Undergraduate Tutorial Center
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UTC Policies and Procedures

Any questions regarding the policies and procedures should be directed to the Undergraduate Tutorial Center at tutorialcenter@ncsu.edu or 515-3163.

Please see the UTC Homepage for current services and schedules, including Supplemental Instruction, Writing and Speaking Tutorial Services, and drop-in services.

UTC Philosophy

In adherence with the Undergraduate Tutorial Center's (UTC) philosophy, peer tutors work towards helping students become independent learners .

  • The student agrees to come to tutorial sessions prepared: having attended class and taken notes, with all necessary books and materials, having attempted homework and read assignments. Coming unprepared more than once will result in the tutee being charged with a no-show.
  • The tutor is a successful student, not a teacher or expert, will not do the student's work, and is a good resource, but not responsible for the student's final course grade.
Eligibility for Individual Tutoring

Students may request individual tutoring if they are enrolled in the requested class(es) for credit (no audits) and have satisfied prerequisite courses and/or are enrolled in co-requisite courses. The UTC will deny requests if these items are not satisified. Exceptions will be considered when a written waiver from the instructor is provided (a waiver form is available in the UTC office)

A new tutoring application must be received each semester in order to be eligible for the current semester services. The application must be received by a predetermined deadline each semester. For the current deadline for this semester, please visit our webpage.

Eligible Courses

The UTC accepts requests for many 100-200 level courses (primarily Math, Physics, Chemistry, Foreign Languages, Economics, and Biology) and some 300 level introductory courses (e.g., Statistics 311). We do not have tutors for engineering courses.

  • Small Group tutoring will be provided for high-demand courses. Benefits of group tutoring include working with an experienced tutor; meeting, learning, and collaborating with others students with the same instructor; and getting priority assigning. Group sizes will range between 3 and 5 students.
  • The UTC will work to find tutors qualified to assist in requested courses; however, the tutor pool changes from semester to semester and there may be shortages of tutors in some courses.
  • Availability is limited during summer sessions.
  • Requests for a specific tutor will only be considered if there is a record of a prior successful working relationship with the tutor through the UTC. Even so, we cannot guarantee requests will be honored.
Orientations are Required
  • All students new to the UTC's tutoring program who wish to use one-on-one tutoring must attend a 20-minute orientation. This orientation will help you learn about the programs and services sponsored by the UTC and individual departments, and determine which one(s) are most appropriate for your personal goals and objectives. Click here to schedule an orientation.
  • Returning students who have previously attended an orientation may request a tutor online. Returning students must have a recorded orientation attendance on file in order to bypass the orientation and use the online services.
  • Due to limited program availability over the summer, no orientation sessions are held. Students may inquire about different assistance available in the UTC office. During summer sessions, all students may register online for a Weekly Assigned tutor, beginning the first day of each session.
Programs

Sign-Up (SU) tutoring

  • Allows flexibility to schedule appointments as needed.
  • Available Monday through Friday with experienced tutors in the Ricks Hall Addition.
  • You may schedule an appointment for 1/2 an hour or 1 hour. Your are eligible to schedule up to two hours per week.
  • You will be eligible to schedule an appointment online here 2 business days after completeing your application.

Individual/Small Group Weekly-Assigned (WA) tutoring

  • You must commit to meeting each week for two hours throughout the semester with your assigned tutor. You must meet consistently or you will be switched to Sign-Up tutoring.
  • You may request Weekly Assigned tutoring for one course only.
  • If and when a tutor becomes available who matches your schedule and course request, you will be notified via email. In the meantime, please use Sign-up tutoring.

Understanding both programs:

  • Students may use the Weekly Assigned option for one course and the Sign-up option for an additional course, or choose Sign-up for two courses.
  • Students cannot have a Weekly Assigned tutor and use the Sign Up program for the same subject unless circumstances justify an exception. Exceptions must be granted by Tutorial Center staff.
Exceptions to Weekly Allotment of Hours
  • Students registered through the Disability Services Office (DSO) can be allotted up to three hours a week once they bring documentation from DSO to the UTC's main office.
  • Students with a GPA below 2.0 are also allowed up to 3 hours of assistance per week.
Attending Tutoring Sessions

Students in all tutoring sessions are expected to arrive on time, to be prepared for the session, to participate actively, and to stay for the entire prearranged session time. Otherwise, they may accure a no-show.

  • Students who need to cancel a SU appointment must do so online by midnight the day before the appointment to avoid a penalty. Cancellations after midnight must be made through the UTC office by calling 515-3163. Any cancellation received in the office at least 2 hours before the appointment will be considered a late cancellation; two late cancellations are equivalent to one no-show. Cancellations received within 2 hours before the appointment will be considered a no-show. A no-show will also be accrued if students arrive late or leave early for their appointment, defined as staying less than 45 minutes for a 1-hour session, or staying for less than 20 minutes for a .5-hour session.

  • Per their contractual agreement, students are expected to notify the tutor in advance if they cannot make a WA appointment. Students will accrue one no-show for each of the following: failing to notify a tutor by the predetermined time that they will not attend a session, not arriving to a session, arriving more than 5 minutes late to a session more than twice, or coming unprepared more than once.

  • Two “no-shows” total (either in Individual/SG WA and SU, or 1 no-show in each program) will result in the loss of the privilege to use tutoring by appointment for the rest of the semester, and in conditional approval of use for subsequent semesters.

Other Considerations
  • ALL students are encouraged to discuss their individual needs with their tutors and consider other time commitments when scheduling tutorial sessions.
Understanding These Policies
  • Students who violate any of these aforementioned policies and procedures may be denied the privilege of individual tutoring at any point in the semester.
  • Any questions regarding the policies and procedures should be directed to the Undergraduate Tutorial Center at tutorialcenter@ncsu.edu or 515-3163.
  • Students are encouraged to print out a copy of the UTC's policies and procedures for their records.