Glendale Community College
Home MenuFrequently Asked Questions
Who are the tutors, and how are they trained?
Do I need an appointment to see a tutor?
How long is each appointment, and how many appointments may I make each week?
Why can’t I have an unlimited amount of tutoring?
May I get tutoring if I am not a GCC student?
Do I have to pay for tutoring?
If the tutor is not busy, may I extend my appointment?
May I work with the same tutor each time?
What happens if I am late for my appointment? Can I sign up for another appointment the same day?
May I hire a tutor to work with me privately?
You don’t have a tutor for the class I need help with. Why not?
May I study at the Learning Center?
What is the difference between Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring?
Who are the tutors, and how are they trained?
Tutors are GCC students who have been recommended by their instructors. All tutors must complete the Tutor Training Seminar, a course in tutoring theory and strategies. Tutors receive supervision and ongoing instruction during their employment.
Do I need an appointment to see a tutor?
Yes.
We advise you make an appointment in advance to see a tutor. Although we will try to accommodate same day appointment requests, we cannot guarantee a tutor will be available.
How long is each appointment, and how many appointments may I make each week?
Appointments are 30 minutes in length and are limited to 2 appointments per class, per week, on different days.
Why can’t I have an unlimited amount of tutoring?
The common goal of all tutors is to help you become a more confident, independent learner. As such, allowing students to receive unlimited tutoring runs counter to this philosophy of fostering independence. Learning happens best when there is time to process information between tutoring sessions. Tutoring is only one step in the learning process, and students should be prepared to work independently in order to improve their skills.
Will tutors proofread, correct, or fix my essay?
No.
Tutors will address several issues identified by your instructor on the tutoring referral form. Tutors stress that writing is a process with definite stages and will recommend proofreading strategies if necessary. They can point out patterns of errors within an essay, but they will not point out and correct all specific errors on a page; this is part of the student’s responsibility.
May I get tutoring if I am not a GCC student?
No.
We currently only provide tutoring to GCC students for the classes in which they are enrolled.
Do I have to pay for tutoring?
No.
Tutoring is funded by the college.
If the tutor is not busy, may I extend my appointment?
Sometimes we can extend your appointment if the tutor has an opening available. Please talk to a staff member before extending an appointment. Generally, appointments are not extended past 1 hour. The common thinking goes, "If some is good, more is better." If this were true, taking 20 ibuprofen for a headache would be a good idea. In fact, research indicates that sessions longer than 30 minutes do not improve outcomes (Leung 570).
Our goal is to foster independent learning, and the best way to do that is to support you with critical concerns so you can practice on your own. Spacing out your studies, or interleaving, is proven to be more effective than trying to focus for long periods of time. So, it's much smarter to schedule two shorter appointments on two different days than to plow through extra long sessions in one sitting.
Leung, Kim C. "Preliminary Empirical Model of Crucial Determinants of Best Practice for Peer Tutoring on Academic Achievement." Journal of Educational Psychology, vol. 107, no. 2, 2015, pp. 558-579.
May I work with the same tutor each time?
If you enjoy working with a particular tutor, we will try to accommodate you; however, we cannot guarantee you will be able to work with the same tutor each time.
What happens if I am late for my appointment? Can I sign up for another appointment the same day?
Appointments will be held for 10 minutes at which time we reserve the right to give your appointment to another student. If you are late and another student has not taken your appointment, you can still use the time remaining in your 30 minute session. Based on availability, you may be able to book another appointment on the same day, but students who have not had an appointment that day will receive priority.
May I hire a tutor to work with me privately?
No.
The Learning Center does not offer private tutoring services or provide tutoring for elementary or high school students. If you are seeking a private tutor, please contact the Job Placement Center (818-204-1000, ext. 5194) and place an advertisement through them.
It is important that you always check in at the front desk when using the Learning Center. Your hours are recorded on the computer, and your instructor is able to view your hours online. If you do not check in, you will not receive credit.
You don’t have a tutor for the class I need help with. Why not?
There are several factors that affect the type of tutors we hire.
Due to ongoing budget issues, we are not able to provide tutors for all classes. Also, instructors do not always recommend tutors for their disciplines. Low demand is another reason why we might not hire a tutor for a particular class. Let us know if you need a tutor for a particular class, and we will try to accommodate you.
May I study at the Learning Center?
Yes! We are open to all GCC students who wish to study during our facility hours.
What is the difference between Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring?