Why Tutor?

"It is only as we develop others that we permanently succeed."

-     Harvey S. Firestone

Some of the benefits you would gain by being a tutor are:

• meeting and interacting with other college students like yourself
• receiving the satisfaction of helping others succeed
• improving your subject-area knowledge, understanding, and skills
• developing useful tutoring, interpersonal, and employment skills
• earning nationally-recognized tutor certification issued by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA)
• working a flexible schedule
• gaining a valuable on-campus, part-time work experience to list on your resume

If you’re interested in tutoring and feel there is a job match, make an appointment with Deb Simpson, learning center coordinator, for an interview. You will also need two faculty recommendations from courses that are “high demand” in the learning assistance center. Finally, you will need to fill out some paperwork; ask for the Student Assistant Application Form in the Financial Aid Office. The learning center coordinator will need to sign that form in a few places, and you will need to copy your social security card and driver’s license to send in with the application.

The Job: Qualifications

The people who are most successful as tutors have academic, interpersonal, and employment skills. In other words, you must have demonstrated subject mastery, be able to communicate well with others, enjoy helping others help themselves, enjoy learning yourself, and be a dependable employee. Computer skills are also helpful. Please note the minimum requirements below for a peer tutor:

• Regents (or equivalent) high school diploma
• Matriculated JCC student in continuing student status
• A minimum 2.5 overall JCC grade point average, with a minimum 3.0 grade point average in the major. High-demand and high-risk majors will be given preference when tutors are chosen.
• Courses to be tutored completed with a minimum grade of B
• Two faculty recommendations in courses to be tutored
• An interview with the Learning Assistance Center coordinator
• Completion of student-worker application paperwork

You may print out the faculty recommendation form. Ask the faculty member to place the recommendation in a sealed envelope, and return it to Deb Simpson via intercampus mail or the JCC address at Learning Assistance Center, 260 North Union Street, Olean, NY 14760.