Peer Tutoring

Our peer tutoring program applies to all diploma and certificate program courses within Bow Valley College. We try our best to accommodate all peer tutoring requests, but cannot guarantee placement for every student. 

You can qualify for up to 1 hour of peer tutoring per week.

 You may receive help for a maximum of 2 courses per term.

 Peer Tutoring is free for eligible students. Students must be enrolled in a diploma or certificate program at Bow Valley College to qualify.

All peer tutoring sessions are held in person at the BVC downtown campus or held virtually via MS Teams.

All peer tutoring sessions are held one-on-one. Group tutoring is not allowed, unless authorized by the Peer Learning Specialist.

• Be prepared. Have questions prepared to ask your peer tutor. Being able to identify what areas you are having difficulty with will increase the value of your time spent with the tutor.  Have all necessary materials ready: notes, text books, etc.
• Attend all your classes. Listen attentively, take notes, and address questions with your instructor to clarify any difficulties or problem areas.
• Play an active role in your sessions. Do your readings before attending your tutoring session. Ask questions when you don’t understand the material. Ask the tutor for examples to help you understand concepts. Often tutors can offer another approach to understanding a complex idea.
• Get help early. Ask for a peer tutor as soon as you begin to have difficulties with the course material. Asking for help after midterms or just before finals is too late.

Remember: Peer tutors are not instructors. The tutor’s role is to help the tutee become an independent learner. The tutee is responsible for their own learning and must do their own work.

Go to the  Library Peer Tutoring webpage to request a peer tutor or

https://bowvalleycollege.libguides.com/peertutoring

Sessions can take anywhere from half an hour to 1 hour every week. It is up to the tutor and tutee to agree on the length of each session.

Showing up late or not showing up at all for appointments and sessions is inconsiderate and unprofessional and may result in disqualification from the Peer Tutoring Program.

Additional resources may be available through Student Resources 

Remember: Peer tutors are not instructors and may not have all the answers to your questions. The tutor’s role is to help the tutee become an independent learner. The tutee is responsible for their own learning and must do their own work.

There are many advantages to tutoring, including developing communication and coaching skills, reinforcing your own knowledge, making a difference in someone else’s life, meeting new people. Tutoring in your program area will give you experience related to the job that you eventually want to do. It shows that you are willing to mentor others which may give you an advantage when you apply for jobs. 

You must be a student of Chiu School of Business or School of Technology with a B grade (or higher) in your courses. In addition, you need to demonstrate the following:

•    Comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter
•    Excellent class attendance 
• ·  Be a registered student in good standing
• ·  Exhibit professionalism, respect and courtesy 
• ·  Maintain academic integrity at all times 
• ·  Be faculty-approved (via Business and Technology Project Officer) 
• ·  Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills 
• ·  Effective study habits 
• ·  Respect and value each student as an individual 
• ·  High degree of confidentiality 

 Peer tutors are paid an hourly rate of $15. They are given a timesheet which they must submit at the end of each month.

 Your minimum weekly commitment as a peer tutor is 1 hour (one tutee, one subject). Tutors have the option to work with more than one tutee.

 Once you are accepted into the program, you will receive a training manual. Additional support may be provided throughout the term.

All peer tutoring sessions are held in person at the BVC downtown campus OR held virtually via MS Teams. 

It is up to you and your tutee to find mutually convenient times to meet on a weekly basis.

Peer tutors can:

• Clarify and review concepts of the course material
• Provide practice in skills specific to the course
• Offer suggestions about effective study skills
• Encourage students to do their own thinking

Peer tutors cannot:

• Provide instruction on missed classes
• Help with assignments, projects or other work that will be graded
• Be a replacement for study time
• Help with a course they have not taken

Additional resources may be available through Student Resources. 

Remember: Peer tutors are not instructors and may not have all the answers. The tutor’s role is to help the tutee become an independent learner. The tutee is responsible for their own learning and must do their own work.

Your own studies always come first. You can stop tutoring if it becomes too overwhelming. Let the Peer Learning Specialist know right away. Your tutee(s) will then be re-assigned to a different tutor. We do ask you to consider the decision to withdraw carefully.

We are here to support you throughout your peer tutoring journey. Please contact the Peer Learning Specialist at who-wong@bowvalleycollege.ca with any questions or concerns.