Responsibilities and Expectations
1. Tutors must be present in the PTC during the entire time for which they are scheduled. This means that tutors must be on time for the start of, and stay for the whole duration of, their sessions.
Both students and other tutors expect that the schedule is going to be followed exactly. Fellow tutors will be less pressured if every tutor that is scheduled is present and working. By showing up for their entire session when able, tutors show respect for the valuable time of students and other tutors. To verify punctuality, tutors are required to sign in and out using the sign-in card system.
2. If a tutor knows that they are going to be absent from one of their scheduled sessions, they must attempt to find another tutor to cover their session. If no such replacement can be found, the PTC Coordinator and the other tutors in the relevant sessions must be notified immediately.
Due to illness or other circumstances, it will not always be possible for a tutor to attend all of their scheduled sessions. When this is the case, a tutor must take action to minimize the disruption that their absence will cause, if it is at all possible.
3. Tutors must prepare for each tutoring session by reviewing the materials provided.
Tutors will be provided access to many of the same study resources as students and must review those materials that are most likely to be relevant for their upcoming sessions.
4. Tutors should make sure that each student that enters the PTC is welcomed and is able to easily identify the tutors.
Students may be anxious or otherwise have difficulty when entering an unfamiliar room or social situation. These students will often passively await a tutor to approach them, as they don’t want to be a disruption to a tutor that looks to be occupied. To mitigate these issues, it is essential that tutors actively welcome students, continually make it known that they are there to help and are happy to do so, and ask students if they would like help rather than waiting for students to ask for help. Tutors should also wear name badges, when provided.
5. Tutors should encourage each student to sign in when entering, and sign out when leaving, the PTC.
Collecting accurate data on student usage of the PTC will be essential for improving services. To make collecting this data easier on students and tutors, we have created a simple card reading system. Tutors should direct incoming students to the computer equipped with a card reader and remind them to use it to sign in. Tutors should also remind students to sign out before they leave. Although signing in or out is not mandatory for students, it should be strongly encouraged.
6. Tutors must earnestly attempt to provide assistance to all students that come to the PTC while they are on duty. This assistance should be in the form of guidance and encouragement. Tutors are not to complete problems or assignments for the students. All work must be done by the students.
Students do not make appointments when coming to the PTC, so it is up to tutors to make sure that all students present are given some assistance. This means that tutors should not spend all of their time with one student if others are waiting. Whenever possible, tutors are recommended to help multiple students that are having similar difficulties simultaneously.
It is essential that students both feel like they are going to be helped and, more importantly, are actually helped when they come to the PTC. Sometimes students may simply want the correct formula that solves a particular homework problem. To be prepared for exams and future classes, they need to have enough understanding of the material to be able to arrive at formulae on their own. Giving a student the correct formula and moving on may seem like an efficient use of time, but the students gain no lasting benefit. A loss of efficiency and effectiveness is the result.
7. Tutors should be honest with students about their ability to help. If a tutor does not know the answer to a question or cannot help a student, they should say that they do not know how to help and ask another tutor for assistance.
As most tutors are students themselves, it is inevitable that they will sometimes be unable to completely help a student or even know where to begin. This is normal and is to be expected. It is better for a tutor to admit their uncertainty than to pretend to have answers that they do not have.
8. Tutors must be courteous and respectful at all times.
Tutors must be mindful of the way in which they interact with students so as not to be discouraging or demeaning. To be either of those harms the student and the learning environment. Vocabulary, tone of voice, and body language all play a part in communication and different cultures use these to communicate in different ways. Therefore, it is important for tutors to recognize that some behaviors they think are courteous or respectful may actually be interpreted by a student as being discouraging or demeaning.
9. Tutors discussion with students must be professional.
Though you will want to be friendly toward students, tutors must limit their conversations with students to the course material and study habits. When students feel frustrated with instructors or assignments they will sometimes speak negatively about their instructor or the course materials. In this situation, a tutor’s instinct to be supportive should not lead them to also speak negatively about the instructor or course materials, as this may increase a students frustration and breed hopelessness. If a tutor suspects that there is an issue with one of the instructors or with particular course materials, they should share this suspicion with the PTC Coordinator.
10. Tutors must behave ethically.
The main ethical considerations for tutors are illicit relationships and conflicts of interest. To prevent the appearance of unethical behavior, tutors are not allowed to enter romantic, intimate, or financial relationships with anyone that is taking, or could take, any of the courses for which help is offered through the PTC. Restated more plainly: tutors working in the PTC may not date (enter a romantic/intimate relationship with) or offer private, paid tutoring to students that are in, or that may in the future take, PY 205, 206, 208, 209, 211, or 212. If you are in such a relationship, or want to establish such a relationship, you must immediately consult the PTC Coordinator about the situation.
11. When not assisting a student, tutors should observe other tutors as they interact with students and provide constructive feedback when those other tutors are finished. Tutors may only do research or homework when there are no students in the Physics Tutorial Center.
The Physics Tutorial Center is more than a space for students to get help with their courses. It is also an excellent place for tutors to learn more about interacting with students and to help others become better tutors.
12. For tutors that are on duty during the last tutoring session of the day: Before leaving the PTC, make sure that the whiteboards are erased, the lights and computer monitors are off, books are reshelved, and that trash and recyclable material is placed in the proper bin.
With so many students and tutors using the PTC each day, it is essential that the room is perpetually cleaned and organized. Only with daily maintenance will the PTC be able to function at peak effectiveness.
13. Tutors must regularly evaluate other tutors and reflect on their own performance.
When requested, tutors must complete peer evaluations as directed by the PTC Coordinator. These will help the tutors develop a better sense of their performance as well as give the department administration useful insight into ways to further support tutors in the PTC.
14. Tutors must immediately communicate any questions or concerns about the PTC to the PTC Coordinator. If there are concerns about the behavior of the PTC Coordinator, notify the Department Head instead.
The effective operation of the PTC, and its continual improvement, is only possible through the cooperation and mutual support between the tutors, the PTC Coordinator, and the Physics Department. The Physics Department, through the PTC Coordinator and other support staff, will always do their best to address tutor concerns and support tutors and students in any ways that they can.
NOTE: Failure to fulfill these responsibilities and expectations will result in temporary suspension from the PTC. Repeated failure will result in reassignment and potential loss of TA/financial support.
Acknowledgement of Responsibilities and Expectations
I have read and understood the responsibilities and expectations of tutors as explained in this document. I agree to do my best to fulfill these responsibilities and expectations as I work as a tutor in the Physics Tutorial Center. I understand that failing to fulfill these responsibilities and expectations will lead to disciplinary actions including suspension from the PTC, reassignment, and possible loss of TA/financial support.
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Signature Date
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Printed Name Student ID Number
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