1. Student Experience
  2. Student Services
  3. Tutoring Services
  4. Tutoring Guidelines-IL

Tutoring Guidelines-IL

Instructions and guidelines for tutor requests for the Downers Grove campus.

Please read all instructions and guidelines before submitting a request for tutoring services at the Downers Grove campus.

Before You Request a Tutor

  • Complete all sections of the Tutoring Request Form (found on the student portal)
    • Online system for CCOM, CPDG, CDMI, CCO
    • Word Doc Form for CHS, CGS
  • Meet with the course director or department chair to discuss your academic challenges in the course.

Receiving a Tutor Assignment

  • You and your tutor will be notified of the tutor assignment via email.
  • Depending on the need for tutoring services, you may be tutored in a small group.
  • Make your needs clear to the tutor prior to the first tutoring session.
  • At times, there may be no available tutors for specific courses. If this is the case for your requested course, please reach out to Dr. Torgerson at ctorge@midwestern.edu.  We recommend working with the course director, department chair, or other faculty for academic assistance. 
  • No tutor assignments will be made the Friday two weeks before final exam week.

Scheduling Tutor Sessions

  • It is your responsibility to contact your tutor as soon as possible.
  • Tutoring sessions cannot exceed 2-3 times per week and total no more than 6 hours per week.
  • Together, with your tutor and group, you will decide upon a mutually agreeable meeting time and place.
  • Your tutor is also a student and has a busy schedule – please offer flexibility in scheduling sessions.
  • If you must cancel a session, please give plenty of advanced notice.
  • Students receiving small group tutoring are also allowed to attend weekly large group tutoring sessions offered through Student Services.

Expectations and Guidelines for Using a Tutor

  • Tutoring is an active learning process and students are expected to come prepared for all tutoring sessions.  This includes communicating your needs ahead of time to your tutor and bringing questions.
  • Tutoring is designed as additional academic support to clarify and conceptualize material and assist in developing study strategies to manage the large volume of information.
  • Tutoring is not a substitute for attending class or meeting with faculty.  You are expected to attend all lecture and lab sessions in the course for which you are receiving tutoring.  Student Services will ask faculty to monitor your attendance and repeated absences will result in loss of your tutoring privilege.
  • This is a peer tutoring program with a limited number of available tutors. If your academic performance indicates that you no longer qualify for tutoring, you may lose your tutor so that students who are in greater academic jeopardy can receive assistance.
  • You may only receive tutoring from the tutor assigned to you through Student Services; otherwise the tutor will not be paid.
  • You are not responsible for paying the tutor; your College supports the tutor program.
  • If you decide that you no longer need tutoring services, please inform both your tutor and Dr. Torgerson of this decision. This will enable your tutor to be assigned to another student in need.
  • If you are having any problems or concerns with your tutor, contact Dr. Carrie Torgerson. Before considering reassignment, you are expected to discuss any concerns with your tutor.