Job Description, Policies, and Procedures for Peer Tutoring
Student Academic Support Services
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Peer Tutoring Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Student Academic Support Services to provide high quality academic
assistance for students enrolled in undergraduate courses at USP. The primary goal of Peer
Tutoring is to encourage, promote, and foster students’ independent learning. This is
accomplished through small group tutoring sessions. Group tutoring sessions lead to a deeper
understanding of classroom concepts, reinforce integration of ideas, and establish a partnership
between tutees and tutors.
Peer Tutoring aims to challenge tutees to take responsibility for their own learning. As tutees’
skills increase, so can their confidence and ability to learn independently. Program assessment is
ongoing in an effort to improve services based on input from both tutees and tutors.
Peer Tutors are expected to:
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Have an overall GPA of 3.0; have received a B+ or better in the courses which they
tutor, and have at least one faculty recommendation, before being eligible to tutor;
Have a strong working knowledge in the content which they tutor and be confident that
they can successfully tutor the subjects they sign up for.
Have completed at least 12 credits of study;
Tutor students in a group using approaches that address the learning needs of the tutees
and assist them in becoming successful independent learners;
Evaluate tutees progress monthly and at the end of the semester;
Not do their tutees’ homework for them;
Always display a professional, caring, positive, outreaching attitude which supports a
learning environment;
Use USP’s resources to prepare for tutoring, and refer students to those resources when
necessary;
Attend at least three training sessions (3 hours) each semester to continually improve
competency, knowledge, and tutoring approaches;
Provide overall academic leadership and special initiatives for projects which help
promote student learning;
Always display a team approach by working together smoothly;
Discuss difficult tutoring situations with your supervisor;
Maintain student confidentiality at all times;
Commit to working for at least one semester;
Refer to the Peer Tutoring Mission Statement, to the Peer Tutor Handbook, and to this
document often to be reminded of the goals and purpose of this program.
The signed copy of this sheet must remain in the tutor’s folder for each semester of tutoring.
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Rules and Policies
The following Rules and Policies must be observed by Peer Tutors under the penalty of suspension
of pay or termination of employment.
1. Peer Tutors must receive at least one hour of training on policies and procedures (initial tutor
training), and three additional hours of training for each semester of service.
2. Peer tutoring must take place in the SASS center in Woodland 4140 or the Library. Tutoring in
Residence Hall rooms is prohibited and will result in immediate termination of employment.
3. A Peer Tutor shall not tutor the same tutee for more than two hours per week per subject. A
Peer Tutor will not be paid for the additional time.
4. Peer Tutors are expected to check their USP email for assignments and announcements daily.
5. Time sheets that are not turned in by noon the following Monday or not completed
correctly will not be processed.
6. If a tutor is unable to contact a tutee or must cancel a tutoring appointment, the tutor must
notify the SASS immediately.
7. To change your available hours, you must see a SASS administrator.
8. You are making a semester-long commitment. If you have doubts as to your ability to fulfill
this commitment, please discuss them immediately with the Tutorial Services Administrator as it
may affect your employment eligibility.
9. A Peer Tutor will not leave a tutoring appointment early.
10. If you are going to be significantly late to a tutoring appointment, you must make every effort
to let the tutee and the SASS administrator know.
11. If a tutee cancels repeatedly, fails to keep appointments, comes to appointments very late or
unprepared on a regular basis, or requests a different tutor, please inform the Tutorial Services
Administrator of the details of the situation immediately.
12. Peer Tutors will abide by the USP Peer Tutor Code of Ethics, in addition to USP’s Student
Code of Conduct.
13. Peer Tutors must make every effort to show courtesy and sensitivity to tutees. Please stay in
communication with tutees, be as flexible as you can about changes to scheduling, and remember
to demonstrate patience and respect while you are tutoring. If you are experiencing any special
problems that challenge your ability to practice courtesy and sensitivity, you must bring this
situation to the attention of the Tutorial Services Administrator or another SASS administrator
immediately.
14. Peer Tutors are responsible for evaluating tutees progress bi-monthly. This will ensure that
the student is using the tutoring time effectively as well as allow the tutor to see their success as a
tutor.
The signed copy of this sheet must remain in the tutor’s folder for each semester of tutoring.
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