Tutorial Assistance Program (TAP)
TUTORING HOURS
Monday - Thursday: 8am - 6pm
(last appointment begins at 5pm)
Friday: 8-9 am, 10am-5pm
(last appointment begins at 4pm)
provides tutoring in a variety of subjects and disciplines. Tutoring is free to all UCR students. Our tutor offers broad-based study skills strategies and techniques to promote critical thinking. Students are seen on a walk-in and appointment basis. Most tutoring is offered in small groups and each session lasts about an hour. Click on Tutor Schedule for a day-to-day listing of subject tutors and availability. Call the ARC Front Desk at 951-827-3721 to make an appointment.
Supported Subjects*
*Note that not all subjects are supported each quarter. Please see Schedule above for current list of courses for current quarter.
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Anthropology
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Biochemistry
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Biology
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Business
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Cell biology/Neuroscience (CBNS)
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Chemistry
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Computer Science
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Economics
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Education
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Engineering
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Environmental Sciences
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History
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Italian
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Japanese
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Linguistics
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Math
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Philosophy
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Physics
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Political Science
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Psychology
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Sociology
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Spanish
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Statistics
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Writing (see https://arc.ucr.edu/writing for details)
TAP Student Positions
FAQ
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What is the fee for tutoring?
Tutoring is free to all UCR students. There is no fee.
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Who are the tutors?
Tutors are UCR students, mostly upper division undergraduates students. We follow strict guidelines for selecting tutors. Once hired, all tutors go through extensive pre-term training and continuous in-service to develop their professional skills.
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How long is a tutorial session?
Our tutorials are approximately 50 minutes.
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How do I sign up for tutoring?
Two Steps: First, check the Tutoring Schedule for a listing of when our subject tutors are on duty. Then call or visit the ARC to make an appointment. Feel free to drop in or walk in, but know that most of our tutors are booked at least a week in advance.
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Can I meet one-on-one with a tutors?
Our tutoring is considered group study with up to four students per session. We encourage you to participate in group tutoring that offers you an opportunity to work with your classmates, compare lecture notes, and clarifying your understanding of course topics. In small-group settings, the tutor acts a facilitator.
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What’s so special about group tutoring?
Group tutoring is beneficial because you learn the workings and benefits of a study group. Other advantages include the benefit of group discussion and the diversity of viewpoints, as well as clarification of lectures and assigned readings; hearing a variety of ideas articulated in different ways helps to develop your critical thinking skills.
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How often should I visit with a tutor?
At least once a week, if not more. National data on academic support show that students who participate in tutoring on a regular basis earn higher grades when compared to students who don’t participate at all.
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What happens if I miss my tutoring session?
Students are considered a "no-show" if not present at the beginning of their scheduled session time. Students who "no-show" will forfeit their time and may lose the ability to sign up for future tutoring sessions!
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What happens if I lose my ability to make appointments?
Three (3) "no-shows" in a quarter will result in cancellation of all ARC appointments for the remainder of the quarter. This includes cancellation of appointments in less than 24-hours. Effected student can walk in to see if any tutors are available however, space is not guaranteed. Student will regain access to the appointment system when the new quarter begins.
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I am interested in working as a Tutor - What do I need to apply?
Be sure to review our student employment section to see courses supported; GPA qualifications; tutor responsibilities; and where to submit your application. You will need to submit:
1) a copy of your unofficial transcript – no password protected files, please;
2) ARC student employment application – found in the TAP student employment section;
3) Minimum of 1 Reference – the application process requires a reference from 1 to 3 subject area experts we may reach out to who can speak to your competency in your area of specialization (e.g., in STEM, humanities, social sciences, languages, business, economics, etc.). Listed references will receive an email from TAP program staff with a link to an online form asking the relationship to the applicant and an assessment of the applicant's ability to engage competently with material in the content area. This should require no more than 5 minutes.
If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to TAP staff via email at elena.perez@ucr.edu and/or susana.brower@ucr.edu.
Guidelines to Successful Tutoring Appointments
Want to know the secret of a successful tutoring appointment? The guidelines below detail the expectations for both student and tutor.
