Programs: Frequently Asked Questions
Want to learn more about our programs? Check out our FAQ below. If you still have questions, contact our office!
Large Group Tutoring | Small Group Tutoring | Writing Tutoring | Academic Success Programs | Accommodations
Large Group Tutoring
- Who are the Tutors?
- When does Tutoring start?
- When and Where are LTutoring sessions held?
- I tried Large Group Tutoring, but I don't think it's right for me. Is there another resource I can use?
- Why should I go to Large Group Tutoring?
- What can I expect from a Large Group Tutoring session?
- How are Large Group Tutoring times selected?
- What if I miss the in-class announcement about Large Group Tutoring times?
- Do I have to go every week to my Large Group Tutoring session?
- Are there Large Group Tutoring sessions during finals week?
- How do I find out about an exam study session?
- How does LSS choose what classes to support with Large Group Tutoring?
- Can Large Group Tutoring sessions be permanently canceled?
- How do I contact the Tutor?
- How do I find out more information about the Tutor?
- How do I become a Tutor?
Who are the Tutors?
Tutors are undergraduate students who are interested in creating collaborative spaces for their peers to learn. Tutors are from all different types of majors, different colleges, diverse backgrounds, and different years.
All Tutors are required to take a tutor pedagogy class aimed at helping them be better educators. The tutor pedagogy class focuses on helping develop fundamental teaching skills that center around facilitating interactive tutor and Large Group Tutoring sessions, creating a collaborative community in the sessions, and developing mindful, culturally sensitive tutors.
All Tutors have taken the class they are working in and received a B or better and received a letter of recommendation from a faculty member. Tutors are also asked to attend training dates during the quarter on resources like CAPS, the Cantu Queer Center, and how to work with diverse sets of students.
When does Tutoring start?
Large Group Tutoring generally starts during the second full week of the quarter.
The actual start time may vary on when the Tutor makes an announcement in class and when sessions can be scheduled.
Keep an eye out for the Tutor's announcement in lecture, on the course website, or the Canvas page.
When and where are the Tutoring sessions held?
Large Group Tutoring Sessions are located in various locations and classrooms across campus including the Academic Resource Center (ARCenter), Oakes Learning Center, and the STEM Hub. You can find the times and locations of available Large Group Tutoring sessions by checking Tutor Hub.
I tried Large Group Tutoring, but I don't think it's right for me. Is there another resource I can use?
Yes! LSS wants to provide students with accessible services that fit your unique learning style. If Large Group Tutoring is not the right fit for you, you can try one of our other programs, such as Small Group Tutoring. If you'd like to explore one of these programs, please contact Learning Support Services via email at lss@ucsc.edu, give us a call at (831) 459-4333 or stop by our office, ARCenter, Room 221 and we can help you sign-up.
Why should I go to Large Group Tutoring?
Large Group Tutoring is guaranteed time to practice problems and work with your peers! This is ideal for students who want to meet classmates, work with peers, or get to know new people. LSS makes sure to hire Tutors who are qualified to lead interactive and collaborative Large Group Tutoring sessions. Students who attend Large Group Tutoring six or more times are much more likely to pass the class and are more likely to receive a higher grade than students who do not attend Large Group Tutoring.
What can I expect from a Large Group Tutoring session?
If you attend Large Group Tutoring regularly, you can expect to follow the course's content closely with engaging activities. Students don't have to come to Large Group Tutoring sessions prepared but should be willing to group up and talk to their classmates and work on class problems together. You can also expect to learn effective study skills that will help you in your current and future classes! Lastly, if you attend Large Group Tutoring regularly you can expect to create meaningful relationships with your peers and Tutor.
How are Large Group Tutoring times selected?
Your Tutor will try to survey your class during the first few days of the quarter. The most popular and widely distributed times are then chosen.
What if I miss the in-class announcement about Large Group Tutoring times?
No problem! You can go online and view the session times through TutorHub. There, you can find the Large Group Tutoring times and the Tutor for your course. If your professor or Large Group Tutoring Tutor has posted their sessions on Canvas, you can also use your course's Canvas page as a resource.
Do I have to go every week to my Large Group Tutoring session?
If you want to benefit most from Large Group Tutoring, yes! Students tend to get the most benefit from the Large Group Tutoring sessions if they attend weekly or at least 6 times during the quarter. In Large Group Tutoring, you can expect to engage closely with your Tutor and your fellow students during these sessions, developing communication and collaborative problem-solving skills that will help you excel both in your course and in your college career.
