Become a Tutor

The Academic Success and Tutoring Center (ASTC) and the Residential Tutoring Centers (RTCs) work together to provide seamless and standardized tutoring services. Students interested in becoming a tutor for the ASTC, RTCs, or both locations should apply using this single application. 

The qualifications, training requirements, and employee expectations are the same for both positions. However, the type of tutoring available at each location is different. Please see the chart below for more information.

 

	Academic Success and Tutoring Center (ASTC)	Residential Tutoring Centers (RTCs)
Location	SB Union, Suite L08	Various centers located within the residential communities
Mode of Delivery	In-person and online	In-person
Anticipated Fall 2024 Hours	Mondays - Thursdays 10am -9pm (6pm - 9pm online only) Fridays 10am - 3:30pm Sundays 4pm - 9pm (online only)	Mondays - Thursdays 8pm - 11pm
Tutoring Services Offered:	Pre-Scheduled Appointments: Mostly one-on-one tutoring Some small group (2-3 students) tutoring  Wide range of undergraduate courses  (between 65 - 80 courses per semester) Drop-In Tutoring : Offered for select BIO, CHE, MAT, and PHY courses	Drop-In Tutoring : Offered for select MAT, PHY, and CHE courses
Employment Details	Tutors provide their weekly availability. Tutors start with 5 hours of availability and may have the option to add more availability at a later time. Tutors are required to have at least 3 hours of in-person availability. The remaining hours of availability can be either in-person or online.  Students use an online scheduling system to book appointments in advance. Tutors are paid for the appointments they hold each week and for weekly training. Our drop-in tutors are selected from our current appointment-based peer tutors, and typically host both tutoring appointments and drop-in tutoring.	Tutors are scheduled to hold drop-in tutoring hours based on tutor availability and course demand. (See operational hours above.) Tutors may need to work with several students at the same time. The number of students a tutor will see during a shift varies.  Tutors get paid for the shifts they work and for weekly training.
Website	www.stonybrook.edu/tutoring	CLICK HERE
CURRENTLY HIRING?	All of our fall 2024 positions are filled.  We accept applications on a rolling basis. Applications received at this time will be reviewed during our spring 2025 recruitment efforts in November. While we will consider applications for most undergraduate courses, we have particular demand for STEM courses. Priority will be given to applications for high demand courses.  Please see the details below. Your application will not be considered until you have at least one faculty recommendation on file for a course you wish to tutor. (Exception: BIO-203 applicants DO NOT need a recommendation on file. Instead, you must meet the requirements listed in the "special recommendation requirements" section below.)	All of our fall 2024 positions are filled.  We accept applications on a rolling basis. Applications received at this time will be reviewed during our spring 2025 recruitment efforts in November. Please see the details below. Your application will not be considered until you have at least one faculty recommendation on file for a course you wish to tutor.

 

Application Process:

STEP 1	Read the qualifications and responsibilities listed below.
STEP  2	Ask the professor(s) of the course(s) you wish to tutor to complete the Faculty Recommendation Form. Be sure to read the "special recommendation requirements" for MATH, CHEMISTRY, and BIO 203 at the bottom of the page.
STEP  3	Complete the ASTC/RTC Tutor Application.

Qualifications and Responsibilities:

Tutors help peers to succeed academically. They conduct tutoring sessions to clarify course content and provide study strategies. They are selected on the basis of academic skill, character, and the ability to communicate well with others.

Qualifications:

1. Must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate Stony Brook University student 
   
   OR a graduate student who completed the undergraduate course at SBU
2. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0
3. Must have attained a B+ or better in the course at Stony Brook
4. Must be in good standing: No judicial or academic dishonesty charges
5. Must possess strong interpersonal communication skills and a desire to assist fellow students
6. Must provide a brief recommendation from the course instructor for each course that the student wishes to tutor. (A short recommendation form can be found here.)
7. You cannot TA and tutor the same course during the same semester (Former TAs are welcome! You can be an active TA for a course you are not tutoring.)

Responsibilities:

1. Be willing to commit for the entire semester
2. Attend and participate in tutor training sessions and scheduled one-on-one meetings
3. Maintain accurate, current, and complete records
4. Actively participate in the ASTC/RTC evaluation process
5. Adhere to ASTC and RTC policies and procedures
6. Communicate in a timely fashion with students and ASTC/RTC staff

Training: Students applying for a position must be available to attend weekly in-person training. We typically offer 2 or 3 training time options and tutors choose ONE weekly time slot to attend. 

Pay Rate: Starting pay rate for ASTC/RTC tutors  is $16.50/hr. Pay increases are awarded based on earned tutor training certifications. 

All peer tutors for the ASTC and RTCs participate in paid weekly training sessions, allowing them to work towards earning tutor certification through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). For more information, visit here. 

Other Benefits: Hone your interpersonal skills, stay connected to foundational course information that can help in upper division classes,  participate in professional development events and opportunities, earn internationally recognized tutor training certification, and become a member of our supportive and friendly student staff community! 

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Details about the Application Process:

Students must submit an application to be a tutor. An application will not be considered if (a) the student does not meet minimum qualifications or (b) the ASTC does not receive a brief recommendation from the course instructor.

*Please note that tutors must have taken the course (or its equivalent) at Stony Brook University in order to qualify to tutor the course, with the exception of introductory MAT courses (see special note below).  Transfer and AP credit will not be accepted as equivalent experience. The ASTC will review the student’s record and transcript to verify the applicant’s information. 

If you are interested in applying, complete the ASTC/RTC Tutor Application and have your course instructor complete the required Faculty Recommendation Form.

*Special Recommendation Requirements for CHEMISTRY:  If you would like to tutor Chemistry, your recommendation needs to come from one of the following individuals:

General Chemistry:
You should request the recommendation from your course instructor. If your instructor is no longer at SBU, you can request a recommendation from your graduate TA. 

Organic Chemistry: All recommendations should come from Zachary Katsamanis.

Molecular Science Sequence (CHE 152, CHE 331, CHE 332): Students who took the molecular science sequence can submit recommendations from their specific course instructors.

*Special Recommendation Requirements for MATH:  If you would like to tutor an introductory MAT course but were placed in a higher-level course, your recommendation needs to come from one of your math professors and must include a list of the introductory MAT courses the instructor feels you are qualified to tutor.

*Special Recommendation Requirements for BIO 203:  Do not request a recommendation from your instructor. Instead, you need to meet the following requirements:

Minimum academic criteria for BIO 203 tutors:

• B+ or higher in BIO 203 and
• B+ or higher in at least one of the 300-level BIO courses in the Neuroscience track (e.g., BIO 334, BIO 317, BIO 339, BIO 328)