Study Partners Peer Tutor

Peer Tutors in the Study Partners program offer one-on-one peer tutoring to undergraduate students at Auburn University at no additional cost to the student. Each tutor’s goal is to promote academic excellence through peer-to-peer assistance by helping students consider both the course content and study skills necessary to succeed in their courses. Tutors help their peers grow as confident, self-directed learners.

Once hired as a member of the Academic Support student employment team, Peer Tutors are trained on tutoring philosophy and practice, teaching and pedagogy methods, campus services and referral protocol, and intercultural understanding, awareness and inclusivity. All Study Partners Peer Tutors earn $12 an hour. Tutors begin working 5-9 hours/week during fall and/or spring semesters (see below for a breakdown of tutoring hours). Once a tutor has a proven record of high student visit rates, they may be invited to add additional tutoring hours to their work schedule. Opportunities for summer tutoring are offered based on need to returning Peer Tutors (i.e., newly hired Peer Tutors cannot start their employment in the summer semester).

General Information

Position: Academic Support, Student Employee – Study Partners Peer Tutor

About the Academic Support Program: Study Partners is a free peer tutoring service offering support for a variety of undergraduate core courses through one-on-one in-person and online sessions.

Type: Part-Time, On-Campus, Paid, Undergraduate Student Employees; Must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree-seeking program at Auburn University

Hourly Pay: $12/hour; Peer Tutors work 5-9 hours/week (plus a monthly 1-hour meeting); Additional hours may be offered for Peer Tutors reaching high appointment fill rates; Auburn University student employees cannot exceed 20 hours/week in total for all of their combined on-campus student employment jobs

Dates of Employment: Fall and/or Spring semesters; Summer opportunities available to returning Peer Tutors

Supervisor: Allison Stadler, M.Ed.; Coordinator for Course Support in Academic Support

Position Responsibilities

Peer Tutor Time Commitment:

  • Maintain a regular 5 hours/week schedule hosting tutoring appointments booked through Advise Assist

  • Additionally, respond to students’ requests for help on Knack and host up to 4 hours/week of tutoring appointments on days/times of your/the student’s choosing; Total hours on Knack may fluctuate week to week based on the number of requests submitted by students and your availability

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and competence in subject(s) tutored while hosting in-person and online sessions

  • Build confidence in students’ understanding of course content and overall study skills

  • Navigate a variety of technological platforms (i.e., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Box, Advise Assist, Knack, etc.)

  • Maintain accurate and timely records designed to document student attendance and participation

  • Engage with students on the Knack platform by responding to requests and scheduling appointments

  • Complete online training modules and attend Peer Tutor Training at the beginning of each semester

  • Attend 1-hour monthly Support Team Meetings in assigned small groups led by Tutor Mentors

  • Demonstrate excellent communication and customer service skills

  • Participate in additional professional development learning opportunities/training designed to improve tutoring skillset, increase technology expertise, and ability to connect with students, as available

Secondary Responsibilities:

  • Assist with Academic Support marketing and outreach efforts as needed

  • Represent and serve as a member of the Academic Support student employment team

  • Serve as a resource referral agent connecting students to other campus services

Qualities and Skills

Required: Knowledge and competency in course(s) tutored; Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale); Minimum grade of B at Auburn University in course(s) to be tutoring; Submit a completed employee application; Complete steps for submitting references; Participate in an employee interview

Desired: Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, manage multiple tasks, and take initiative; Willingness to embrace online as well as in-person tutoring opportunities; Interest in committing to more than one semester to the program; Utilized Study Partners peer tutoring as a student

Learning Outcomes

Student Employees of Academic Support will:

  • Understand and apply strategies and tools to promote self-directed learning that contributes to a positive education experience at AU

  • Develop and demonstrate affective intelligence that includes verbal and non-verbal communication, listening and responsiveness, self-regulation, diversity and inclusion, and collaboration

Advise Assist

Peer Tutors work 5 hours/week

  • Hours are based on a regular, weekly, agreed upon schedule that is maintained during the semester

