Academic Excellence

Undergraduate Tutorial Program

The Undergraduate Tutorial Program (UTP) within the Center for Academic Excellence offers peer tutoring support for a variety of undergraduate courses during the fall and spring semesters. For specific information on tutor availability and supported courses, please refer to the information below or email us at utp@hofstra.edu.

Student Responsibilities | Become a Tutor | Tutor Certification

Mission Statement

The Undergraduate Tutorial Program strives to provide accessible and quality tutorial support to Hofstra undergraduate students in both individual and group settings. The UTP collaborates with various departments on campus and strives to maintain a student-centered learning environment. All members of the UTP are committed to upholding the values of personal and academic integrity, while empowering students to reach their goals for success. The UTP is accredited by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), which sets an international standard of tutorial services and provides professional development opportunities for tutors, while also recognizing their achievements.

Undergraduate Tutorial Program Services:

Group Tutoring:

Group Tutoring is available for several natural sciences courses. To access the semester’s tutoring schedules, log into my.hofstra.edu, open the Canvas app, and click on the courses titled Biology Tutoring, Chemistry Tutoring, and/or Physics Tutoring. Each group hosts a schedule of weekly drop-in hours – no appointment necessary! Schedules are posted in Canvas by the second or third week of the semester. Supported courses may vary but often include:

  • Biology Group: BIOL 111, 112, 113, 122, 123, 134
  • Chemistry Group: BCHM 162, BCHM 163, CHEM 003, CHEM 004, CHEM 131, CHEM 132
  • Physics Group: PHYS 001, PHYS 002, PHYS 011, PHYS 012, ASTR 011, ASTR 012

Each group’s primary focus is to assist students in better understanding content discussed in the lectures and to foster a collaborative learning environment. Questions about associated laboratory coursework may be directed to the laboratory instructor for further assistance.

Recommendations for the Group Tutoring Experience:

  • Be prepared to work both as a group and independently in these sessions to review material discussed in class that week. There may be a wait time as our tutors do their best to circulate around the room.
  • The tutors reserve the right to group students together to manage attendance. This is an excellent way for you to get to know other students in the course and work together on concepts, which may help you form out-of-class study groups.
  • Remember that you are using a Hofstra University service - appropriate student conduct and professional, respectful behavior is expected at all times! See our Student Responsibilities below for more details.

One-on-One Tutoring Appointments

One-on-one tutoring is offered for a variety of undergraduate courses not covered by group tutoring. Subjects can vary by semester but typically include: Business, Foreign Languages, Music, Political Science, Psychology, and Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences.

Appointments become available by the third week of each semester. To see if our program has tutoring available for your courses, please log into my.hofstra.edu and open the Navigate app. Detailed instructions can be found below.

How to Book Tutoring »

Our one-on-one tutoring appointments are 45 minutes long. You are allowed two (2) appointments per course each week and may choose to receive tutoring in up to three (3) different courses covered by our program. Appointments must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. You are encouraged to schedule appointments before you experience serious academic difficulty, and you can book a tutoring appointment up to seven (7) days in advance.


Student Responsibilities

The UTP tutors and staff will do everything possible to help you achieve your academic goals. However, tutoring requires teamwork and students attending tutoring must take an active role in their learning process. Please review your responsibilities as a student, detailed below, to help you better understand how the tutoring process works and how to appropriately use this service.

UTP Student Responsibilities

By using our tutoring services, you agree to adhere to all UTP policies and uphold your responsibilities as a student as indicated below.

  • Tutoring is intended as a supplement to instruction provided by your professors and your own individual study time.
  • Tutors will not re-lecture an entire class. Instead, they will guide you through the material so you can practice effective learning strategies.
  • Tutors are not course instructors. You are responsible for seeking clarification from your instructor if you need significant assistance or are uncertain of course policies and expectations.
  • You must enter tutoring sessions prepared with your course materials (e.g., syllabus, textbooks, notes) and be prepared to engage.
  • You are expected to have read the required material and attempted assignments prior to attending tutoring sessions. Assignments cannot be completed with our tutors.
  • You are expected to stay up to date with your lectures – whether this means attending in-person classes, watching recorded lectures, or attending live, synchronous lectures. Tutoring does not count as class attendance.
  • Tutors can only assist students registered for the corresponding class at Hofstra University. They can only work with you during scheduled tutoring sessions. Please do not ask tutors to work with you outside of this capacity.
  • You are expected to treat our tutors and other students attending sessions with respect at all times. Disruptive or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and may result in suspension of your tutoring access.
  • You are expected to abide by academic honesty policies.
  • You are ultimately responsible for your own learning and academic performance in the course.

Cancellation Policy

If you must cancel a scheduled UTP tutoring appointment, please do so at least 24 hours in advance so our tutors can schedule another student during that time.

