Peer Tutoring Frequently Asked Questions
“What peer tutoring services does the Learning Center offer?”
For currently enrolled undergraduates, The Learning Center offers free peer tutoring by appointment Sunday-Friday in-person in SASB North and remotely via Zoom. Peer tutoring on Monday and Tuesday from 6-8pm pm is in Dey Hall. Walk-ins welcome on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6-8pm in Dey Hall subject to tutor availability.
“What subjects are available for tutoring?”
We maintain a list of courses available for peer tutoring on our website. Please click here for the list of courses we support this semester. If you don’t see your course listed, please do not make an appointment with a tutor. Instead, please email Robin Horton, the Peer Tutoring Specialist, at robin_horton@unc.edu to ask about the specific class and concepts you’d like help with. Students may also make an appointment at the Learning Center to work with an academic coach on their study strategies for any course.
“Who are the peer tutors?”
Our tutors are undergraduate students who received high grades in the classes they tutor and who have been trained in peer tutoring by taking EDUC 387: Peer Tutoring. Tutors are supervised by the Peer Tutoring Specialist throughout the semester. Our peer tutor training program is in-depth, grounded in best tutoring practices, and has been certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) as a Level One, Stage Two program.
“Can the tutors help me with my homework?”
Tutors can help you understand the concepts needed to complete your assignments, but they cannot help you complete the work itself if it is to be graded or turned in for credit. See the UNC Honor Code for more information.
“Can tutors help with writing assignments?”
The Learning Center’s peer tutors can help you with a paper written for a foreign language class. They will help you spot and understand issues with grammar and content rather than editing the paper for you. Please visit UNC’s Writing Center for assistance with papers written in English, including course papers, application essays, or other writing tasks or support.
“Will I need to wear a mask at in-person peer tutoring?”
The Peer Tutoring program follows UNC-CH’s community standards. If you have concerns about in-person tutoring, you are welcome to make a Zoom appointment with one of our tutors.
“What should I do before coming to peer tutoring?”
To maximize benefit from your time with a peer tutor, attempt to complete your homework before coming to peer tutoring. This practice will allow you to communicate to the tutor the specific skills and concepts you need support with. The same is true when coming to peer tutoring for assistance preparing for an exam. Studying beforehand will help you ask the tutor specific questions.
“What should I bring with me to tutoring?”
For an in-person tutoring session, you should bring a charged laptop, your textbook and class notes, and any other study material you have. For a Zoom tutoring session, please join the session through your laptop or tablet rather than your phone. You should be prepared to screen-share your class’s Sakai site, textbook, your notes, and any other study material you have. Having resources ready and coming prepared with questions helps the tutor best help you.
“What if I need help with a course that isn’t listed?”
If you don’t see your course listed on the appointment tutoring list, please do not make an appointment with a tutor. Instead, email Robin Horton, the Peer Tutoring Specialist, at robin_horton@unc.edu to ask about the specific concepts you’d like help with.
“Is there a charge for tutoring?”
Peer tutoring is free of charge for all UNC students.
“Can I get documentation that I attended tutoring?”
Yes, please email Robin Horton, the Peer Tutoring Specialist, at robin_horton@unc.edu to ask for documentation of your attendance.
“How do I become a peer tutor?”
You can find more information about becoming a peer tutor here.
Where is peer tutoring offered?”
Peer tutoring is offered in-person in both SASB North and Dey Hall. Within SASB North, peer tutoring is offered in several different rooms, so please double-check the location of your session.
“How do I make a Zoom appointment?”
If you prefer to meet with a tutor over Zoom, you may switch your in-person appointment to Zoom at any point before it begins. Simply schedule an appointment here, then look for the “My Scheduled Appointments” heading. There you will see the option to change the appointment’s location to Zoom by clicking on “Change location to Zoom.”
If you are not feeling well before an in-person tutoring appointment, please switch your appointment to Zoom in our appointment calendar as soon as you can. Additionally, you can cancel your appointment any time before it starts and reschedule at a time and in a format that works for you.
“I haven’t been to peer tutoring before. How does it work?”
At the start of your session, your tutor will greet you and ask you to share what you’d like to work on during your session as well as your class resources. Your tutor will help you set a clear goal for the session, and then they will ask questions to get you talking through what you know. You’ll look for answers to your questions together, using your class resources and other outside resources. You’ll have the opportunity to work through practice problems, review old tests and quizzes, or talk through study strategies for the class. At the end of your session, you’ll revisit your goal to see how much progress you’ve made and discuss next steps with your tutor. Finally, you’ll fill out an evaluation of your tutor to give them feedback on what they did well and what could be improved.
