SU Tutoring Center earns international certification

SU Tutoring Center earns international certificationSeptember 19, 2005Carol K. Masiclatclkim@syr.edu

The Syracuse University Tutoring and Study Center (TSC), formerly known as the Learning Resource Center, has been recertified at Level I, II and III through the College Reading and Learning Association’s (CRLA) International Tutoring Program Certification (ITPC). The program sets a standard of skills and training for tutors, certifying tutors throughout the United States and in several other countries to provide recognition and positive reinforcement for successful work. Students who earn certification are eligible for increased pay; their certification is transferable to other institutions.

Since March 1989, some 700 college and university tutorial programs in the United States and Canada have received tutor training certification through ITPC. The certification program has been endorsed by the National Association for Developmental Education, Commission XVI of the American College Personnel Association, the American Council of Developmental Education Associations, the Association for the Tutoring Professional and the National Tutoring Association.

Jane Neuburger, director of the TSC, is proud of the tutors and the program. “When I hear from students that the tutor helped the student achieve a better understanding of the material or assisted the student in studying with confidence, I know we are helping student succeed in their studies,” says Neuberger. “It only makes sense that trained tutors can provide better service, and we know from the literature that centers that provide training are more effective.”

Neuberger also notes that tutoring adds value to the lives of the tutors. “I hear from our graduated tutors frequently,” says Neuburger. “They tell me that the experiences of both tutor training and tutoring others helped them procurejobs, handle the pressures of training other employees and increased their ability to work collaboratively with others. I’m delighted that students’ experiences here at the TSC can help them in the workplace.”

There are three levels of certification: Regular (I), Advanced (II) and Master (III).Each level requires 10 hours of training and 25 hours of experience. After meeting the requirements for an initial institutional certification for one year, CRLA offers a three-year renewal certification, which can be followed by a five-year recertification. The TSC at SU has earned its three-year renewal certification.

The TSC is a University-wide academic support program that offers one-on-one and small-group tutoring, workshops on study strategies and study rooms for student use. It also offers an internationally certified tutor training program for qualified students who wish to become tutors at SU. The TSC collaborates with other academic support centers on campus to bring assistance to students.

For more information about the TSC, or to find out how to be a tutor or get a tutor, call 443-2005 orvisit http://tutoring.syr.edu.