  1. Log into my.hofstra.edu and open the Navigate app
  2. Find Upcoming Appointment on the right-hand side of the screen
  3. Click on Appointment and in the next window click Cancel My Attendance
  4. Select a Reason, add Comments, and click Mark as Cancelled

If you forget to cancel your appointment and you do not attend within the first 10 minutes, our tutor or a UTP staff member will attempt to reach you. If you’re unavailable, you will be marked as a No Show in our system. After three No Shows, the system will automatically issue a hold on your tutoring account. If this occurs, please contact utp@hofstra.edu to speak with a member of our staff about your eligibility to resume tutoring services.

If you experience any problems or have questions, please contact the UTP at utp@hofstra.edu.


Become a Tutor

The Undergraduate Tutorial Program (UTP) hires undergraduate students to serve as peer tutors. Tutors focus on clarifying course content and providing study strategies in a variety of undergraduate courses. Tutors receive an hourly wage as student employees. Interested candidates must possess a high level of competency and skill in their subject area and meet the criteria below:

  • Matriculated Hofstra undergraduate student (sophomore, junior or senior)
  • Minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA
  • Earned B+ or better in the course(s)
  • Secure two faculty endorsements
  • Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Committed to academic success
  • Demonstrates integrity
  • Punctual, organized, and responsible
  • Comfortable with technology or willing to learn

Tutoring hours vary by subject area, but we request 10 hours of availability per week. Tutoring is scheduled between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday (weekend tutoring may be available as well).

For student applicants: To apply for a tutor position, please use this application link.

For faculty: To recommend a student, please use this faculty endorsement form link.

Questions? Please contact us at utp@hofstra.edu or 516-463-4002.

See what our CRLA Certified Tutors had to say about their experiences working for the UTP:

“One of the most rewarding aspects of tutoring is watching students succeed and achieve the goals they came in believing were out of their range of potential!”
– Heather, Spanish tutor

“What I find most rewarding about tutoring is when students come back to say how helpful I was throughout the semester and how much a simple tip or mnemonic got them through an exam. Tutoring isn't just a job, it is a rewarding time during my week that I get to help students excel!”
– Valeria, NOAH and chemistry tutor

“The most rewarding thing about tutoring is talking to students about their own interests, especially when they are psychology majors like myself. I enjoy hearing about their aspirations and goals after college, and other courses they hope to take at Hofstra to achieve those goals. Tutoring has led me to think that someday I would like to be a professor!”
Karleigh, psychology tutor

“I partake in tutoring because I genuinely want to impart any knowledge or expertise that I may possess in a given subject to assist my tutees with whatever class they may be struggling with. Having the opportunity to witness my tutees’ gradual development into critical thinkers and successful learners is extremely rewarding. As Galileo once fantastically said, ‘You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.’”
- Aden, French and Italian tutor

“By tutoring, I felt that I was making a difference in a student's life. I wasn't just their tutor, I was also someone they could talk to in a time of need. The most rewarding thing I found from tutoring students was the connections we made. It was rewarding to be their tutor because I knew I was helping them achieve better grades, but I was also an acquaintance that they could talk to about things if they were having a bad day.”
– Britney, Chinese tutor

“A rewarding feeling is definitely helping students feel a great sense of understanding and excitement when they comprehend a topic they once found difficult. The cheers of students who feel relieved from understanding something difficult has made me feel personally proud of their growth and hard work!”
Saher, psychology tutor


Tutor Certification

CRLA logo

The Undergraduate Tutorial Program congratulates Physics & Astronomy Tutor, Ronja Olsen, who was awarded the "Rick Sheets Outstanding Tutor Award" by the College Reading and Learning Association! This award is given annually to one peer tutor from any of the 1200+ CRLA certified tutor training programs. It honors the work of undergraduate student tutors who contribute much to the academic success of their peers and motivate and inspire others through their dedication and passion for their work.

Undergraduate Tutorial Program

College Reading and Learning Association

 

The Undergraduate Tutorial Program has earned Level III certification by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) for its tutor training program. This certification enables the UTP to certify tutors on Regular, Advanced, or Master tutor levels based on training and experience.

History

Since March 1989, over 1000 college and university tutorial programs in the United States and Canada have received tutor training certification through CRLA's International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC).

Purpose

The purpose of this program is twofold. First, it provides recognition and positive reinforcement for tutors' successful work from an international organization, CRLA. Second, its certification process sets a standard of skills and training for tutors.

Endorsements

CRLA's ITTPC has been endorsed by the National Association for Developmental Education, Commission XVI of the American College Personnel Association, the American Council of Developmental Education Associations, Association for the Tutoring Professional, and the National Tutoring Association.

What does certification mean?

Tutors who receive level one status have met the basic requirements for tutor certification, which includes training on tutor roles and responsibilities, designing and implementing effective tutoring sessions, communication skills, tutoring techniques, and study skills strategies, as well as the accumulation of required tutoring experience. After completion of level one (Regular) certification, a tutor may then continue training to be certified at the Advanced or Master levels.