- Attend class! Tutoring is not a substitute for class, so don’t expect the tutor to fill in the gaps. If you do miss a class, your best bet is to work with your classmates—ask them questions about the lecture, review their notes, and discuss the associated readings.
- Do not procrastinate! Come early and often. Plan ahead and schedule your tutor appointments for the entire quarter. Don’t wait until the last minute (i.e., the night before a test or the day an assignment is due). Students who begin tutoring in the beginning of the term earn more successful grades than those who wait until later.
- Be realistic! Our tutors are not the “answer people.” Our tutors do everything they can to engage students in the conversation, encouraging students to not only ask questions but answer them, too. The only thing they won’t do is give you the answer. It’s unrealistic to think a tutor can help you learn course material in just a few hours. It’s also unrealistic to expect the tutor to give you the answer, as if you’ll be able to remember everything and regurgitate it at a later date, like on a test. Our tutors are always happy to work students but the process gets difficult when students have unrealistic expectations about the outcomes of the support.
- Come prepared! You must put forth a reasonable amount of effort into your assignments before working with a tutor. You should also come prepared, arriving on time and bringing appropriate materials such as assignment instructions, textbook, and class notes.
- Bring Questions! After a genuine attempt to complete the assignment, prepare several specific questions regarding course material. Use these questions as the basis of your tutoring session.
- Keep your appointments! If you miss 3 tutoring appointments (no shows), we will suspend your appointment scheduling privileges for the remainder of the quarter. During this time, you will be able to visit a tutor but only on a drop-in/walk-in basis. Also know that if you are late more than 10 minutes, your appointment is deemed a no-show. All no-show appointments are cancelled and given to other students.
- Academic integrity is required! Following UCR’s [Standards of Conduct], we can’t stress enough the importance of doing your own work. Cheating and academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in the ARC; suspicions of such will be reported to the Tutor Coordinator.
- Do your own work! Tutors are not to do student’s work nor provide an editing service for paper writing. Tutors are here to help students with the process of learning in order to give them the confidence they need to do their work independently.
- Courtesy goes a long way! Be courteous of other students in the ARC. While we want to have a fun environment in the ARC, we need to remember to maintain an environment suitable for studying. Conversations with tutors should not disturb other students working in the ARC. Cell phones should be silenced. Personal calls should be made at another time.
- Asking for help is smart! If at any time a student has not followed the above guidelines, a tutor may find it necessary to reschedule the appointment. Every student is responsible for their own learning. A tutor cannot make you learn something.
Tutor Employment Opportunities
To learn more about potential tutoring opportunities for students, please refer to the following list of available subjects, qualifications, responsibilities, and the application.
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Business
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Engineering
- Languages
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Statistics
Subject to Change
- Sophomore, junior or senior standing
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA/3.3 GPA in subject area
- UCR student for at least one year
- Transfer students must have a minimum of two quarters of UCR coursework prior to position starting
- Responsible, reliable, and punctual
- Strong interpersonal communication skills
- Professional behavior/demeanor
- Attend pre-term tutor training
- Offer one-hour tutoring sessions (work hours are flexible)
- Work one-on-one and in small groups with UCR students
- Maintain a weekly tutoring schedule
- Keep accurate records and use required forms
- Develop and maintain relationships with students, instructors and staff
- Create tutor advertising and promotion
- Participate in ARC outreach
Due to its College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) training program certification, TAP requires that applicants submit the names of 1-3 content-area experts as references.
List of Acceptable References:
Faculty who has taught you in a class at UCR or another campus in your general field – e.g., STEM, Humanities, Business, etc.;
Faculty who has overseen you in a lab or is your PI;
Post-doc or grad student who has worked with you in a lab/in research;
Expert in your field of study outside of UCR (e.g., physician who oversees volunteer work, etc.)
NOTE: Classmates, tutors/SI leaders or peer educators/peer mentors, and friends do not qualify as "content-area experts."
Coworkers, unless they are verifiable experts in an academic field, also likely do not qualify.
Unsure of someone you want to list? Feel free to reach out to TAP Staff to inquire.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis (unless otherwise listed in flyer above).