How long are tutoring sessions?
Course tutoring sessions are generally scheduled for one hour; however, it is not
uncommon for sessions to end earlier or continue longer than the scheduled time. Any
appointments scheduled for the last hour of the day must conclude by closing time.
Are tutors available for all of my classes?
The WaLC provides tutors for an average of 190 course sections and 27 disciplines
per year. Visit our appointment page for instructions on using TutorTrac to see if tutors are available for your classes.
Writing appointments may be made for any undergraduate or graduate-level course, and math tutoring services
also are available through the Mathematics Tutoring Center.
What do I do if the WaLC doesn’t have a tutor for my class?
Talk to your professor outside of class. All professors have office hours and are
available to meet with you during those times to answer questions you have about the
course. If your professor feels the class would benefit from a tutor, he/she can contact
the WaLC Director to recommend a tutor.
Can my course tutor help me with my homework assignment?
It depends. Is your homework for a grade? Has your professor given you any instructions
about receiving outside help? Some instructors are happy for you to get help with
homework while others prefer that your completed assignments represent your own work.
If you’re unsure, ask your professor about his/her expectations. Whatever your professor’s
stance may be, you can be sure that our tutors will never do your homework for you.
Keep in mind that group tutoring sessions may include students from other sections of your class, and everyone in the group may have different homework assignments. Your tutor will guide the group in setting an agenda for the session and ensuring that everyone’s questions are addressed.
Why doesn’t the WaLC offer course tutoring for more 300- and 400-level classes?
The goal of course tutoring is to set students on the path to academic success early
in their college careers. Many 100- and 200-level classes present content that students
will be expected to know and to build on in their upper-level classes. Tutoring helps
students build a solid foundation of knowledge. Don’t forget that the WaLC also offers
individual Academic Skills Consultations, online learning resources, and writing assistance for students at every level.
Can I schedule one-on-one appointments with my tutors?
In order to serve as many students as possible, the WaLC cannot guarantee one-on-one
course tutoring sessions.
Can I sit in on a course-specific tutoring session that's in progress, even if I don't
have an appointment?
You may ask to join a session that has already begun, as long as the tutor is working
with fewer than five students from your class; however, we prefer that your appointment is scheduled through TutorTrac. If a classmate invites you to participate in a tutoring
session that he/she has scheduled, check with the WaLC receptionist first to make
sure seats are available. Students who have appointments scheduled will take precedence,
and tutors may elect not to allow extra students to join a session if all of the seats
for that session have been filled.
What if the tutor’s appointment times don’t work for me?
You can email the tutor to inquire about additional appointment times. Call the WaLC
at 828-227-2274 and ask for the tutor’s email address. Your email should provide the
tutor with an overview of all the times you have available to meet. The more hours
you identify, the more likely your tutor will be able to find a time that works for
both of you.
I’ve recently missed several classes. Can I meet with a course tutor to catch up on
what I’ve missed?
Our services supplement class instruction but do not replace missed class content
or homework assignments. Our tutors aren’t attending the classes they tutor, so they
don’t know the exact material your professors have covered. If you’ve missed multiple
class meetings, talk to your professor to find out if it’s possible to make up what
you’ve missed. Your professor might recommend that you ask a fellow classmate for
lecture notes. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with recent lectures, reading, and
homework assignments, visit the WaLC with a list of specific questions about the material.
I attended a course tutoring session right before my last exam, but my grade didn’t
improve. What happened?
We’re good, but we’re not magicians! Our tutors are not here to help you cram for
tests or to replace independent study time, but they will provide you with strategies
for reviewing, understanding, and learning the material. Real learning takes time,
and it’s up to you to allocate additional time for studying on your own. Need help
finding time to study? Visit our online guide to better time management, or make an appointment for a one-on-one session with one of our talented Academic Skills Consultants.