Northern Illinois University
ACCESS Tutoring and Support Services
Division of Academic Affairs

Provide academic assistance to NIU students, individually or in small groups. Help students with study skills and course content.

Qualifications

Academic

• Undergraduate student at NIU (sophomore, junior or senior)
• Minimum of “A” or “B” in courses to be tutored
• Minimum Cum. GPA of 2.75 - 3.0 preferred
• Enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours at NIU
• Ability to tutor more than once course area

Personal

A positive attitude about helping students. Sensitivity, understanding and the ability to relate to students with varying academic levels and needs. Good communication skills.

Responsibilities

Attend mandatory four hours of training and all other assigned meetings.
Meet with assigned students on time and be prepared to:

• Contact assigned students before initial meeting to arrange tutorial appointment
• Follow through on missed tutorial appointments and verify future sessions
• Work with assigned students on course content, study skills and self-concept

Establish clear lines of communication with students, PAL assistant director and other NIU staff as needed. Maintain accurate and complete tutoring records including:

• Student absences
• Reports in the form of tutoring session records sheets
• Schedules
• Turn in tutoring session record sheets within payroll dates in order for time sheet to be completed

Maintain confidentiality of tutoring relationship

Procedures for Hiring

Application

• Application available on-line in MyNIU, under MyNIU Student System > NIU Customizations > NIU PAL Tutor Application
• Written reference form (two are required) available in PAL office: Williston Hall 100
• Tutor applicants may be called for an interview appointment with the assistant director for PAL after application and reference are submitted/reviewed (hiring is based on student demand.)
• Attend eight hours of tutor training through our CRLA Certified Training Program

Compensation

• Tutors are paid a minimum of $9 per hour (effective July 1, 2019)
• Tutors can work up to 20 hours per week
• Tutors must submit their tutoring work hours on tutoring session record sheets; report to the PAL office to sign time sheet; and are paid twice a month.

How to Apply

1. Visit MyNIU
2. Click on MyNIU-Student System
3. Click on NIU Customizations
4. Click on NIU PAL SS Tutor Application to complete the application online

Qualifications

• Sophomore (strong skills required), Junior standing or above is preferred.
• An overall GPA of 2.75 or above is required.
• A grade of “B” or above in the selected course is preferred; prior enrollment with the professor who is to teach the selected course is preferred.
• Content-competency is required.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills are required

Primary Activities

• Attend all class meetings of the selected course, take notes, do homework if required, and read all assigned materials including text(s) and supplemental readings.
• Conduct three or more 50-minute study sessions per week throughout the term using strategies learned through the SI Leader Mandatory weekly training workshops.
• Regularly meet with the SI Graduate Assistants/Supervisor for debrief sessions.
  1. Discuss observations of the SI sessions.
  2. Discuss the creation and use of SI session handouts.
  3. Discuss the planning of SI sessions and use of a wide variety of learning strategies.
  4. Notify supervisor about problems or potential problems.
• Assist SI supervisor in training other SI Leaders.

Secondary Activities

• Provide extra SI sessions and/or marathon sessions as necessary (e.g., prior to exams).
• Provide handouts for use during SI sessions
• Ascertain course requirements and maintain contact throughout the term with the course professor.
• Meet with other campus SI Leaders and supervisory staff at scheduled meetings.
• Other duties as assigned by the director or supervisor.

Maintenance Activities

• Complete necessary personnel paperwork.
• Attend Mandatory 2-Day SI Leader training workshop prior to the beginning of the fall term.
• Work with the class members to select appropriate times and scheduling of SI sessions.
• Make periodic announcements about the availability of SI sessions to the students.
• Ensure that initial SI Surveys, Mid-term SI Feedback Surveys, and End-Of-Term Surveys are distributed and assist with data analysis.
• Collect attendance data for every SI session, including student names, course title, date, and time of session.
• Maintain a professional attitude about matters such as class standards, grades, and student complaints.
• Model appropriate professional attitudes and behaviors to staff, students, and others.
• Provide your SI supervisor with an up-to-date schedule of your SI sessions.
• Notify your SI supervisor in advance if you cannot conduct a SI session as scheduled.
• Maintain regular working hours.

Apply