Peer Tutoring Work Here
Make a Real Difference While Building Valuable Skills
Love helping others succeed? Consider becoming a peer tutor with our program. We're looking for students who've excelled academically and want to share that success with their peers. As a peer tutor, you'll provide the insider perspective that comes from recent experience in the courses you support—you know the professors, the assignments, and what it takes to succeed.
What We're Looking For
Academic Excellence: You'll need a 3.25 or higher in any courses you want to tutor for, plus a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
The Right Qualities: Strong communication skills, patience, and the ability to explain concepts clearly. You should be organized, reliable, and genuinely enjoy helping others learn. You don't need to be perfect—you just need to have done well and want to help others do the same.
Subject Expertise: We welcome tutors from all majors and disciplines. You can tutor subjects outside your major and even support multiple courses, as long as you meet the grade requirements and feel confident in your ability to help students.
How You'll Get Involved
Flexible Hours: Being a peer tutor is very flexible. When students request tutoring, you'll be paired based on the courses you can support. You and the student coordinate your own schedules and meet in public campus spaces like the ODY Library or Sullivan Student Center. Most tutors work 3-6 hours per week.
Meaningful Work: You'll provide one-on-one academic support, focusing on:
- Assessing learning tasks and student skills
- Providing direct instruction where needed
- Offering sustained corrective feedback
- Modeling effective strategies
- Creating opportunities for practice and improvement
Professional Development: All tutors participate in initial training and ongoing professional development meetings throughout the year. You'll learn best practices and enhance your tutoring skills as you go.
The Application Process
When to Apply: We accept applications year-round, with calls for new tutors typically happening after Thanksgiving in the fall and at the end of April in the spring.
How to Apply: Complete our application form, which asks about the courses you wish to tutor, your grades in those courses, and why you're interested in becoming a peer tutor.
Getting Recommended: Many of our tutors are recommended by faculty who notice standout students, but professor recommendation isn't required—you can apply directly.
Interview Process: Qualified applicants may be invited for a brief meeting with the director to discuss their qualifications and interest in tutoring.
What You'll Gain
Compensation: Peer tutors are paid $10.00/hour for tutoring time and session preparation.
Transferable Skills: Build communication, teaching, and leadership abilities that you'll use long after graduation.
Professional Experience: Gain insights into academic support services and develop skills valuable for future careers.
Campus Leadership: Represent the program at orientation events and workshops, building your public speaking and engagement abilities.
Personal Satisfaction: Be part of a team that's genuinely making a difference in the academic success of your fellow students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students become peer tutors? Yes! We welcome international students as peer tutors.
Do I need prior tutoring experience? No prior experience is required. We provide training, and most tutors learn as they go. You can always seek advice from the director or other experienced tutors.
How many students will I work with? This depends on student demand for your subject areas and your availability. Some tutors work with students weekly, while others tutor only a few students per semester.
Can I tutor multiple subjects? Absolutely, as long as you meet the grade requirement for each course and feel confident helping students in those areas. Tutors who can support multiple courses often have more opportunities.
What if I have questions? We encourage you to reach out! Contact the Director of Peer Tutoring, Melody Denny (mdenny@stlawu.edu), with any questions or to set up a conversation about the role.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're interested in becoming a peer tutor, we'd love to hear from you. This is rewarding work that builds valuable skills while helping your fellow students succeed. Join a team that believes in the power of peer learning and the difference you can make in someone's academic journey.
Contact: Melody Denny, Director of Peer Tutoring
Email: mdenny@stlawu.edu