Tutoring Policies

Students may have three (3) tutoring sessions per week. Students may see a tutor only once per day, whether for a drop-in session or scheduled appointment.

• Students may sign up for two appointments per week.

• Students may request a specific tutor for appointments, based on tutor availability.

• Students may not choose a tutor for drop-in sessions.

• Tutors do not provide assistance with coursework during final exams.

Tutoring Sessions

If you need time to go over your material and want time to practice and review a class assignment, you may sign-in at the front desk for a tutor. During a tutoring session, we will figure out what you are trying to do, where you are in the process, and try to build one of the skills you will need to complete the work. We will NOT proofread your work! Our goal is to build your skills, not to generate perfect papers or check homework assignments.

What We Tutor

• Grammar, Reading, Speech, and Writing

Tutors are available to assist students with grammar, reading, speech and writing during our regular hours of operation.

• Spanish

Tutors are available to assist students with Spanish on a limited schedule. Please call the front desk at 240-567-1556 for availability.

How We Tutor

We offer a hybrid of drop-in tutoring and tutoring appointments. For more information, please consult our tutoring schedule.

• Drop-in

If you want some outside help with your work at any time, you may sign-in at the front desk for a tutor.

1. Please sign up for tutoring only when you are ready to be tutored. If you are not ready at the time your name is called, your name will be taken off the list. .
2. Students may not choose which tutor they would like to work with. Our tutoring is done on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. Your tutoring session may last 20 or 30 minutes depending on how many students are waiting to be seen

• Appointments

If you want to schedule an extended amount of time with a particular staff tutor or at a particular time, you may go the the front desk and request an appointment. Appointments are limited to a few specific times each week for each tutor.

1. You may have two appointments per week.
2. Appointments may be made up to two (2) weeks in advance.

• Quick Questions

If your question can be dealt with in a sentence or two, just ask any staff tutor what you need to know.However, you may ask as many times as you need. If you asked the same question once, but forgot the answer, ask again. If it takes longer that a minute or two to deal with your question, you may be asked to sign-up for an extended session. (See drop-in and/or appointments above).

For example: Your question(s) may be concerned with one or more of the following areas:

1. Computer operation
2. Spelling
3. Grammar
4. Organization

How to Get the Most from Your Tutoring Session

Be Active and Organized

Your tutoring session is a discussion about your writing and reading, not a review of your paper or a proofreading session. Discussing your assignment and skills with a tutor will help you understand what is required of you and focus on how to fulfill the requirements.

The following tips will ensure that you receive the best help from your tutor:

• Be ready to talk: Your tutor will ask you questions about your assignment and your skills.
• Have your materials ready: Bring any assignment sheets, syllabi, readings, or instructor’s comments that will help you and your tutor plan your work.
• Ask specific questions: Review your assignment and work before you sit down with a tutor so that we can address the issues you want help with.
• Be ready to work independently: Your tutor might ask you to work on revisions or practice skills during your session.

Come Early

• To be sure of having enough time for receiving tutoring and making revisions, ask for tutoring at least two days before your assignment is due.

Use our resources to help you succeed in your writing, reading, and language learning!