Learning Resource Center

Individualized Peer Tutoring

Individualized peer tutoring is available through the Learning Resource Center, the coordination site for services, programs, and resources that promote academic success for all students at Butler University.  Students are encouraged to take advantage of tutoring services as soon as the need is recognized in order to enhance their prospects for academic success.

Tutoring is available free of charge to Butler students, but requires the completion of the Tutor Request Form and the endorsement of the course instructor. Tutoring is geared toward serving undergraduate students* enrolled in introductory major courses (e.g., CH105/106, MA106/107); select upper-level and Core Curriculum course tutoring may be available upon demand.  Due to limited tutor availability, individualized peer tutoring is only available during the regular academic year (fall and spring semesters). 

Individualized peer tutoring allows the student to meet one-on-one with a qualified and recommended tutor of that particular subject area. In most cases, tutoring is limited to 1-2 sessions per week. Individualized peer tutoring is intended to be a time-limited intervention, and is to be a supplement to other support services available (e.g., departmental study tables, instructor office hours). Tutoring is not intended as a "preventive" service but is designed to help students who need additional assistance with understanding course content. The goal of individualized peer tutoring is to bring the student up to a level that allows them to continue at the same pace as the rest of their class.

*The tutoring services offered by the Learning Resource Center are for currently enrolled undergraduate Butler University students ONLY. Tutor contact information is only given to those students who meet the requirements to receive peer tutoring and CANNOT be given to the general public.

Course Availability

Typical courses in which tutoring services are offered by Learning Resource Center tutors include:

  • General Biology courses (e.g., BI111)
  • General Chemistry courses (e.g., CH105/106)
  • Math courses in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (e.g., MA101/102, MA106/107, etc.)
  • Physics courses (e.g., PH107/108, PH201/202)

The Chemistry department no longer is offering individualized peer tutoring for Organic Chemistry courses.  It is advised that students who require assistance with Organic Chemistry consult with their professors and attend study tables. 

The Learning Resource Center does not offer tutoring services for foreign language courses* or courses in the College of Business (see below for more information about COB tutoring), College of Education, or Jordan College of the Arts.

Students interested in tutoring services for Accounting courses should refer to the Study Tables Schedule for tutor information.  The College of Business is no longer offering study tables for Economics courses; please contact them directly if you have any questions or concerns.

The LRC DOES NOT provide tutoring for any licensing or admission exams, including the PRAXIS and the PCAT.

*Students interested in tutoring services for Foreign Languages (including Latin) should refer to the Modern Language Center Tutoring webpage.

Requesting A Peer Tutor

Before requesting a peer tutor through the Learning Resource Center, the following conditions MUST be met:

  • Endorsement of the instructor of the course.
  • Attendance at all classes and labs.
  • Completion of all assignments to the best of the students' ability.
  • Attendance at departmental study tables (if available) for the subject.
  • Utilization of instructor office hours.

If the student has met the above conditions the Learning Resource Center will identify an appropriate plan of action. Efforts will be made to identify a tutor within a reasonable amount of time, although this is dependent on tutor availability. In most cases, individualized peer tutoring is limited to 1-2 sessions per week.

The Learning Resource Center will attempt to fulfill all tutor requests, but it is possible that a tutor request may not be fulfilled due to high demand, limited number of tutors, or other factors.  Students who have made a request that cannot be fulfilled will be notified as soon as possible and an alternative recommended course of action will be made. 

Please fill out the Tutor Request Form to initiate the approval process.

Please note:  The LRC will not assign tutors during the last two weeks of classes or during final exam week in any semester.  Please plan accordingly.  (Spring Semester 2013:  Tutor requests will not be honored beginning Friday, April 12, through the end of finals on Tuesday, May 7.) In addition, tutoring services are NOT available during Butler University's Summer Sessions. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Tutor-Tutee Rights and Responsibilities

Below are the rights and responsibilities of the tutor and the tutee.  Each party is responsible for adhering to his or her responsibilities.  If a tutor or a tutee does not adhere to these, the Learning Resource Center reserves the right to halt tutoring.  If any time a tutor or tutee feels that his or her rights are not being recognized, he or she should report the incident to a staff member of the Learning Resource Center.

Tutor Rights and Responsibilities:

  • Be prepared for every tutoring session
  • Arrive to each tutoring session on time
  • Maintain confidentiality of ALL tutoring services
  • Act in a professional manner
  • Give at least a 24-hour notice to the tutee if a session must be canceled or rescheduled
  • Respond to all emails within a reasonable amount of time
  • Complete tutee Progress Reports after each tutoring session
  • Adhere to the qualifications of becoming a peer tutor throughout the semester
  • Provide a professional and safe tutoring environment
  • Relay any questions or concerns about the tutoring program to a staff member of the Learning Resource Center
  • Ability to request to stop tutoring a tutee if at any point the tutor feels uncomfortable or the tutee does not adhere to the Tutee Rights and Responsibilities
  • Have access to additional tutor training and development resources

 Tutee Rights and Responsibilities:

  • Be prepared for every tutoring session
  • Arrive to each tutoring session on time
  • Give at least a 24-hour notice to the tutor if a session must be canceled or rescheduled
  • Respond to all emails within a reasonable amount of time
  • Complete a Tutor Evaluation form at the conclusion of tutoring
  • Attend study tables on a regular basis, even after obtaining a tutor
  • Meet with professor to discuss difficult content from class
  • Relay any questions or concerns about the tutoring program to a staff member of the Learning Resource Center
  • Have a safe and comfortable tutoring environment
  • Ability to request a different tutor if assigned tutor is not tutoring in a manner that is best suitable for understanding the material
  • Have access to additional tutoring resources

Tutors and tutees also should familiarize themselves with ways to prepare for a tutoring session; please click here for a downloadable reference sheet.

For questions about individualized peer tutoring not addressed by the information provided on this page, contact the Learning Resource Center by email or by phone at (317) 940-9308.