May 2, 2018 | UHCL Staff
As an academic support resource offering tutoring, supplemental instruction and academic coaching, the Student Success Center is here for all students, not just for those students who are struggling or those getting A’s. That’s why University of Houston-Clear Lake’s Student Success Center offers comprehensive academic tutoring support across all four of UHCL’s colleges: Education, Business, Science and Engineering, and Human Sciences and Humanities.
And now, said Assistant Director of Student Success Dorsey Thomas, students have access to student tutors who will be fully certified by the College Reading and Learning Association – the highest and most recognized level of certification for tutors in the U.S.
“We have 15 tutors across various degree plans who will complete a three-part training that I created and CRLA has approved each level in order for our tutors to receive this coveted level of certification,” Thomas said. “Our tutors must have a 3.5 grade point average in their content area and must receive two faculty recommendations, so they’re excellent students. But this training will demonstrate that they’re able to work with students no matter what their needs might be.”
The first level of training teaches tutors the fundamentals of effective one-on-one or small group tutoring. “We cover topics like social dynamics, active listening, and strategies tutoring a diverse population,” Thomas said.
The second level explores these topics and others in more detail, and includes information about helping students develop better reading strategies for textbooks, as well as discussions about brain dominance.
“The third level trains tutors in the theories behind successful self-regulated learning and training and supervising others,” Thomas said. “We applied to CRLA for certification in all three levels, and we recently received it. There are different levels of certification, but of course receiving all three is the best.”
Thomas said the tutors, who are paid for their work, can use this certification on their resumes once they leave UH-Clear Lake. “Because the training that CRLA certifies is considered to be the best certification that exists, tutors who have it can take it anywhere in the country, as well as many countries outside the U.S. It lends a great deal of credibility to the excellence of our Student Success program and our tutors.”
"Tutoring is free, and is available to any student who feels they need it," Thomas said.
Students can opt for one-on-one sessions, drop-in tutoring, or online sessions. For more information, visit www.uhcl.edu/student-success-center.
