SASC: Course-Attached Tutor (CAT) (S9829X)

Summary

The Student Academic Support Center (SASC) seeks students interested in working as a Course-Attached Tutor for a variety of courses in mathematics, statistics, programming, natural science, quantitative social science, music theory, introductory politics, and introduction to logic. Course-Attached Tutors are matched for one semester with a specific section of a course to offer support for the students in that section through regular help sessions, individualized appointments, email communications, and meetings with the course instructor. Course-attached tutors may also staff drop-in hours working with students one-on-one or in groups.

Basics

  • Department: Student Academic Services Center
  • Supervisor: Andrea Alford
  • Office Location: Coram Library, Room 229
  • Email: aalford@bates.edu
  • Hours: 6
  • Workers: 40

Responsibilities

CAT responsibilities include:

1) Attending all mandatory training sessions and tutor meetings.

2) Preparing for evening help sessions.

3) Providing academic assistance to students either on a drop-in or an assigned basis; helping students review skills required for the course, discussing and clarifying course concepts, demonstrating sample problems or examples, coaching students as they work problems without doing their work for them, assisting students in developing good study skills and habits, and suggesting supplementary materials or resources for students to use.

4) CATs are also expected to share and support metacognitive (self-reflective) strategies that are addressed in training with their students. These include such things as effective note-taking and reading prior to class, annotating class notes, self-questioning, and effective study habits among other skills.
Maintaining proper records: ensuring visitors sign in for CAT sessions and submitting SASC Activity Report forms to accompany each bi-weekly timesheet.

5) Attending class on a predetermined schedule, depending upon the arrangement with course faculty and SASC professional staff. (Currently, Biology and Chemistry CATs are expected to attend class daily, while CATs for DCS and Economics attend once per week.) In such a case, during active learning periods, the tutor will roam around the room to help answer questions.

6) Providing weekly evening help sessions.
Maintaining a private appointment schedule to provide availability for one-on-one appointments or small group appointments with students in the class for a range of 3-5 hours per week of available appointment slots.

7) Checking email daily for tutoring-related updates and announcements. Responding promptly to messages from students, faculty, and SASC professional staff. Arranging, in advance, for a substitute when unable to work a regularly scheduled shift at drop-in hours.

8) Informing the SASC team of any problem areas such as the inability to work a scheduled shift, issues with private tutoring assignments, difficulty with particular topics, etc.
Maintaining confidentiality with respect to all personal information about the tutee.

Requirements

Tutors must have a solid understanding of the material for any course for which they tutor. In addition, they should be strong communicators, be organized, and possess good study habits and time management skills. They should also possess a friendly willingness to support, mentor, and foster trusting relationships with other Bates students. Tutors should be prepared to discuss relevant course material with students, and also to engage in discussions about successful study strategies. Desired qualities: patience, empathy, and the enthusiasm to help others.

All applicants must participate in an in-person interview which will be scheduled after application materials have been submitted.

Students hired for this position are strongly encouraged (but not required) to enroll in EXDS s27 Peer-Led Tutoring: Pedagogy & Practice for Short Term 2025. Course content for EXDS s27 is equivalent to paid training for tutors in their first year of work. Satisfactory completion of EXDS s27 excuses first-year tutors from attending most training meetings targeting first-year tutors. Additional details will be provided during the interview process.

Reporting

This position reports to Student Academic Support Center professional staff.

There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role.