OVERVIEW (Narrative) OF THE TUTOR PROGRAMS TO BE CERTIFIED

PROGRAM NARRATIVE

1. Program History

The Tutorial Services Committee for Portland Community College (PCC)-Sylvania Campus was formed in the spring of 2002 to address a wide range of issues surrounding tutorial services.  Each of the five participating centers on campus provide tutor training for specific needs.  We agree to an integrated approach and are submitting a single application for CRLA certification.

The following documents outline the essential training conducted in the various centers.  Each program uses similar and inter-related criteria for training, hiring, and evaluating tutors.  We plan to include all PCC Tutoring Programs under these certification guidelines in order to maintain professional, comprehensive, and integrated tutoring services for students and faculty.

2. Program Objectives

Overall objectives for tutor training at PCC-Sylvania :

  • Give tutors a wide range of tutoring skills and techniques
     
  • Develop general and subject-specific communication skills
     
  • Expose tutors to information and background on cultural differences, student learning,
    and academic excellence
     
  • Develop tutor expertise in explaining ideas and assisting students with study skills
     
  • Focus on tutors as mentors and role models
     
  • Encourage tutors to refer students to appropriate campus resources

    • Each individual program or center has additional objectives as listed below.

    Multicultural Center

    Provide multi-culturally sensitive tutors to serve our unique student population  

    One-on-one help in writing, math, and science courses through "drop-in" or by appointment
    with a peer tutor

    Writing Center

           The Writing Center is staffed by instructors in the Writing Program and by peer tutors enrolled in a
        tutor-training class.  The Writing Center can provide help from the very beginning to the very end
        of a paper.  We help students in any department at Portland Community College.

    English Skills Center

    Provide professional development opportunities for English tutors at all levels:  faculty, professional, peer, and volunteer tutors.

    Provide on and off-campus service-learning opportunities

    Enhance academic skills

    Create mentor-student relationships for peer and volunteer tutors interested in English, teaching, or education-related careers

    Math Center

    Develop academic student leaders

    Establish and develop mentor/student relationships for tutors  

    CIS Tutorial Services

    Develop computer literacy and skills.

    Reporting Lines

    Diane Mulligan, Dean of
    Student Support Services    		 Dave Stout, Dean of English
    & Modern Languages    		 Barb VanAmerongen, Dean of Business & Computer Technologies   
    Raju Hegde,
    Math Center Coordinator    		 Nancy Casciato,
    Writing Center Coordinator    		 Lynn Montoya,
    CIS Tutorial Services Coordinator
    Laurel Spillum,
    English Skills Center Coordinator    		    
    Claire Oliveros,
    Multicultural Center Coordinator    		    

     

    Sources of Funding:
    Portland Community College General Fund (Student Support Services Department, Department of English and Modern Languages, Business and Computer Technologies Department), & Staff Development Grants    

    Services and Students Served:
    These tutoring centers provide services to a wide cross-section of students and instructors
    at PCC.  The services provided include those specific to Developmental English, Math, Computer Resources, Writing, Reading, Conversation, Study Skills, ESL, and ENNL. Besides these students and departments, our tutors serve the larger community.

    Program Location and Facility:
    Our tutoring services are located at Portland Community College on the Sylvania
    campus in the following locations:

    Training Guidelines:
    Our training includes ethics, learning styles, communication (general and multicultural), and a lab practicum.  We also teach specific tutoring strategies & techniques including a discussion of how tutors and tutoring can most effectively teach students with a variety of disabilities.

    How Training is conducted:
    The various levels of training are accomplished through a variety of methods that may include seminars, workshops, brochures, group sessions, individual sessions, mentoring, multimedia presentations, and both formal and informal one-on-one training.  We also have a self-paced
    on-line tutor training website.  

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