Applying to be a Tutor

What are the criteria for getting a job as a peer tutor at the Penn State Altoona Learning Resources Center?

  • at least nine credits completed at Penn State Altoona
  • an A or A- in the courses you'd like to tutor
  • the approval of the LRC coordinator
  • the approval of the professors who taught you each course you would like to tutor
  • a GPA of at least a 3.0 (though the average GPA of peer tutors is usually much higher)
  • satisfactory completion of a disciplinary clearance through the office of Student Conduct. After your job application has been received in the LRC, you will be given a waiver to sign and send to the Student Conduct office. We do not to hire students who are currently on probation.
  • satisfactory criminal background check (paperwork also provided after application is approved)

Note: We do not hire peer tutors for writing or speech courses unless they have successfully completed ENGL 250.

What's in it for me?

  • Peer tutors are paid. You won't get rich, but you will be paid $8.00 an hour during your first semester tutoring.
  • Tutoring looks great on a resume for a job or on a grad school application. Any job shows that you have initiative; however, being hired as a peer tutor shows that you have initiative and that you have been through a rigorous screening process.
  • You will review the basics in important courses. This can help you in your advanced courses.
  • You will also learn important people skills.
  • The training course, CI 200, will appear on your transcript. It is a one-credit course.

Why do I have to take the peer tutor training course?

  • Tutoring requires specialized training. Often, students who are having difficulties in a course need help with multiple aspects of the course: content, study skills, and so forth. The training will help you do a better job.
  • Topics will include policies and procedures for the Penn State Altoona Learning Resources Center, basics of tutoring, strategies for tutoring students who have learning disabilities, options for assessment, helping students identify their preferred learning styles, motivation, and other topics that will help you help to help your students.
  • It is much more efficient to train groups of tutors than to provide training one-on-one. A plus is that during training tutors will be able to do group projects, role playing, etc.
  • The LRC would eventually like to become certified by the College Reading and Learning Association. Certification requires a tutor training program.

When will the training be held?

  • The training course will be held during the first five weeks of the fall semester, MWF, 9:00 to 9:50 a.m. This course is controlled, so you will not be able to register through e-Lion. You will register for the course in class on the first day of the semester.

What next?

  • Submit your job application (downloadable PDF) by July 1, 2013. Grades will be checked as they are available. You will also have to submit paperwork for a criminal background check after your job application is approved.

If you have additional questions, feel free to contact Ms. Paula Ford, the LRC coordinator, at 814-949-5112 or pxf3@psu.edu.