Are there Large Group Tutoring sessions during finals week?
No, unless there is an exam study session scheduled. The last Large Group Tutoring sessions for the quarter are held during the last week of instruction.
How do I find out about an exam study session?
Large Group Tutoring exam study sessions are limited to those who have attended at least one Large Group Tutoring session during the quarter. The Tutor will announce the study sessions during Large Group Tutoring sessions and an email may be sent to students who have attended previous sessions.
How does LSS choose what classes to support with Large Group Tutoring?
Traditionally, Large Group Tutoring is implemented in gateway courses, or. courses needed to declare a major that has high drop, fail, or withdraw rates, or that may be challenging for students in consultation with faculty and department staff. Large Group Tutoring is also offered in select upper-division courses that are "core" courses in majors.
Can Large Group Tutoring sessions be permanently canceled?
Unfortunately, if a Large Group Tutoring session consistently has low attendance, yes. (If you and your peers consistently go to Large Group Tutoring, it won't get canceled!) If a session is canceled but you are interested in the service, please check out the Large Group Tutoring schedule on Tutor Hub as there will be other Large Group Tutoring sessions for students to attend.
How do I contact the Tutor?
Tutors are in every lecture for your class, so you can always check-in with them there. We ask all Tutors to sit in the front and hopefully they're in the same spot every time. You can also email your Tutor if needed. However, we instruct our Tutors to not help students over email. If you need help on the course material, attend your Large Group Tutoring session! You can always use TutorHub to connect with your Tutor as well.
How do I find out more information about the Tutor?
You can check out the Large Group Tutoring Tutor's profile through Tutor Hub. On the page, you will find a picture and their personal statement. On Tutor Hub, you will find the times and locations of the Large Group Tutoring sessions they are leading as well as their contact information.
How do I become a Tutor?
Every quarter, LSS hires tutors in the Division of the Arts, Division of Humanities, Division of Physical & Biological Sciences, Division of Social Sciences and Baskin School of Engineering. Students who apply must be in good academic standing as determined by your college as well as have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher. Please review our Student Job page if you are interested in becoming a part of the LSS team. Also, feel free to contact our office at (831) 459-4333 or at lss@ucsc.edu with any questions about our hiring process.
Small Group Tutoring
- How do I sign-up for tutoring?
- What can I expect from my tutoring sessions?
- Who is eligible for tutoring?
- When can I sign up for a tutor?
- Is the tutoring one-on-one or with a group?
- Who are the tutors?
- Is there drop-in tutoring?
- If I am receiving tutoring, do I need to attend lecture or section?
- What if when I sign-up on the Tutor Hub system there are no tutors available for my class?
- What if I find a tutor for my class but I can’t meet at the times listed?
- Are there any requirements for attending tutoring?
- How do I contact my tutor?
- Where are the tutoring sessions held?
- What if I have to cancel a session?
- What if I need reschedule my tutoring session?
- What if I no longer need or want to meet with my tutor?
- What if I am having problems with my tutor?
- Does tutoring happen during Finals Week?
- What if I need accommodations during my tutoring sessions?
- How do I become a tutor?
How do I sign-up for tutoring?
Visit our Page for Instructions and Video Tutorials
What can I expect from my tutoring sessions?
The tutoring sessions are meant to be interactive. You are expected to participate: to ask and to answer questions, to clarify important concepts and to develop study strategies that are important for your discipline. Sessions meet weekly for 1 hour. To see what you can do to prepare, please visit our Program homepage.
Who is eligible for tutoring?
All UCSC undergraduate students are eligible for up to 2 hours of tutoring per week.
When can I sign up for a tutor?
Sign-ups are done on-line on the Tutor Hub Portal using your Gold username and Password. Sign-ups typically begin on the Friday of the first full week of the quarter.
Is the tutoring one-on-one or with a group?
Each tutoring session is set to 6 students but may increase up to 8 students if space is needed. One-on-one tutoring is only available for writing sessions and students with accommodations provided by the DRC.
Please note that some STEM courses are also supported by individual tutoring. Please check out the supported classes page or ask your tutor to find out if your course offers individual tutoring.
Who are the tutors?
All of our tutors are undergraduate students in good academic standing who have received a B or better in the class that they are tutoring. In addition, each tutor is required to participate in quarterly training.
Is there drop-in tutoring?
Yes, it's called study hall!
