Tutoring begins in Week 2 of each fall and spring semester. Peer and professional tutors provide individual and group consultations for math, sciences, writing for all disciplines, and a variety of other courses. Students may also contact the SSC for consultations about study, test-taking, and time management strategies. On-campus and Zoom sessions are available based on the tutors’ schedules.
Tutors are committed to working with students from all disciplines, majors, and academic backgrounds at any point in their study. Tutors provide help not only for students who feel they are struggling, but for those who wish to remain strong in their courses and prepare for exams and projects. In addition to reviewing class content, assisting with questions and exam preparation, and reviewing rough drafts, the team of peer and professional tutors is also useful for:
- analyzing audiences and developing topics for writing assignments
- helping students craft speeches, presentations, and surveys
- serving as usability testers or a test audience for projects and presentations
- providing assistance on basic use of Microsoft programs (such as formatting in Word or Power Point)
- hosting and/or helping to facilitate group study sessions
Making an Appointment with a Tutor
Scheduling Instructions for Tutoring Sessions:
Please visit Starfish to make an appointment for course-specific tutoring appointments and in-person writing consultations.
- Log in to Starfish
- On your home page (your Success Network page), scroll down to the section labeled “Your Services.”
- Locate the Fayette Tutoring service tiles.
- Choose Tutoring for Specific Courses or Writing Tutoring to view tutor availability.
- Tutoring for a Specific Course: Click your three-line navigation icon (the hamburger icon) then navigate to the COURSES section in Starfish. Beside the course you are seeking tutoring for, select the tutoring service icon.
- Writing Consultation: Either follow the instructions listed above for “Tutoring for a Specific Course” and select the writing tutoring icon or access the schedule link directly from the “Your Services” area of your home page.
- Select a tutoring slot.
- Fill out the scheduling intake form.
- Click "Submit."
If you must cancel or reschedule an appointment, please contact the center by phone at 724-430-4119 at your earliest opportunity.
OWL – Online Writing Lab
Writing help is also available online via our Fayette OWL (Online Writing Lab). Access the OWL at sites.psu.edu/fayetteowl/ to receive tutoring online at a time that is best for you. Professional writing tutors will help at any stage of your writing process (brainstorming, planning, drafting, revision). Students should submit their questions and paper drafts by completing a request survey.
Students may request paper reviews or Zoom/phone sessions to discuss brainstorming and paper development. Please plan for a turnaround time of approximately 48 hours (also factoring in time for writer revisions after receiving feedback and communicating with the tutor).
*If many OWL requests come through in a short time, such as when students are required to submit a paper to the OWL as part of an assignment, this may lengthen our turnaround time. We appreciate your understanding and patience as the writing tutors do their best to provide quality feedback for each request.
Request Assistance with Arranging a Tutoring Appointment
Would you like assistance at a time currently unavailable through the scheduling system? Are you looking for help in a course in which tutoring is not offered? Please submit the tutor request form, and a Student Success Center staff member will follow up with you.
If no tutor is available for your specific course, we will still consult with you as you work on study skills for that course in collaboration with your faculty. While we want to offer students as much help and practice as possible, students are also encouraged to utilize faculty office hours.
We may be unable to fulfill your request if a tutor in your subject area is not available at the center, or if a tutor in your subject area is not available at the time requested.
Are you seeking help for an elementary, middle school, or high school student?
Although our tutors are hired solely to work with current Penn State students, the Student Success Center’s Career Planning division can advertise your tutoring need to our student body. Email information about the opportunity to [email protected].Please provide a contact person, email and/or phone number, subject(s) and level of the student, school district/general location, and pay or volunteer information (a rate or the willingness to negotiate a wage). Through the advertisement, anyone interested in assisting may contact you directly.