University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

Tutoring Services

The Academic Success Center (ASC) is the home for tutoring services at Pitt-Johnstown. Tutoring is specifically designed to meet students’ academic needs, with the goal to increase students’ academic success in all content areas. All tutoring services are free of charge. 

The Pitt-Johnstown tutoring program follows a peer tutoring model, with full-time students providing all tutoring services. Peer tutors help fellow students develop the skills they need to succeed as independent learners. They model effective strategies and methods for approaching challenging course material.

At Pitt-Johnstown, students have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one individual tutoring, small group tutoring, drop-in sessions, and Supplemental Instruction (SI).

For more information about each type of tutoring, please select the links below. 

Drop In Tutoring

The Academic Success Center, in collaboration with several academic departments, offers drop-in tutoring for Chemistry, Math, Public Speaking, Biology, and Writing.  

Sessions are staffed by veteran tutors, who receive weekly training to refresh relevant course content in each discipline. 

Students do not have to schedule an appointment to attend drop-in tutoring and all services are free. 

Spring 2024 Drop-in Tutoring

 

Public Speaking (Biddle 101)

Faculty Coordinator: Maryl McGinley

Mon. – Thurs.        4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Tues. – Thurs.        7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Chemistry (E&S 241)

Faculty Coordinator: Tom Malosh

Mon. – Thursday   3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

                                 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Math Achievement Center (Krebs 221)

Co-Directors Vicki Czarnek and Dawn Cable

Mon., Tues.    11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Wednesday    11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday         11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Friday              11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Writing (Owen G-40: ASC)

Faculty Coordinator: Michaela O’Toole

Monday            3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Tues. – Thurs.  2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

NEW: Biology (Krebs 252)

Faculty Coordinator: Luis Bonachea

BIOL 110/120 

     M: 3-6; T: 1-4; W: 2-6; Th: 12:30 – 4; F: 3-5:30

BIOL 340

     M: 2-4; T: 1-4; W: 2-4; Th.: 12:30 – 4; F: 3-5:30

BIOL 360

     T: 1 – 4; W.: 2-4; Th.: 12:30 – 3:30; F: 3-5:30

BIOL 950/970

     T: 1-4; W: 2-4; Th.: 12:30 – 3:30; F: 3-5:30

NEW: Physics (ASC except for Wednesdays)

Tues. and Thurs.: Jenna and Korina  7 – 8 p.m.
 

Wednesday: Hannah                               3 – 5 p.m.
                  (during drop-in Chem tutoring at E&S)

Friday: Tutoring with Caleb      2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Individual and Group Tutoring

Discussing course material and related ideas is a highly effective means to understand and remember content—and individual tutors can serve this role with students, who may request an individual tutor for any class. Each semester, students are eligible to request a tutor for up to two courses.  For courses with a higher demand, group tutoring may be offered instead of one-on-one tutoring. 

Students must first request a tutor using the link below (or by visiting Campus Services).  The tutoring coordinator will match the student with a qualified tutor.  Once a match is identified, students are notified by email. It is the student's responsibility to contact the tutor to arrange a meeting time and place. Students can meet with their tutor for up to two hours per week.

Apply for a tutor! 

If you have any questions regarding one-on-one matches, please email tutorupj@pitt.edu

Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an internationally recognized academic success initiative designed to target high-risk courses and courses with high enrollment rates of first-year students and courses that serve as broad electives and prerequisite courses. In SI, peer leaders are trained not only to review content but also to help students improve study skills and general academic success strategies geared toward each specific course. SI leaders work closely with the collaborating faculty member to provide additional content support to students in the sessions.

SI Sessions for Spring 2024

Instructor

SI Leader

Course: Name

Location

Day @ Time

Dahlin

Malanna Snipe

BIOL 0120:

     Gen. Biol. 2

Krebs 240

Thursdays @ 6 p.m.

Webb

Mayah Charity

BIOL 0360:
     Cell Biology

Krebs 123

Tuesdays @ 7:30

Nigam

Korina Pebley

CHEM 0231:
     Organic Chem I

218 E&S

Tuesdays @ 6 p.m.; Thursdays @ 5 p.m.

Bird

Korina Pebley

CHEM 111/150:
     Chemistry 1

273 E&S

Wednesdays @ 5 p.m.

Bell-Loncella

Augie Mucci

CHEM 111/CHEM 150:
     Chemistry 1

240 E&S

Thursdays @ 6 p.m.
(Tuesday occasionally)

Ritchey

Caleb Bean

CHEM 112/151:
     Chemistry 2

273 E & S

Thursdays @ 5 p.m.

Grimminger

Maddie Rensko

CHEM 190:
     Chem for Health Professions

NURS 117

Tuesdays @ 12:30

Kunsberger

Jenna Hurley

ENGR 0132:
     Statics

E&S 130

Tuesdays @ 6 p.m.

Coughenour

Chris Howard

GEOL 1061:
     Geomorphology

 

 

Matson

Anastasia Smith

HIST 0130:

     History of Western Civ. II

 

 

Wilson

Julie Rainey

HIST 0620:
     US History 1877-Present

Krebs 120

Thursdays @ 6 p.m.

Newman

Ty Jaworowski

HIST 0750:
     Historical Methods & Theories

 

 As needed/contact SI

Newman

Mike Hanik

HIST 0790:
     Intro to Museum Science

 

 

Hoffman

Augie Mucci

MATH 0002:
     College Algebra

Krebs 240

Thursdays @ 4 p.m.

Khanal

Walter Mattiko

PHYS 150:
     Physics 1

 Krebs 131

Tuesdays @ 7:30

Wilson

Emily Karl & Eryn Marsh; Emily Elston & Hannah Ribblett

SPLED 1040:
     Autism Spectrum/BRIDGE

 

 

Schaney

Hannah Frizzell

ENVST 0100:
 Intro to Environmental Studies

Krebs 118

Every other Wednesday @ 6 p.m.

 

Become a Peer Tutor

Peer tutoring at Pitt-Johnstown offers you a unique opportunity to gain valuable real world experience. In addition to providing a valuable service to other students, it further develops your cognitive and affective skills.

 What are the benefits of being a peer tutor?

  • Valuable and rewarding experience in providing academic assistance to fellow students
  • Opportunity to review important course concepts and to learn new ways of helping students master course material
  • Training and experience in areas such as helping strategies, problem solving, and instructional methods
  • Tutors earn $10-$12 per hour and may request letters of recommendation from Academic Success Center Staff

How do I become a tutor?

Peer tutors are hired at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. To become a tutor, apply online through Campus Services, interview with the Tutoring Coordinator, and attend New Tutor Training.
More detailed information is emailed each semester, so please be sure to regularly check your email.

Students who would like to be a course SI must be requested by the professor or instructor of the course.

Please follow these steps to become a tutor

 Am I qualified to be a tutor?

  • A strong record of achievement in content areas (minimum B+ in the designated courses)
  • An overall solid record of achievement (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher)
  • Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including positive attitude, empathy, patience, and openness
  • A strong commitment to helping students succeed academically
  • Basic skills necessary to facilitate peer learning (active listening, appropriate and effective explanation and demonstration of content, recognition of learner’s strengths, etc.)

 For more information about the tutoring program, please email tutorupj@pitt.edu.