Tutors

Tutor Information

If you anticipate problems in a course, actually experience trouble, or wish to achieve mastery of course material, we encourage you to work with a specialized tutor.

• For first-year student-athletes, group tutorials for common first-year classes (math, sciences, social sciences) are scheduled in the MAC Learning Center. Most occur during evening hours. A schedule appears on the MAC website early each term.
• Upper-class student-athletes are responsible for working with their Academic Counselor to arrange tutoring. We encourage you to attend scheduled groups where possible, but a tutor may be requested by a group or an individual.

Writing Tutors are available by appointment or on a walk-in basis Sunday through Thursday evenings to help students with the process of writing.

Subject Area Tutors work with individuals and small groups to help students with course content. Tutors may be assigned specific times and days to work with groups for the most common first-year courses, especially math and science. They are also available by appointment.

Student-athletes may only work with tutors in the MAC Learning Center and only during supervised hours.

You may not hire your own tutors or use tutors who have not been hired by the McNamara Academic Center.

We do not receive tutor applications from all academic disciplines. If you need a tutor, check with your Academic counselor to determine whether we have appointed tutors in that particular discipline. If not, you should explore the tutoring offered by that particular department or consult your Teaching Assistant.

If you have a concern about the ability of the tutor assigned you or if you are unable to work with a given tutor, contact your academic counselor to discuss the situation or complete a complaint form so that the Assistant Director can work with you on the problem.

How to Find a Tutor

Please note: Student-athletes may work only with tutors in the MAC Learning Center and only during supervised hours. You may not hire your own tutors or use tutors who have not been hired by the MAC.

• Check the MAC webpage and/or signs in the Learning Center to see if study groups have already been scheduled for your class. (Posted study groups are open to any student-athlete taking the class.) Groups are commonly scheduled Sunday - Thursday 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
• If several student-athletes know they would like a tutor for a study group, contact a learning specialist to request a tutor.
• For assistance with study skills, learning concerns, computer usage, or writing, any student-athlete may consult with a Learning Specialist in 225 Bierman during walk-in hours or by appointment.
• For writing help you should see a Learning Specialist (during walk-in hours, during evening study, or by appointment) or a writing tutor (see postings for evening hours).

Hints: Plan ahead and act quickly. Good tutors "book up" early in the term. Use tutors to help prevent problems. Tutors add to what you have learned from class and your reading; they do not replace either of those activities and cannot teach you the entire course.

Tutor Use

• All MAC tutoring outside of the scheduled evening tutoring must be authorized in writing on a Tutor Authorization form by your Academic Counselor or Learning Specialist.
• All MAC tutoring must take place in the MAC Learning Center (225 Bierman) during regular business hours.
• Missed tutoring appointments may result in denied tutor requests for the remainder of the term. There is an $10 charge to students for missed appointments.
• Subject area tutors may not help with writing unless referred by a Learning Specialist or writing tutor. Ask a writing tutor or Learning Specialist for help with writing first.

How to Cancel Tutor Appointments

Students who must cancel a tutoring appointment should, at least 4 hours before the scheduled appointment time:

1. Call or email the tutor if the appointment is for one-on-one, individual tutoring.
2. Call the MAC front desk at 612-625-6888.
3. Provide the following information to the MAC receptionist:
   • Student name and sport
   • Group or individual tutor session (if individual, let us know whether you have contacted the tutor)
   • Date and time of session
   • Tutor Name
   • Academic Counselor or Learning Specialist to be notified

Groups: Attendance at group tutorials is optional for most students. Those students required to attend group tutoring by their MAC Academic Counselor or Learning Specialist must call the MAC front desk (625-6888) at least 4 hours before the session is scheduled to begin and ask that the Counselor or Specialist be notified.

Failure to contact the MAC front desk at least 4 hours before the scheduled appointment will result in a "no show" being recorded. Emergencies do arise which prevent early notification. Please call the MAC front desk as soon as you are able and ask about a No Show Petition form.

You can download a No Show Petition form here: No_Show_Petition.doc