In the Flagler College Writing Center, our motto is “we make better writing by making better writers.” Implicit in this statement is that we help student writers gain confidence in their own writing abilities as we coach them towards repeated and sustained writing successes. It is important for students seeking assistance to develop an increasing capacity to work independently. Peer Academic Tutors in Writing should expect and should help create and maintain a supportive, patient, and encouraging environment where student writers can experiment with their prose in a constructive and judgment-free capacity. Learning mentors in writing work with students of varying levels of ability from classes from across the College curriculum.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Discuss effective strategies for studying and learning, being mindful of the diverse nature of the learning process.
- Assist students with the review of course material and preparation for assignments and exams.
- Assist students with invention strategies by helping them talk-out and develop emerging ideas.
- Offer organizational and revision strategies at the small scale (sentence-level) to the large scale (essay-level).
- Help students refine or re-cast thesis statements and develop arguments derived from them.
- Help students understand research procedures by discovering, evaluating, and integrating sources.
- Use the TracCloud appointment management system to document student visits and create informative notes for students’ instructors.
- Participate in the creation of student-focused events that will further learning such as workshops, presentations, or review sessions.
- Participate in at least two continuing education workshops per semester.
- Communicate information to the Director of the Learning Resource Center on a regular basis in both a formal and informal capacity.
- Work a set weekly schedule, logging hours accurately.
- Perform self-assessments at the end of each term.
- Meet with the Director or their designee to discuss performance evaluations.
- Must participate in our training programming in pursuit of the College and Reading Learning Association certification. Upon successful completion of the training and evaluations throughout the first year of tutoring, tutors will receive an internationally recognized CRLA Tutor Training Program Certificate.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Enrolled as a current Flagler College student.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.
- Completion of COR 101-104 (or ENG152) with a grade of A- or higher.
- Completion of ENG271 (Writing Tutor Training) with a grade of P.
- Recommendation from an English instructor.
- Transfer students will be considered but will be required to demonstrate equivalent qualifications.
- Permission from the Director of the Writing Center may override any of the above requirements if they believe the applicant meets the qualifications of the position.
- Resume and cover letter.
CHARACTERISTICS PREFERRED:
- Effective peer academic tutors and intake specialists should demonstrate the following qualities and characteristics:
- Patience, efficiency, punctuality, diligence, and preparedness.
- Respect and understanding for students with diverse learning skills.
- An ability to establish a quick rapport with individuals from a wide variety of cultural and educational backgrounds and respect for differing points of view.
- A professional demeanor, a positive attitude, and a desire to help.
- The ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Excellent problem solving, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Effective peer academic tutors possess the following skills:
- The ability to honor a student’s agenda by negotiating goals with them for the session and to discern when to be “hands on” and “hands off.”
- A willingness to allow students to work through tasks at their own pace and a commitment to truly listen to the student.
- The ability to explain complex topics in clear and simple language, sometimes repeatedly and from different angles.
- Flexibility to take on the role of a coach, when needed, to help students understand and overcome academic anxiety.
- Acknowledgement that peer tutors are not experts in all things, the eagerness to research what they don’t know, and the willingness to work collaboratively to best serve students.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Previous experience in tutoring or work in an academic environment.
WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Primarily indoors in a standard academic center environment
Student worker positions provide valuable on-campus employment opportunities that support departments while helping students develop professional skills. These roles are intended to enhance the student experience through meaningful work aligned with academic and career interests.
