Coming to the QSR

Signing In

We ask that you sign in when you use the services of the Center, giving your name, class year, course and the purpose of your visit. Sometime during the semester we will ask you to respond to a questionnaire about our services and the help you receive. This information helps us to be able to deliver the services that students have come to expect.

How can I get the most out of drop-in tutoring?

Do as much of your homework as you can ahead of time.
Come to the Center with questions about things you don't understand.
Communicate with your professor when you need extra help.

How often can I come in to the Center?

You may drop in at the Center to get help with one assignment, or you may come in regularly to work with a particular tutor. Be sure to arrive with specific questions, but don't expect the tutor to sit with you while you do your homework. Do your homework ahead of time so you can ask for help with what you don't understand.

Can the tutor(s) tell me if I have the right answer?

The tutors do not give the answers to homework problems, but they will explain what you don't understand, use examples to work on the process of finding an answer and show how the problems fit into your assignment. At the end of your session, you and the tutor summarize what you have worked on, going over anything you don't understand.

You may find other students from your class seeking help from the same tutor. When that is the case, the tutor may work with the whole group at once or with individual students while the rest work together.

The tutor may be working with students from two or three different disciplines, moving back and forth among the students. The Center can be very busy, especially in the beginning of the semester, and you might feel that your are not getting the attention you need. If you feel you need to get immediate help, be sure to speak up. The tutors want to help everyone in a fair and effective way.

What if I can't get the help I want?

Sometimes answers won't come easily. Even after working out the problems and consulting with other tutors, your tutor may not be able to help you. If this happens, you and the tutor should work out a plan for finding out how to solve the problem. Perhaps you and the tutor need more information. Maybe something is missing from the assignment or from the equation. Get the missing information right away from the professor or from another student. Check back with the tutor to let her or him know what you find out, so the tutor can help other students who may have the same questions.

Acknowledging Help at the Center

Most professors do not require an acknowledgment form if you recieved help from the Center. However, if you are unsure if your professor requres one, you may write an acknowledgment on the assignment.

Tutor Appointments

Peer tutor and consultant appointments are managed through TracCloud (login required). Find resources and more information about the ALEX centers using the following links.