Undergraduate peer tutoring
Writing Tutorial Services Peer Tutors work at the main location of WTS (in the Learning Commons on the first floor of the Wells Library) as well as at the Briscoe, Forest, and Teter Academic Support Centers (ASCs). The ASCs operate from 7pm to 11pm Sunday through Thursday. WTS also offers some online tutorials. All WTS tutors work a set schedule for the semester; that is, they are required to work the same days and hours each week for the duration of the semester.
Undergraduates may nominate themselves. WTS also solicits faculty nominations for peer tutor trainees each fall. Faculty members should watch Campus Mail each October for nomination forms, or they can submit nominations via email, as described below. Feel free to contact WTS (wts@indiana.edu) for further information.
Eligibility
Students who are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors in the current fall semester are eligible to become WTS peer tutors. Because training takes a full semester—and is offered only in the spring—seniors are ineligible.
Training
Peer Tutors must complete a 14-week training practicum taught each spring semester by the WTS Director. Students who successfully complete this training in the spring then join the WTS staff the following fall.
The training practicum consists of a weekly, 2-hour meeting with other new Peer Tutors; an additional 1 to 2 hours a week for preparation; and 8 hours of tutoring (2 hours per week) during the month of April. Pay for the training is $11.30 per hour.
Applications
To apply to become a WTS peer tutor, submit the following via e-mail (wts@indiana.edu) by the second Friday in November:
- a letter of application outlining your writing experience and your interest in tutoring; please include your home phone number, cell phone number, and email address
- a resume, if you have one
- a writing sample (a paper from an IU course—any length), and
- a short letter of recommendation from an IU faculty member—this can be in the form of an email message sent to wts@indiana.edu.
Hours
Those who successfully complete the spring-semester training practicum then tutor for WTS the following fall. They can expect to tutor between 6 and 10 hours per week, dividing these hours between WTS in the Wells Library and the Academic Support Centers.
WTS is open 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 10am to 5pm Friday.
The ASCs in Briscoe, Forest, and Teter are open 7pm to 11pm, Sunday through Thursday.
All Peer Tutors are required to work at least one late-night ASC shift (that is, until 11pm) each week.
- training in spring semester: $11.30/hour
- tutoring at WTS in Wells Library: $12.00/hour
- tutoring at ASCs: $12.30/hour
The deadline for applications is the second Friday in November. After all application materials are reviewed, selected students will be invited to interview in mid-to-late November.
