FAQ
1. Who do you tutor?
The resources of CFAA-Tutoring are available to all ETSU students, faculty, and staff. Our primary clients, however, are ETSU students at all grade levels, from freshmen through graduate students. Some come for help at an instructor’s suggestion; others come because they are struggling with a course and hope that tutoring will improve their skills or their grade. Still other students come to simply ask a question or do their homework in an environment where assistance is readily available.
2. How much does it cost?
Tutoring at the CFAA is free for all currently-enrolled ETSU students, faculty, and staff.
3. What courses do you tutor?
The Center employs tutors capable of tutoring in three broad academic areas -- communication, mathematics, and the natural sciences.
In addition, we recruit and train tutors to support specific "milestone" courses that students must pass in order to earn their degrees, as well as "killer courses" (courses with high enrollments and "F" and "WF" rates of 20% or higher) that students struggle to pass.
These include:
"Milestone" courses -
ENGL 1010 (also Traditionally difficult)
ENGL 1020
MATH 1530 (also Traditionally difficult)
MATH 1710 (also Traditionally difficult)
MATH 1910
BIOL 1110-11 (also Traditionally difficult)
BIOL 1120-21
BIOL 1130-31
CHEM 1110-11 (also Traditionally difficult)
CHEM 1120-21
HIST 2010
HIST 2020
Traditionally difficult courses -
BIOL 1110
CHEM 1110
CHEM 2010
CHEM 2220
ENGL 1010
HSCI 3000
MATH 1530
MATH 1710
MATH 1720
MUSC 1030
PSYC 1310
SPAN 1010
4. Who are the CFAA’s tutors?
The Center mainly employs tutors capable of tutoring in two broad academic areas — written communication and mathematics. In addition, we recruit and train tutors to support specific “milestone” courses that students must pass in order to earn their degrees, as well as “killer courses” (both defined above).
These tutors are undergraduates, graduates, and professional tutors, as well as faculty volunteers, from a variety of majors and backgrounds. All of them participate in a standardized general tutoring training as well as ongoing professional development.
5. What are the services?
CFAA-Tutoring offers a variety of services to suit the learning needs of a diverse student population. These include Individual Tutoring, Group Tutoring, Online Tutoring, and American English Training.
Individual Tutoring: Individual tutoring is available on a walk-in and appointment basis (walk-ins are accepted if appropriate staff members are available) in the following areas for students enrolled in any course: Writing and Mathematics. Based on the availability of tutoring staff, we may also offer one-on-one tutoring in Public Speaking, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Languages & Humanities.
Group Tutoring: Tutoring groups, led by experienced student or staff tutors, meet weekly to provide assistance to students enrolled in particularly challenging courses, including Anatomy and Physiology, Biology I and II, Chemistry I and II, Physics I and II, Calculus, and Probability and Statistics.
Online Tutoring: The Learning Blog is our central hub for online tutoring, and offers access to three modes of online tutoring: Live Writing and Math Tutoring, D2L Support, and The Learning Blog. For students working on writing projects or PowerPoint presentations, we offer Live Writing Tutoring using the WCOnline system. Students living off-campus or taking courses online can make an online writing appointment with a tutor anytime during our regular operating hours by selecting Writing-Online under the "limits" on the CFAA's online schedule. Online Math help can be requested via the Math-Help link on the Learning Blog. We also support numerous courses with D2L sites that feature helpful content (notes, practice problems and tests, links) and active discussion boards. Each D2L site is monitored by CFAA staff and updated with information provided by faculty and successful students. The Learning Blog itself offers original articles as well as links to helpful tips, notes, practice problems, tests, and learning objects to assist students taking courses in the general education core. The blog is updated and checked daily to respond to student questions and comments.
American English Training - Accent Reduction: The CFAA offers individualized oral communication tutoring focusing on accent reduction and American English pronunciation to a limited number of clients on an appointment-only basis (limit one appointment per week). Clients requesting individualized oral communication tutoring must also be regular participants at The English Table.
American English Training - The English Table: The English Table offers ETSU’s international community – students, visiting scholars, faculty, friends and family – a weekly venue for learning about American language and culture. The meetings are highly interactive and the focus is on building practical conversation, listening, and “college survival” skills to help international students get the most out of their ETSU experience.
6. What if I need help in a course you don't tutor?
In some areas, such as Economics and Finance, tutoring is available in the academic department. Students who are economically or in other way eligible can also get extended services through Student Support Services and other TRIO programs. We sometimes offer help in courses that are not on the course list if our tutors have indicated that they are willing to tutor in those courses: you can always check with our front desk to see if one of our tutors has indicated an expertise in an area where you need assistance.
