The goal of the Tutorial Services Center is to help students become more self–sufficient and confident with their learning skills. To that end, the TSC offers comprehensive peer tutoring for students currently enrolled at UST. All tutors must meet specific academic requirements, be recommended by UST faculty, and undergo a certified training program in a variety of academic subjects and general writing skills. The Tutorial Services Center (TSC) is certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) under its International Tutor Training Certification Program (ITTCP). The ITTCP recognizes and reinforces successful tutoring services by setting common high standards for tutor skills and training. TSC tutors receive ongoing specialized training and are certified in three areas, Regular, Advanced and Master, depending on their experience.
Besides providing assistance in content areas, tutors help students understand general concepts; for example, what are the elements of fiction or how does a democracy differ from a republican form of government? Though tutors do not edit writing assignments, they guide students through the process, pointing out problems such as unclear thesis statements, grammar errors, and weaknesses in organization and development. The word “tutoring” is often associated with remedial help. However, even students who are doing well in a subject area visit the TSC in order to put the finishing touches on an assignment, to let an objective reader make useful suggestions, or to get confirmation of a job well done. We are happy to provide such reinforcement and to be a part of someone’s academic success.
The TSC also offers weekly workshops in thesis development, paragraph organization, the research paper process, writing a successful essay examination, and identifying academic integrity issues. This information is posted on the TSC Website, the UST APP, and in weekly Campus Announcements. Our Website also includes learning links that students may access for further assistance.
As part of the Mendenhall Achievement Center, a complex of centralized services for students, the TSC is committed to student success at the University of St. Thomas. Located in 207 Crooker Center, the TSC is open Monday–Thursday, from 9:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. and Friday, from 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
The TSC Website, which provides comprehensive information and answers many student questions, is available on the University’s Website (www.stthom.edu): Academics. Other contact information is tutoring@stthom.edu, the UST APP, and 713.525.3878.