E-mail this pageInformation for Learning Center Tutors
Thinking of becoming a tutor?
Do you enjoy helping others learn? Are you interested in learning new strategies for academic success? Interested in working on-campus? Want the perk of gaining certification from a nationally certified program?
The Claude J. Clark Learning Center provides tutoring for the entire Plattsburgh State community. Becoming a tutor can be a rewarding opportunity through assisting others in their learning. By working with students, you will not only be helping them but yourself as well, and on many different levels. Through your tutoring sessions, you will be able to review course material and perhaps learn a new method or strategy that will enhance your academic success.
Since we entrust you with a great responsibility, we have set high standards:
Employment Requirements
All interested applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
- Be enrolled as a Plattsburgh State student while tutoring
- Have completed the courses(s) to be tutored at Plattsburgh State
- Have earned a grade of B or better in the course(s) you intend to tutor
- Have a minimum of 2.75 overall GPA
- Be of at least sophomore standing
- In addition, applicants must:
- Demonstrate appropriate study habits and communication skills
- Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy toward student concerns, including establishing a supportive but not dependent working relationship with tutees
- Not complete homework or write papers for students
- Be willing to complete required tutor training, including monthly staff meetings and ongoing professional development
- Be prepared for all tutoring sessions
Prospective tutors need to complete the following application and submit a current CAPP Report to the Learning Center. A faculty recommendation form must be completed as well by the instructor with whom you took the course. All applicants will meet briefly with Karin Killough, Learning Center Director, in addition to completing TTR101 [content tutors] or ENG390 [writing tutors], College Reading and Learning Association certified training courses.
Download Application Form
- Tutor Application Form (PDF file size 115kb) Note: this form requires the latest version of Acrobat Reader, which is available as a free download .
Employment Expectations
Learning Center tutors must sign the following contract upon being hired.
Claude J. Clark Learning Center Tutor Contract
- Tutors must provide the Learning Center with faculty recommendations for all courses they wish to tutor. An updated CAPP report must also be turned in at the beginning of each semester.
- ANGEL COURSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM is the Learning Center's official method of communication. In order to remain a tutor in good standing, it will be expected that you will check your ANGEL/e-mail accounts frequently and respond to written (e-mails, etc.) or verbal correspondence as necessary.
- Tutors must complete tutor training, attend a minimum of three (3) scheduled staff meetings each semester and participate in professional development.
- Tutors will report to the Learning Center at least five (5) minutes before their session is scheduled to begin.
- If you are more than fifteen (15) minutes late and have not contacted the Learning Center, this tardiness will be considered a "No-Show". If a tutor has two "No-Shows" in one semester, he/she will be released from tutoring responsibilities for the remainder of the semester.
- All sessions must be held in the Learning Center unless you request permission in advance from the Learning Center Director or Assistant Director/Writing Specialist.
- It is expected that tutors will be professional and prepare for each session. Tutors will help the student(s) identify specific problems and potential strategies to develop the necessary competencies. Tutors are strongly encouraged to complete a goal-setting sheet with his/her tutee at the first tutoring session and then refer to the established goals throughout the semester.
- Tutors will keep a written record of each student's progress including walk-in sessions. This report will be kept in the tutee's folder. Please report any difficulties or concerns you might have with a particular tutee to the Learning Center staff.
- It is important to understand your role as a tutor and the limitations of the position. As a tutor, you will be expected to explain, clarify, restate and provide examples. At no point in time should you ever complete an assignment or help a student work on a take-home exam. For additional support and assistance, tutors should consult with Learning Center staff and/or the professor of the course.
- Tutors are expected to complete accurate payroll records, evaluations, and Walk-In/Group Sign-In sheets.
I have read the above stated policies, have completed the Tutor Application process, and agree to keep all information related to tutoring sessions confidential. In the event that I do not follow the above guidelines, I understand that I will be subject to either discipline or dismissal.
CRLA Certification
The College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) is an international organization that oversees the training and development of student tutors. The SUNY College at Plattsburgh Learning Center's tutor training program has been approved by CRLA for three levels of training. That approval allows the Learning Center to certify individual tutors based on the number of hours they have tutored and the amount of time they have spent in training.
The three levels of certification follow:
- Level I: Regular Tutor = 10 hours of training; 25 hours of tutoring experience within a year
- Level II: Advanced Tutor = 20 hours of training; 50 hours of tutoring experience within a year
- Level III: Master Tutor = 30 hours of training; 75 hours of tutoring experience within a year.
Training for this certification begins with either TTR101 [content tutors] or ENG390 [writing tutors] led by the professional staff of the Learning Center. Either of these courses offers the training required to reach Level II: Advanced Tutor status in a year, provided a trainee completes 50 hours of tutoring in a year. Additional training is offered every semester through staff meetings and optional training sessions.
This certification is a wonderful addition to a new graduate's resume, and the experience required to gain the certification is a great stepping stone for anyone going into many professional fields.
Please contact Karin Killough, karin.killough@plattsburgh.edu , or Nichole Bennett-Bealer, nichole.bennett-bealer@plattsburgh.edu , for more information regarding CRLA Certification and the training courses.
Contact Information
Claude J. Clark Learning Center
Plattsburgh State University of New York
Feinberg Library, Room 103
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Phone: (518) 564-6138
Fax: (518) 564-6140