Guided Learning Center: Guidelines and Policies

Eligibility

Free academic assistance is available to all engineering students, in particular traditionally underrepresented minority engineering students. The DPO has discretion to admit individuals into this program based on space limitations, corporate financial assistance, character and fitness, academic performance, etc. Full participation in this program, however, begins with a student’s enrollment in MTH-132, Calculus I. Continued participation will be based on student’s successful progression toward fulfilling an engineering degree requirement, satisfactory grades, and adherence to the terms, rules and procedures of the DPO.

Preparation

Student Preparation

• Students are required to read the course material before attending any academic assistance sessions.
• Students are required to attend all classes; academic assistance is NOT a substitute for class.
• Students are required to attempt all their assignments before attending any academic assistance sessions.

Academic Assistants Preparation

• Academic assistants are expected to assist students in learning course materials and improving their problem solving skills. They are NOT hired to solve homework assignments.

Requirements

• Students are required to provide the academic assistant(s) with the course syllabi.
• Students are required to notify their academic assistant(s) and the GLC coordinator if they decide to drop a course where assistance is being provided.
  
  

Attendance:

• Students are required to attend scheduled sessions.
• Students are required to be on time for all sessions.
• Unexcused absences are not allowed.
• Students who have two unexcused absences will be contacted by the GLC coordinator.
• Excessive excused absences will result in a meeting with the program coordinator.

 

 

Expectations

• All students are expected to behave as responsible adults striving to achieve academic excellence.
• We expect and strongly encourage students to attend the office hours of their professors on a regular basis, and
• To regularly meet with their course TA’s.
• Students are expected to provide their academic assistant(s) with their exam grades.
• Students are expected to notify the program coordinator immediately if they:

  • have any difficulties with their academic assistants
  • have any concerns about the program
  • drop a course where assistance is being provided

• Students are expected to complete program evaluation forms.

 

Policies

Students

• Students who have signed a "Diversity Programs Office Participation Contract" form may turn in requests for academic assistance for the following academic semester during the last week of classes of the current semester. However, they are required to fill out a complete "Request For Academic Assistance" application form by the second week of classes of the following semester.
• Other eligible students may sign up for academic assistance beginning the first day of each semester and through the second week of classes. After the deadline expires, placement will be determined by the Guided Learning Center Coordinator based on availability and need.
• All students must read, understand, and sign a "Request For Academic Assistance" application form.
• All students must submit a copy of their resume to be put on file at the Diversity Programs Office.
• Students will be notified by the program coordinator of their academic assistance sessions. This will include the time and arrangement of the sessions.

Academic Assistants

• Applicants for the position of academic assistant must schedule an interview with the program coordinator.
• Academic assistants who wish to work for the GLC must read, understand, and sign a "Want-To-Tutor" application form.
• All academic assistants must submit a copy of their resume to be placed on file at the Diversity Programs Office.
• To qualify, academic assistants must have a thorough understanding of the course they would like to instruct (overall GPA is not necessarily the determining factor!)
• Academic assistants will be notified by the program coordinator of their academic sessions. This will include the time and arrangement of the sessions, and assigned students.
• The program coordinator has the right to add students, not to exceed the maximum number of 4 students per session, to the existing scheduled assistance sessions where appropriate. The program coordinator will notify the academic assistant of the new students who will attend his/her assistance sessions.
• Exit interviews will be held during the last two weeks before the final exams week of each semester with each assistant.
• Academic assistants who would like to be rehired by the center in the following semester must schedule an interview with the program coordinator.
• Rehire is based on the assistant’s performance during that semester. Performance is measured by how well students perform in the class they were assisted in.
• Academic assistants who meet the above conditions must notify the GLC coordinator of their willingness to continue with the center, and of the courses they will instruct in the following semester.