7. What information should students know before making an appointment to see a tutor?
The following information is part of the "tutoring contract" that students agree to when accepting our assistance:
1) The tutor will not do my work for me. The tutor's job is to assist me in mastering course material and developing my skills by providing examples, asking questions, pointing out areas for improvement, engaging in a dialogue about my subject matter, and/or discussing study strategies and techniques.
2) The tutor is not responsible for my grade; the tutor is also not able to forecast the grade my instructor will give me.
3) While I may request a specific tutor, I am not guaranteed to be able to work with him or her every time.
4) Even when I have booked an individual appointment, my appointment may be combined with that of another student if we are working on the same subject matter and additional tutors are not available.
5) I will come to my session adequately prepared, with necessary materials, and take an active role in the session.
6) My tutoring session will last no longer than the scheduled time and may be shortened to accommodate students with appointments if no other staff members are available.
7) Learning is a process that takes time and consists of numerous stages. In order to make the best use of the CFAA’s tutoring services, I should visit early and often.
8) I am aware that I am limited to one tutoring session per subject per day and no more than seven sessions per subject per week.
9) If I schedule an appointment, it is my responsibility to call and cancel or re-schedule if I can’t make it; after three missed appointments, I will no longer be permitted to make appointments during that term.
10) I will evaluate each session I participate in, online or on paper, to provide the CFAA with necessary feedback for improving tutoring services.
8. Can people who are not ETSU students receive tutoring assistance?
The CFAA is a student fee-supported facility; as a result, our primary service community is ETSU students, followed by ETSU faculty and staff. People who are not ETSU students, faculty, or staff are not permitted, at this time, to make tutoring appointments. If someone who is not an ETSU students makes an appointment (or has one made for him or her), we are not obligated to honor that appointment. Office workers making appointments should require that ETSU students give their E-numbers when completing initial registration information. Clients may be asked to present a valid ETSU ID when receiving or requesting services.
9. Can University High School or other local school students receive tutoring at the CFAA?
As stated in the policy above, we do not extend tutoring services to students who are not enrolled in classes ETSU.
10. Can we tutor high school students who are dual-enrolled in ETSU courses?
Yes: dual-enrolled students are treated the same as “regular” ETSU students.
11. Are there any CFAA-Tutoring services that community members can use?
Yes. Community members are welcome to participate in The English Table, which meets summer 2012 on Fridays, 1 pm - 3 pm.
12. When are tutoring and other services available?
Our Summer 2012 schedule, excluding university holidays, is Mondays - Thursdays, 9 am - 5 pm; Fridays, 9 am - 3pm, CLOSED Saturdays and Sundays.
Our Fall-Spring 2012-2013 schedule, excluding university holidays, is Mondays – Thursdays, 9 am to 9 pm; Fridays, 9 am to 5 pm; Saturdays, 11 am to 5 pm; and Sundays, 3 pm to 9 pm.
13. Are appointments required?
Appointments are required for American English Training and Online Tutoring in Writing; we encourage students to make appointments for on-ground tutoring in Math and Writing, and other forms of individual tutoring, but we will serve walk-ins if personnel are available. Group Tutoring and the English Table are "drop in;" times will be posted on the CFAA’s website (and PlanIt ETSU) and updated regularly.
14. How does a client request a tutor or register for other services?
Registration via WCOnline (http://etsu.mywconline.com/) is required for all services that require scheduling; the only exceptions are exclusively drop-in services, such as Group Tutoring and the English Table. Any student who has registered can request a tutor.
15. How do clients schedule appointments?
Clients can call the Center (439-7111) to make an appointment or, if they have already registered, make their own appointments online at http://etsu.mywconline.com/
16. How far in advance do appointment have to be made?
Clients can call the Center to make an appointment at any time for any day/time during the current term. Clients making their own appointments online, however, are prohibited from making appointments more than two weeks in advance; they are also prohibited from making “last minute” appointments (i.e. appointments within one hour of the current time).
17. Can clients cancel or re-schedule appointments?
Clients can cancel or reschedule their appointments online up to 3 hours before the appointment is scheduled. If they want to cancel or reschedule less than 3 hours before the appointment, they will be blocked from altering the appointment online: they will be prompted to call the Center to cancel the appointment. This is so that the Front Desk staff is made aware that an appointment time has opened up.
18. What happens when a client doesn’t show?
Clients who fail to show up for their appointments will be marked as 'No Show' on their Client Report. They are then sent an email warning them that after three no-shows they will not be permitted to make appointments and will only be eligible for walk-in services for the rest of the term.
19. What if a client is late?
If a client is running late, the tutor will remain available for 10 minutes before they are reassigned to a waiting client. Session time cannot be made up – the session will still end at the appointed time.
20. Do clients with appointments have priority over walk-ins?
Students with appointments are our first priority. However, we will make every effort to take walk-ins.
21. How long are individual tutoring sessions?
We have two appointment lengths: 30 minutes and 60 minutes.
Tutoring Schedule: