University Learning Network

Our services assist students in understanding concepts reviewed during lectures, problem solving and application of course content, study skills development and preparation for exams, and more.

Services

English Language Resource Center (ELRC)

• Staffed by faculty tutors, the ELRC offers support for any student wishing to enhance or improve their written and oral English-language skills. Students can meet with a tutor to discuss various skills and topics, including grammar, vocabulary, reading, speaking, listening, writing, and more. Appointments are required, and sessions are offered in a 1:1 format. To schedule an appointment with an ELRC tutor, students can visit the Student Success Hub.

Peer Assistance Leader (PAL) Program (Boston Campus Only)

• Our PAL program provides peer support for the recitation sections of select first- and second-year science courses. Our PALs take an active role in these recitation sessions, participating in activities designed to help you better understand course content and assisting with your questions in a classroom setting. If a course’s recitation section is supported by our program, students will be introduced to their PALs during their first recitation meetings.

Subject Tutoring

• Tutoring is offered in the form of 1:1 and small-group appointments for a variety of courses at the University. Tutoring support is offered by both peer and faculty tutors, and offerings are available in both virtual and in-person formats. Appointments are required for Subject Tutoring and can be scheduled by visiting the Student Success Hub.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) (Boston Campus Only)

• SI sessions are weekly group study sessions; each is led by a tutor who attends the course alongside the students currently enrolled. Appointments are not required for SI—students can just show up! If a course is supported with SI, students will be introduced to their SI leader during the first week of classes, and their weekly SI session schedule will be shared by their instructor and SI leader.

Writing Center

• Staffed by faculty tutors, the Writing Center is a place where students can receive support to improve their writing skills. Appointments are offered in a 1:1 format and are required for the Writing Center. To schedule an appointment with a Writing Center tutor, students can visit the Student Success Hub .

Core Qualifications

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Good standing with academic program
• Active enrollment in coursework as a student
• At least 30 MCPHS credit hours earned
• Grade of A/A– earned in the courses they are supporting
• Faculty recommendation or nomination, preferably from an instructor from the subject/course the tutor is interested in supporting
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Our primary recruitment process for ULN peer leader positions takes place during the spring semester for the next academic year. If you are interested in becoming a ULN peer leader, email ULN@mcphs.edu for more information about the formal application process.

Required Use of Services

• The ULN cannot guarantee appointments for students mandated to use our services. Attaching use of ULN services/tutoring attendance to a course’s grading rubric is strongly discouraged for this reason.

FERPA & Confidentiality

• Tutoring attendance is kept both confidential and voluntary and is not otherwise shared without approval by the student participant. Tutoring staff cannot disclose whether a student has attended a tutoring session, nor what was discussed in a tutoring session, without expressed permission from the student.
• Tutors are allowed to share with departments generalities, such as attendance numbers and topics of discussion. The FERPA policy above pertains to information attached to a particular student’s attendance and/or appointment history.
• Departments and/or instructors looking for information about a student’s attendance at a tutoring session should please ask the student directly or contact the ULN for further options. We can accept student emails as permission to disclose tutoring information.

Graded Work Policy

• For Subject Tutoring, tutors cannot assist students with any homework, assignment, and/or exam that will be turned in for a grade, as that needs to be fully the work of the student.
• Based on the nature of support provided through the ELRC and Writing Center, tutors with these centers are permitted to assist with student work that will be submitted for a grade, such as written assignments, drafts, and papers.

Our Appointment-Based Services

• Appointments are required in advance for peer and professional tutoring services.
• To receive course-specific tutoring support (Subject Tutoring), students must be actively enrolled in the course they are receiving tutoring in during a given semester. Students on leave of absence and students wishing to reinforce course content from previous semesters are ineligible to utilize services.
• Appointment-based services do not permit drop-ins of additional attendees during an appointment slot. Students must have an appointment scheduled through our scheduling system (Student Success Hub) in order to attend an appointment-based service.

Appointment Limitations

• Back-to-back appointments for the same subject/topic are not allowed for appointment-based ULN services.
• Students are permitted to schedule only one appointment per subject/topic a day.
• Students are not allowed to book multiple appointments within the same appointment time-slot or double-book appointments intentionally.

Appointment Cancellations & Missed Appointment Policy

• For appointment-based services, students are required to cancel appointments in advance if they are no longer able to attend as originally scheduled. A student can modify and/or cancel an appointment up to the time of the appointment through the Student Success Hub system.
• If a student is unable to modify/cancel their appointment directly through the Student Success Hub, they are to email the tutor directly with notice of the cancelation to avoid being marked as a no-show or missed appointment. If they do not know the tutor’s contact information, they should email ULN@mcphs.edu.
• Three or more missed appointments and/or day-of cancellations during a given semester may result in a required meeting with a ULN professional staff member to discuss appropriate use of appointment-based ULN services.

Attend Class

• Attend all your lectures to stay up to date with the material. This ensures you get the most out of your tutoring services by building on what you’ve already learned.

Bring Your Course Materials

• Make sure to bring your textbooks, notes, and any study materials to any session you attend. Having these materials on hand will help your tutor provide more effective assistance.

Communicate Changes

• If you need to change an appointment time or can no longer make it to an appointment you scheduled with one of our services, inform your tutor as soon as possible by updating your appointment through the Student Success Hub.

Prepare Questions

• Think about specific areas where you need help, and come with prepared questions. This will make your session more focused and productive.

Be an Active Participant

• Tutors are there to guide students and help facilitate the learning process, but to benefit the most from our services, students are expected to be engaged and to participate in their learning experience.

If you are a faculty member and would like to discuss ULN services for your course(s), nominate a previous student for a peer leader position, or request that we visit your course for resources review/workshop in a specific area (ELRC and/or Writing Center), contact the ULN by emailing ULN@mcphs.edu, and your inquiry will be addressed by the appropriate professional staff member.