“What time should I arrive for tutoring?”
All tutoring appointments begin at the top of the hour and last up to 45 minutes. Please arrive a few minutes before your session starts to make sure your appointment can begin on time. If you’re running late to an appointment, please email (learning_center@unc.edu) or call (919-962-7710) the Learning Center to let us know.
“Will I work with a tutor one-on-one? Can I have a tutoring session with my classmates?”
Only one student can sign up for each appointment through our website, however if you’d like to include a friend from your class in your session, you are welcome to bring them with you to your in-person or Zoom appointment. If possible, please indicate that you’ll be working with a classmate when you sign up for your appointment.
“Can I request a specific tutor?”
Yes! When you make an appointment you will be able to schedule with a specific tutor. Due to scheduling and availability, your preferred tutor may not be available so we encourage you to make appointments with a variety of tutors.
“Can I get help in more than one subject?”
You may receive help in any and all subjects we tutor. You may schedule two peer tutoring appointments per week. If you’d like additional help, you may come to Dey Hall on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6-8pm to see if a walk-in appointment with a tutor is available.
“How much time do I get with my tutor?”
Tutoring appointments can be up to 45 minutes long.
“How many tutoring appointments can I have each week?”
You may schedule two peer tutoring appointments per week. If you’d like additional help, you may schedule an appointment with an academic coach, attend one of our collaborative learning groups, or come to Dey Hall on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6-8pm to see if a walk-in appointment with a tutor is available. Academic coaching sessions, collaborative learning groups, and walk-in sessions at Dey Hall do not count toward your number of peer tutoring appointments.
“How many appointments can I reserve at one time?”
To give more students a chance to schedule tutoring appointments, you may have two tutoring appointments reserved at a time. You may schedule another appointment with a tutor at the end of each appointment. Academic coaching appointments and walk-in tutoring sessions in Dey Hall do not count toward your number of reserved appointments.
“What should I do if no appointments are available?”
At some points in the semester, the Peer Tutoring calendar can fill up as much as a week in advance. If you cannot find an appointment time that works for you, here are your options:
- Look for appointments on Monday and Tuesday evenings at 6pm and 7pm at Dey Hall – this is when we have the most tutors available.
- Try to be seen as a walk-in. Come to Dey Hall on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6-8pm and let the person at the front desk know that you are hoping to see a peer tutor. We will do our best to match you with a tutor. If all the tutors are busy, we may not be able to see you, so we encourage you to make an appointment if you are able.
- Continue to check online several times a day, as you would if you were trying to register for a closed class. If someone else cancels, that time will open up.
- Email the Peer Tutoring Specialist, Robin Horton, at robin_horton@unc.edu
- Please click the “Turnaway – I can’t make an appointment button” on the appointment scheduling page so we can keep track of appointment demand. Do not leave a message there and expect a response; if you need to contact us, call or email.
“What if there isn’t a tutor for my course?”
Please do not make an appointment with a tutor who is not listed for your course; these appointments will be canceled. If your course is similar to some of the classes we offer at peer tutoring, please email Robin Horton, the Peer Tutoring Specialist, at robin_horton@unc.edu to ask about the specific class and concepts you’d like help with. Students may also make an appointment at the Learning Center to work with an academic coach on their study strategies for any course.
“I need help in a programming language; what should I do?”
“Can I work with my tutor outside of the Learning Center’s tutoring hours?”
Our tutors are available only during their appointment hours.
“Can I send my tutor materials before my session so they can prepare for it?”
Our tutors are available only during their appointment hours so they will not be able to prepare for your session in advance; however you will be able to share materials with them during the session itself. We ask that you do not contact our tutors with tutoring questions via email or social media.
“How far in advance do I need to cancel my appointment?”
Although you (and only you) can cancel until right before your scheduled appointment, we prefer that you cancel at least 24 hours in advance so other students have the opportunity to make an appointment. If you absolutely cannot get to a computer to cancel, please call (919) 962-7710 to let our staff know that you will not be at your appointment.
“What happens if I don’t cancel and then don’t show up for my appointment?”
You will be entered into the database as a “no-show” for that appointment. If you fail to show up for several appointments, your future appointments may be canceled, and you will be required to meet with the Peer Tutoring Specialist before resuming use of peer tutoring.
“What if I am late to my appointment?”
At 10 minutes after the hour when your appointment was supposed to start, you will be entered as a no-show and your tutor may be reassigned.
“What other tutoring services exist on campus?”
A list of other tutoring services on campus is below. Check their websites for supported subjects, location, and availability.