  • Peer Tutors are physically present in the Learning Commons and clock in/out for all of these five hours

Appointment Modalities:

  • Students choose to meet in person (2nd Floor of RBD Library, Learning Commons) or online via Zoom

Hours of Operation:

  • Though each Peer Tutor is only assigned to a 5 hours/week schedule, the tutoring space is operational Mondays - Thursdays between the hours of 9:00am-5:00pm

Knack App

Peer Tutors work 4 hours/week

  • Hours are scheduled by the tutor based on their availability and students' needs; May change week to week*

  • Peer Tutors are present at the agreed upon location/time and clock in/out for the time actually spent with students

Appointment Modalities:

  • Peer Tutor and student decide to meet in person (any location in RBD Library) or online via the Knack app

Hours of Operation:

  • Flexible! As these sessions are mutually agreed upon by the Peer Tutor and the student, they can occur any day/time, including days/times outside of our typical operation hours

*Please note that while the TOTAL hours on Knack may change week to week based on the number of student requests, replying to requests and scheduling tutoring sessions via Knack is a requirement of the Peer Tutor role

Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader

SI Leaders support learning by facilitating free, weekly, active learning in group sessions. SI Leaders are students who excelled in historically difficult courses and wish to work to help their peers be more motivated, confident, and successful in those same courses. SI Leaders model effective student habits and facilitate active learning in informal settings. Along the way, SI Leaders get paid for planning and professional development, gain more complex content knowledge, and develop stronger communication skills and networks. All SI employees earn $13 an hour. SI Leaders work 9 hours a week. Committed and effective SI Leaders may eventually work up to 20 hours a week with increased responsibilities regarding peer mentorship and program support. Additionally, all SI Leaders get “priority registration” status at the University.

Code of Representation for Academic Support Student Employees

General Information

Position: Academic Support student employee – SI Leader

About the Academic Support program: Supplemental Instruction (SI) supports historically difficult classes with free, weekly, active-review sessions facilitated by students who previously excelled in the course.

Type: Part-Time, On-Campus, Paid, Undergraduate Student Employment Hourly wage: $13/hr, 9 hours a week

Supervisor: Jillian Rager, M.Ed.; Coordinator, Course Support

Position Responsibilities

Primary:

  • Attend all class meetings of the selected course, take notes, and be familiar with assigned materials including text(s) and supplemental readings.

  • Conduct 3 hours of active-learning review sessions per week.

  • Spend 2 hours a week carefully planning and preparing for upcoming sessions.

  • Design collaborative activities and materials for use during SI sessions.

  • Cultivate communicative relationships with course instructor, students, and SI staff. This includes reaching out to students in class based on their student status.

  • Participate in training and meetings both before and throughout the semester.

Secondary:

  • Develop planning and facilitation skills that support student learning related to mastery of course content, as well as skill development.

  • Maintain accurate management of employment records including time keeping, evaluations, and reporting.

  • Meet procedural expectations and promote SI sessions.

  • Use of and familiarity with a variety of technological platforms (Zoom, Canvas, BOX, Advise Assist, Qualtrics, Microsoft, Excel).

  • Act as professional representative and member of Academic Support and all its programs.

  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualities and Skills

Required: minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), minimum grade of B in the selected course, reference, content competency, effective interpersonal skills

Desired: has attended SI sessions, nomination from faculty, SI Leader, or advisor, willing and able to commit 2 semesters to a course/faculty member, experience in active learning or educational settings 

Application Process for Peer Tutor and SI Leader Positions
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. After submission, the standardized identity-hidden job applications are reviewed and qualified applicants may be invited to participate in an interview on a rolling basis. Please note that most interviews and offers are completed prior to registration in the semester prior to starting work, and the needs for SI Leaders and Study Partners Peer Tutors may vary each semester. Interviews are facilitated by a panel of evaluators, using a protocol to engage applicants in various discussions and activities relevant to the peer leader position and to learn more about the job in the process.
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