With August coming to a close and the countdown to fall quarter beginning, I am sure most of you out there are both dreading summer's end and anticipating the start of school. And I am sure you, like me, are wanting to start off the school year with a bang, to do your best in all your classes, and to take advantage of whatever opportunities Eastern Washington University has.
So lend me your eyes, incoming freshman and unknowing upperclassmen, as I tell you briefly about a free tutoring service that you may want to take advantage of, and which can turn that your grade around or bolster it further.
EWU has a wonderful hidden gem that, in my two years of being here, I've realized is not well known. The program is called PLUS, and it stands for Program Leading to University Success. Based in the EWU Library in the very back of the Learning Commons, students can find a tutoring group for almost any class they need, however, if group tutoring is not for you, then you can take advantage of one-on-one peer tutoring.
PLUS groups meet anywhere from one to two times a week, and usually, the student who leads them is in contact with the professor and knows what is going on in the class. One-on-one peer tutoring can occur as many times a week as you and your tutor see fit and as long as you both have the time. Have trouble understanding a mathematical concept or scientific theory? A tutor may be able to put it into a perspective that is both creative and easier for you to understand.
So how do you take advantage of this? Well, every quarter, students can sign up for a peer tutor by going to the PLUS desk in the very back of the Learning Commons. Students can sign up for a tutor in virtually any subject. After signing up for a tutor, you will be matched with someone who a PLUS staff member thinks would best be able to assist you, and after a period of time, your tutor will contact you by phone or email.
Having a tutor is great; I've worked with tutors for both math and economics and have found them incredibly helpful. They cannot assist you on your homework, but they can help you understand tough concepts that may appear on your homework or an upcoming test as well as teach you strategies to help you study better. In the event that it's the evening or weekend and you need help understanding a concept, EWU also offers E-tutoring.
E-tutoring is free to all EWU students and only requires logging in. Once logged in, students can connect with tutors from all across the US who are available to help in any area you so choose. You can talk with the via microphone and camera or text-based chat and work on a virtual white board.
If you wish to learn more about PLUS or E-tutoring, I highly recommend that you access the website. Best of luck this term, fellow Eagles!