenarios A-C below.)
      • A) If the student makes a timely cancellation, send them an email and submit a session page.
      • B) If the student makes a late cancellation, send them an email; submit a session page; and, if necessary, clock out of TimeClock Plus (TCP).
      • C) If the student is a no show, send them an email; submit a session page; and clock out of TCP.
      • D) If the student shows up on time, or at least within the first 15 minutes of the scheduled start time for your meeting, do the following activities in the order they are listed.  (Note: Once points 1-6 below are completed, if there is time left, tutoring may be done until the end of the scheduled time.) Ten minutes before the end of the appointment, begin point 7 below.
          1. Clock into TCP no earlier than seven (7) minutes before the scheduled session start time.
          2. Use the semester schedule you create with the student to determine day/time/place to meet for tutoring for the entire semester.
            • Both student and tutor should clearly mark each individual appointment time (beginning time and ending time) in each calendar day/date block on their own schedules. Ensure they match exactly.
          3. Review the syllabus for each course to be tutored.
            • Student should bring a copy of a syllabus for each course for the tutor to keep.
          4. Look over the required study materials the student is using for the course, including textbooks, class notes, and handouts.
            • Ask questions suggested from the back of the “First Meeting – Rapport” guide.
          5. Have the student read aloud and sign the Tutoring Contracts. Sign as the tutor.
          6. Chat with the student and build rapport, setting a foundation for a positive tutoring relationship.
            1. Ask questions suggested from the front of the “First Meeting – Rapport” guide.
          7. Fill out a session page and have the student fill out a session page prior to the end of the session. (Allow 5-10 minutes.)
          8. Clock out of Workday.

NOTE: Workday is the online time and attendance service used at UA Little Rock for all hourly workers. Once you are hired and fully processed as a tutor for SSS, you should be able to access this service. You may begin tutoring prior to having access to Workday, however, whether you clock in or not, your hours worked will be recorded in your session page reports, and you will be able to clock in and out once you are fully set up in the system. Please send a note to triosss@ualr.edu if you have questions about gaining access to or using this required service, the Workday time clock. Please review the Quick Reference Guide-Time to learn how to properly enter you time in Workday.

General Directions

  1. Tutoring appointments may be held in the SSS Tutoring Lab, SUB 100, or in any public location (do not meet in either home of student or tutor). Hours of operation  for the SSS Tutoring Lab are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  2. Meet as regularly as possible (weekly) with assigned students throughout the semester. If a student makes multiple timely cancellations, adjust semester schedule to a more conducive arrangement for tutoring.
  3. Responsibly clock in and out using Workday. If there is a problem doing so, notify triosss@ualr.edu.
  4. Track cancellations and no shows on the semester schedule provided, and send appropriate emails to students (cc triosss@ualr.edu). Note the student attendance policy parameters explained in the orientation packet and on TOOTS, and set expectations for students with whom you work.
  5. Expect to attend or remotely participate in tutor training during the semester.
  6. Contact triosss@ualr.edu with any questions, problems, suggestions, or ethical dilemmas.