Student Learning Center

The Student Learning Center (SLC) strives to serve our entire population of students by providing academic support as well as facilitating students' independence and authority as learners. It is important we respect each other's time, ensuring tutoring sessions are active in providing support while also challenging one to grow as self-managed and independent learners. In support of these efforts, the following tutoring policies will go into effect September 9, 2024:

• Students may schedule no more than two 50-minute sessions per day, with an SLC tutor, each session covering a different subject, for a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes (as our appointments are each 50 minutes long).
• It is mandatory for the tutor and the student to take a 10-minute break between any two consecutive appointments.
• Students may not book more than five 50-minute sessions per week at the SLC. If additional time is required, students may email slc@otis.edu and explain the need for additional assistance. An example of the typically allowed extended time is no more than six 50-minute sessions per week. Extra time will be permitted on a case-by-case basis in consultation with appropriate campus departments, and students will be notified by SLC staff via email.
• SLC staff will reach out should we find anyone scheduling in violation of the policies above.

Application of Knowledge: It is important for the student to practice implementing skills and feedback received in tutoring/coaching sessions and/or from faculty on their own in order to improve.

• Late Arrivals: Students will forfeit their appointment if they are more than 15 minutes late and may be advised to reschedule.

• Virtual Sessions: Students must make every effort to have a working microphone during the session. 

  • Video is not mandatory during sessions.

  • If technological glitches occur that prevent the microphone from working, the session may continue utilizing alternative communication tools such as the chat.

  • If the student, by the third session, continues to have microphone problems, the student must find a way to fix or replace the microphone before they can make new appointments.

• Behavioral Expectations: Students and tutors/coaches are expected to behave toward one another in a manner that adheres to College policies. If a student behaves in a disruptive or disrespectful manner, tutors/coaches or SLC staff will respectfully explain that the session cannot continue and may ask the student to reschedule with another individual or to seek other forms of support. 

• Tutor Consent: Tutors/coaches reserve the right to accept or refuse to work with individual students on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with their supervisor.

  • As representatives of the SLC, tutors/coaches may not meet with students outside of the SLC or outside of their SLC hours unless expressly agreed upon with their supervisor.

  • Tutors/coaches are not required and should not give out their personal contact information to students. If choosing to do so, tutors/coaches may not communicate with students as representatives of the SLC. 

• Privacy: 

  • All student records, including session reports, are kept confidential and on a need-to-know basis in accordance with FERPA.

  • For communication purposes in providing cross-campus student support, relevant faculty and staff will be notified via email that the student attended a support session at the SLC.

• Guests are allowed to sit in on a session ONLY IF the student consents to their presence.

  • Tutors/coaches (tutors/coaches/SLC staff) must let guests know the goals of the student learning center before they begin their sessions, emphasizing the need for the students to complete their own work and learn to become their own academic advocates.

  • Tutors/coaches should speak directly to the student and ask if the student allows guest/s to listen in on the tutoring session at the beginning. If the student prefers to meet alone, suggest rescheduling the appointment.

  • If the student agrees guest/s can stay, tutors/coaches should kindly ask guest/s to hold any questions or concerns they have until the end of the tutoring session. Underscore why it is important you work directly with the student to become their own academic advocates.

  • Guests must not participate in the completion of work during an academic support session.

  • Tutors/coaches must direct all questions to the student. If a guest answers for the student, the tutor/coach/staff will follow up with the student. For example, do you agree with what was said or not? 

  • Guest/s should hold all questions and comments during the session until the last 10 minutes.

  • If guest/s become disruptive, tutors/coaches will respectfully explain that the session cannot continue and will ask the student to make another appointment. 

  • If guest/s are disruptive during the session, the occurrence is reported in the post-session report that is shared with relevant faculty/staff members.

• SLC programming and services are created for student use. Otis Faculty or Staff may sit in only with prior permission of SLC staff. 

rev. 9.9.24