Tutorial Center blues
Ariel Kahn
Issue date: 10/12/09 Section: News
Despite a massive budget crisis at Cuesta College, the Tutorial Center is still helping more than 250 students achieve success free of charge proving that where there is a will, there is a way.
It might not be clear at first sight, but a large diversity of students are enjoying the benefits of Cuesta's Tutorial Center.
One such student, Emily DeVoe, has never missed a session. She learned of the Center from a good friend, who's used it for years So far the experience has been both convenient and smooth. DeVoe, who is hoping to transfer in the near future, indicated a need for a mathematics tutor, and within weeks was receiving direct support. DeVoe is one of the lucky ones.
Tutors hired on an hourly basis have seen their numbers fall by 65 percent from spring semester. Not only that, but the department has had to cut back the available times for tutoring. Fewer tutors means bigger groups, and a smaller slot available times means students will have to flex their schedules even more and that, says Tutorial Services Supervisor Mary Hastings, is an unfortunate thing.
As of this writing there are 42 active tutors ready to help students out in a wide variety of classes; from physics to French, biology to business, and everything else in between. More than 250 students are being tutored. By the middle of September there were 120 students waiting for tutors and by Oct. 1 there were 30 students still waiting to be matched with a tutor.
"It's been stressful. It's important to me that the students continue to be supported at a high level," Hastings said. Rumors that the Tutorial Center would be sliced from the list of services available to students have been cropping up in conversations across campus. These concerns could not be further from the truth. There is help available-and the quality of support has not faltered.
Tutors are carefully screened by faculty members before they are hired, explains Hastings. Tutors must have received either an A or a B in the class they will tutor and also require an instructor's recommendation.
It might not be clear at first sight, but a large diversity of students are enjoying the benefits of Cuesta's Tutorial Center.
One such student, Emily DeVoe, has never missed a session. She learned of the Center from a good friend, who's used it for years So far the experience has been both convenient and smooth. DeVoe, who is hoping to transfer in the near future, indicated a need for a mathematics tutor, and within weeks was receiving direct support. DeVoe is one of the lucky ones.
Tutors hired on an hourly basis have seen their numbers fall by 65 percent from spring semester. Not only that, but the department has had to cut back the available times for tutoring. Fewer tutors means bigger groups, and a smaller slot available times means students will have to flex their schedules even more and that, says Tutorial Services Supervisor Mary Hastings, is an unfortunate thing.
As of this writing there are 42 active tutors ready to help students out in a wide variety of classes; from physics to French, biology to business, and everything else in between. More than 250 students are being tutored. By the middle of September there were 120 students waiting for tutors and by Oct. 1 there were 30 students still waiting to be matched with a tutor.
"It's been stressful. It's important to me that the students continue to be supported at a high level," Hastings said. Rumors that the Tutorial Center would be sliced from the list of services available to students have been cropping up in conversations across campus. These concerns could not be further from the truth. There is help available-and the quality of support has not faltered.
Tutors are carefully screened by faculty members before they are hired, explains Hastings. Tutors must have received either an A or a B in the class they will tutor and also require an instructor's recommendation.
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