Tutoring Job Description

Tutoring

Tutoring is the primary function of the Writing Center; it is also the highest priority. Tutors are expected to put tutoring above all other concerns unless otherwise instructed by the director or assistant director.

During a tutoring session, the tutor is expected to provide one-on-one feedback and advice on a student's writing. The Writing Center provides this service to students from all backgrounds and from all majors; thus, the tutor will come into contact with students from a variety of disciplines and cultures. While the tutor cannot possibly possess knowledge about every culture and every major IUP offers, he/she should be prepared to encounter students whose first language is not English as well as students who are writing about topics with which the tutor may not be familiar.

Begin each tutoring session by asking students what they would like to focus on. As a general rule, try to focus the tutoring session on higher order writing concerns such as organization, focus, thesis, and detail. Try to limit proofreading to those papers which are one step away from being submitted, and even then, try to find consistent grammatical errors and help the students to correct them on their own rather than correcting the paper yourself. Be friendly. One of the major benefits for students visiting the Writing Center is that they can discuss their writing problems with a tutor, who is more of a peer than a professor. However, on very few occasions, some students can become abrasive or impolite (around mid-terms and finals, for example, when anxieties are high, or when a student is required to come to the Writing Center and does not wish to). If this happens, try to steer the conversation to the positive. If serious problems occur, contact the director or assistant director as soon as possible.  The vast majority of students, however, are appreciative for the help we offer.

In the event of fire or medical emergency, dial 9-911, and then contact Campus Police.  In the event of other problems, contact Campus Police 7-2141.

After the tutoring session is over, the tutor should first have the student fill out the "Tutorial Response" form, and ask the student to place this form in the bin located by the front desk. The tutor should also ask the student whether or not he/she would like a report form sent to his/her professor. If the student requests a form, the tutor is expected to fill out the "Report for Faculty" form during or immediately following the tutoring session. After filling out the form (including comments), the tutor should put the form in the "Report to Faculty" mailbox. When the Online Writing Center is operating, tutors will be put on the schedule to receive student submissions. The weekly schedule of assignments for this task will be posted on the bulletin board. During the week in which a tutor is assigned to the OWC, the tutor is expected to check his/her email at least once a day to keep up with incoming submissions. The tutor should read the submissions and respond as promptly as possible—following the guidelines given on the Writing Center Online Response Checklist, and in the procedures for OWC responses. If for some reason a tutor cannot deal with OWC submissions, he/she needs to contact the director, or assistant director, so that he can make other arrangements.

Workshops and Computers

Another primary function of the Writing Center is to provide large group (usually an entire class) workshops on various aspects of the writing process. The most common workshops we give are Introduction to the Writing Center, MLA and APA documentation styles, and Using the Internet for Academic Research. Each tutor is expected to present these workshops at some point in his/her first semester at the Writing Center. While computer skills are not required for getting hired, each tutor must familiarize himself/herself with the various workshop topics, and the PowerPoint program that runs the presentations.  Outlines for most workshops, but not all, are available. Also, it is best when each workshop is conducted by the main speaker in cooperation with a troubleshooter; the troubleshooter helps the workshop run smoothly by solving individual computer problems so that the speaker does not have to interrupt the flow of the workshop. Additionally, the Writing Center sometimes provides more specialized workshops including Resumes, Advanced Word, and Desktop Publishing.

Workshops are scheduled on a first-come-first-serve basis. Because professors reserve time for these workshops by calling the Writing Center directly, tutors will be expected to help schedule workshops. The tutor is expected to take the call from the professor and pencil in the workshop on the large calendar. When scheduling a workshop, it is important to write certain essential information on the calendar:

  1. The time of the workshop (8-9 am)
  2. The course the professor is teaching (En 101, En 202, etc.)
  3. The name of the professor
  4. The type of workshop—Intro (Introduction to the WC), MLA (MLA Documentation Style),     Internet (Using the Internet for Academic Research), NWS (Troubleshooter only, no workshop).

If a professor has a special request for the workshop, the tutor should refer the professor to the director, or assistant director. If neither person is immediately available, notify the professor that he/she will get a response to the request tomorrow, send an email to either the director or assistant director and/or post a note on the director's door.

Aside from giving computer workshops, tutors are expected to be able to help students with basic computer problems. The computers at the Writing Center are equipped with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FrontPage), E-mail, Internet Explorer, and Netscape. While tutors are not expected to have mastered all of these software programs, they are expected to learn basic functions of these programs.

Miscellaneous Duties

Within the first month of working at the Writing Center, the tutor is expected to know how to perform such tasks as:

  • helping students to identify one or two priorities for the tutoring session and then addressing them
  • using a handbook to look up information about grammar and documentation
  • scheduling a workshop on the calendar
  • conducting workshops
  • troubleshooting a workshop
  • answering the phone professionally
  • transferring calls
  • managing print queues
  • loading paper in printers
  • changing toner
  • filing responses
  • cleaning computer screens

Additional duties are on a list of duties provided by the director. A tutor's responsibilities are not limited to these items and will include other duties.

Tutors are expected to show up to work on time. Because the tutor schedule is built around tutors' class times, tutors are often scheduled to begin working at the same time other tutors are leaving. It is important that each tutor arrive on time to ensure that the Writing Center is staffed at all times.

Tutors are expected to notify the Writing Center of any absence as soon as possible. The easiest way to do this is to call and speak to another tutor, or leave a message on the answering machine.  The tutor who takes the phone call should write the information down on the dry-erase board.  While emergencies and illnesses do arise, tutors should try to find replacements when possible.

Tutors should maintain a working e-mail account to receive messages from the director and other tutors. This email account should be checked at least once every day.

Tutors need to take initiative and responsibility for the day-to-day workings of the Writing Center. When not busy, tutors should spend some time walking around the Writing Center checking on printers, straightening chairs, and helping students. It is important to recognize tasks that need to be completed.  If the tutor has questions or concerns about writing center policies or workplace conditions, he/she should check with the director, the assistant director, or another tutor. Tutors should also use any free time to learn from more experienced tutors about various responsibilities in the Writing Center.

The Writing Center is often a busy place, and there are usually things to do when there are no workshops or tutoring sessions. But if things are quiet and there is no other work to be done, tutors may do their own work, including light studying, checking e-mail, and so on. Playing Solitaire on the computer, talking loudly, and eating more than a snack or drink looks unprofessional and should be avoided. Tutors should always wear name tags to show that they are available to help.

Tutors need to maintain a good appearance and good hygiene. Don't wear clothes that are not clean or have holes or tears. Because we work closely with students, try to maintain fresh breath, clean hands and nails, and combed hair.

Tutors should not use tobacco on the days they work. If you smoke, make sure there is no odor of smoke on your clothes, hair, or breath when you come to work.

These are most of the regular duties at the Writing Center. From time to time, the director or assistant will ask tutors to work on other tasks, run errands, and so on.

Good communication is key to any job. If there is a problem which affects or potentially affects the operation of the Writing Center, whether it involves you or someone else, it is your responsibility to bring it to the director's, or assistant director’s, attention as soon as possible.



Last Updated: February 1, 2005

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