Frequently Asked Questions

No, we welcome walk-ins! For a seamless experience, however, explore our full schedule for Tutoring and SI. It highlights available slots for both face-to-face and online sessions. Book or check your slot anytime on WCOnline!

Absolutely! Your discussions with your tutor remain confidential. While your professors and advisors receive a session report, rest assured, your peers are in the dark—unless you choose to share!

Need to prove you were there? Just make sure that you share your professor’s email address when you sign-up for an appointment and your professor will receive a copy of your session report! This snapshot will detail the session duration, dive into the assignment discussed, and highlight key materials covered. Let us handle the details, so you can focus on learning!

Looking to empower others with your knowledge? Don't hesitate to drop in and let us know about your interest.

To join our passionate team, ensure you have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Ready your application packet with a résumé, a letter of recommendation from a WSSU faculty member, and your unofficial college transcript(s). Got a flair for writing? Applicants to the Writing and Communication Center should also showcase a writing sample. Selected candidates will have the opportunity for a personal conversation with the Coordinator of Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction Services and the Coordinator of the Writing and Communication Center.  Get ready to make a difference!

All types of assignments, including writing projects and oral presentations are welcome! Our staff is trained to assist you with a wide range of assignments such as lab reports, research papers, reviews, lesson plans, and more. You are not just limited to course assignments. We can help also you craft a resume, cover letter, personal statement, scholarship essay, or a creative piece such as a poem or short story. We are your one stop shop for all things writing!

It is helpful to have readily available a copy of the assignment guidelines or prompt as well as any rubrics associated with the assignment. When making an appointment, please give the tutor some insight as to what you would like to focus on during your session. This will ensure that you and your tutor can maximize your time effectively. If your instructor requires you to visit the WCC, it is useful to ask your instructor what they think you should focus on in the session.  Moreover, if you have received feedback on the current assignment (or previous ones) that you are comfortable sharing with your tutor, that can be helpful in guiding the focus of your session as well.

No. The Writing and Communication Center is a collaborative unit that focuses on engaging, encouraging, and helping you improve your writing. We are not an editing service. We will work with you to understand the writing process, to develop strategies to improve writing, and to perfect your presentation style. Our goal is to build skills that will help you become a more confident, self-sufficient writer, reader, and communicator.

Of course! We can work with you individually or in small groups. For group sessions, we recommend that all group members attend the session together.

While we'd love to cover every course at WSSU, our Tutoring and Learning Support Services unit focuses on selected accounting, biology, chemistry, math, and physics courses. Some additional courses we support, such as computer science, nursing, psychology, education, and sociology, might shift each semester depending on our talented team's availability. Always keep an eye out; we're constantly evolving to serve you better!

Gear up for a productive tutoring session at WSSU with these pro-tips:

1. Sync with Your Instructor: Before diving in with a tutor, chat with your course instructor about any challenges. Pinpointing these issues ensures your tutor can focus on the areas you need guidance in. Remember, our tutors are here to offer clarity about areas you are struggling with, not to reteach entire lessons.
2. Jump Into Your Assignments: Start your work prior to your appointment! Tutors are guides to understanding, not stand-ins for doing your assignments.
3. Pack Your Academic Toolkit: Gather your textbooks, notes, calculators, and any other essentials. While we're packed with expertise, we don't always have access to class-specific materials or textbooks. Need a reference? The O’Kelly Library's reserve section might have what you need.

Come prepared and let's make the most of our time together!

Get ready for an impactful time!  You are allowed to schedule up to one hour of tutoring per subject each day. For instance, if you are enrolled in two Biology classes, two Chemistry classes, and one Math class, you can schedule up to one hour of tutoring per day for Biology, Chemistry, Math, and so on. However, you cannot book multiple appointments for different classes within the same subject area (e.g., multiple Biology classes) on the same day.

You are limited to a maximum of 2 hours of tutoring per day across all subjects within each tutoring schedule, including appointments with the Writing and Communication Center, Praxis Tutoring, Reading Center, FYE Workshops, and Supplemental Instruction (SI). This policy is designed to ensure that tutoring appointments remain accessible to as many students as possible. This gives you the perfect window to absorb, practice, and reinforce what you've grasped before diving into the next session. Learn, reflect, and conquer!

Supplemental Instruction (SI) offers weekly peer-guided study groups for courses with traditionally challenging completion rates. Our SI leaders, all WSSU students, have not only succeeded in the SI course with a grade of “B+” or better but also actively engage with course materials and instructors weekly.

Joining SI sessions is entirely free and optional. You can attend as often as you wish, starting from the early weeks of the semester right through to its end. It's essential, though, to keep pace with the weekly course lectures and readings. SI isn't a crash course; it's a platform to deepen understanding, not cram content.

While we don't cover every course, our Tutoring and Learning Center proudly delivers supplemental instruction for subjects like math, biology, and chemistry. Keep in mind, the subjects we support might shift each semester depending on our dedicated team's availability.

SI is here for everyone taking a specific course! Whether or not your SI Leader is in your lectures, you're always welcome. Designed for all students aiming to boost their grasp on the material or enhance their grades, SI isn't just for those facing challenges.

While weekly participation maximizes SI benefits, there's an open door for students at any time. Come as often as you choose; we're here to help.

Get the most out of your SI session by following these steps:

1. Chat with Your Instructor: Pinpoint areas that challenge you. Remember, SI leaders aren't there to re-teach but to clarify content, suggest study methods, and foster collaborative learning.
2. Kickstart Your Assignments: Tackle them on your own first. SI leaders aren't there to do your homework, quizzes, or exams.
3. Come Ready: Complete your readings and give those practice problems a shot. This ensures you maximize the benefits of the SI session.
4. Pack Your Academic Gear: Bring your textbooks, notes, calculator, and any essential materials. Need a textbook? Check out the reserves in the O’Kelly Library.

Remember, SI is an enhancement, not a replacement. Continue attending your regular class sessions.

SI emphasizes peer learning, creating a space free from instructors. Our SI leaders design activities, games, and resources to make mastering the content fun and interactive. Still, don't forget the value of your instructor's office hours and the importance of regular class attendance.