If I am receiving tutoring, do I need to attend lectures or sections?
Absolutely! Our services are supplemental and are meant to help you develop your understanding of the course material. You will get much more out of your sessions if you attend lectures and sections regularly.
What if when I sign-up on Tutor Hub there are no tutors available for my class?
If there are no available tutors for your class, you can add your name to the Availability Request Form on our website. We will contact our current employees and applicants to see if they can fulfill your request.
What if I find a tutor for my class, but I can’t meet at the times listed?
If there is a tutor available for your class but you cannot attend any of the times listed, submit an Availability Request Form on our website. Make sure to specify that you cannot attend any currently scheduled sessions.
Are there any requirements for attending tutoring?
Tutoring is only a supplement to your attending lecture, section, Professor and TA office hours, and completing reading and homework assignments.
How do I contact my tutor?
After you sign up for a session, you will receive an automatic email with your tutor’s contact information. If you have any problems contacting your tutor, please contact Learning Support Services at lss@ucsc.edu
Where are the tutoring sessions held?
All tutoring sessions are held on campus in an academic setting. Check out common tutoring locations to learn more.
Tutoring sessions cannot be held in dorm rooms, dorm lounges, or cafes with music. Tutoring is typically held at Academic Resources Center, Library STEM Hub, or at the Oakes Learning Center.
What if I have to cancel a session?
Please give your tutor at least 24 hours advance notice if you need to cancel a session. You can contact lss@ucsc.edu to cancel your sessions.
What if I need to reschedule my tutoring session?
If it is a permanent change, check on Tutor Hub for another available session you may be able to make. If it is a temporary change, you can check with your tutor to see if they can accommodate your request. Please be respectful of your tutor’s schedule and time commitments.
What if I no longer need or want to meet with my tutor?
Please let both the tutor and our office know about this change, and then either remove yourself from the session or contact our office lss@ucsc.edu to be removed from your session.
What if I am having problems with my tutor?
Please contact our office at lss@ucsc.edu or visit our front desk zoom hours. Hours can be found on our LSS home page and we will assist you.
Does tutoring happen during Finals Week?
Tutoring ends the last week of instruction unless your tutor makes specific arrangements to host an exam review session.
What if I need accommodations during my tutoring sessions?
Please contact Learning Support Services and the DRC and we will coordinate appropriate accommodations. For more information, please visit our Accommodations page
How do I become a tutor?
Every quarter, LSS hires tutors in the Division of the Arts, Division of Humanities, Division of Physical & Biological Sciences, Division of Social Sciences and Baskin School of Engineering. Students who apply must be in good academic standing as determined by your college as well as have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher. Please review our Student Job page if you are interested in becoming a part of the LSS team. Also, feel free to contact our office at (831) 459-4333 or at lss@ucsc.edu with any questions about our hiring process.
Writing Support
- What kinds of Writing Support are there?
- Can I use both services at the same time?
- How do I know if writing or reading support is right for me?
- How often can I use these services each week?
What kinds of Writing Support are there?
For students in any class or major, LSS provides individual writing tutoring appointments. Tutors represent different majors and support with the conventions of specific disciplines. These appointments are a space to brainstorm, organize, draft, revise writing assignments with a writing tutor.
Specific politics, legal studies, and psychology courses are supported with writing group tutoring. This is a space for students to engage with key writing topics as they relate to their course: reading strategies, selecting credible sources, developing an argument, outlining and organizing an essay, revising and editing, proofreading and writing mechanics.
Can I use both services at the same time?
Yes! Students can sign up for both group and individual tutoring support for each of their courses. Individual writing tutoring is a great space for students to receive more feedback on assignments that are due soon.
How do I know if writing or reading support is right for me?
All great writers seek feedback on their work and make a habit of talking out ideas, processes, and habits with others writers. Part of the process of learning and improving our work is having conversations about writing and reading.
How often can I use these services each week?
Students can sign up for up to 2 group tutoring sessions for each of their courses.
Students can sign up for as many individual writing tutoring appointments as needed. With both services, it is important to notify your tutor if you need to cancel at least 24-hours in advance.
Accommodations for Services
What are accommodations?
Learning Support Services (LSS) designs programs accessible to all UC Santa Cruz undergraduate students. Students who are affiliated with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and have accommodations for tutoring can fill out the Learning Support Services Tutoring Request Form for DRC Students to submit a request. Visit the Accommodations page for more information and detailed instructions on how to submit a request.
