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PLUS

Program Leading to University Success

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Frequently Asked Questions

General Study Groups Tutoring Online Tutoring
General

What is PLUS?
The Program Leading to University Success (PLUS) provides FREE academic support to EWU students through collaborative study groups, in-person tutoring, academic coaching, and online tutoring. Peers work with other peers in the Learning Commons of JFK Library and in classrooms across campus. Services are provided to students by professional staff and student employees in order to support the achievement of their academic and career goals. PLUS is certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) to provide internationally recognized tutor training.

Have additional questions?  Fill out our Contact Form and a staff member will get back to you.

Do I Have to Pay to Use PLUS Services?
No, our services are free to all EWU students. The PLUS Program is funded by Washington state base funding, not by tuition or student fees.

Where are Sessions Held?
Learning sessions are held primarily in the JFK Learning Commons but, some study group sessions occur in classrooms on campus - please check in with the facilitator for updates and check the study group schedule online.

What Are the PLUS Desk Hours?
Student office aides are available to assist you at the PLUS Desk in JFK Library during regular quarter hours Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Can I work for PLUS?
Absolutely! PLUS staff posts quarterly job listings for PALs (peer-assisted leaders)/tutor positions on EWU's new student employment platform Handshake. Student applicants must have at least sophomore class standing, a 3.0 or higher overall GPA upon the time of application, a 3.3 or higher in each course they are interested in assisting with, and receive a faculty recommendation.

Employees of the PLUS program gain professional work experience, complete an internationally recognized tutor certification program, improve communication skills with faculty and peers, refresh course material useful to their respective degree programs, and supplement their income.

Please check our Work for PLUS page for more details.

Study Groups

Who can use study groups?  Do I have to sign up?
Any students who are enrolled in a course listed on the quarterly study group schedule.  You do not have to sign-up to attend a study group.  Pay attention to announcements in class by the professor and by the PAL (peer-assisted leader) for session dates and times.  You can come to as many or a few as you wish, but we expect students to stay for the whole allotted time.

Who are PALs?
EWU students that understand the challenges, struggles, and insights students experience in a given class because they have “been there.” PALs lead two weekly collaborative peer learning sessions for a course that they previously excelled in, fostering communication between students regarding course content, questions, and practice problems. Study group sessions occur outside of the classroom and many students feel comfortable being able to approach their PAL with questions, and learn how to redirect their questions to a peer in the class they are just starting to get to know.

Does My Course Have a Study Group?
Coverage varies from quarter to quarter but primarily includes business, mathematics, and physical science courses. Please check our study group schedule at the beginning of each quarter to see if your course is listed. A PAL will come to your class the first week of class and/or email you with further information.

Tutoring

Who can receive tutoring?
This is a free service with a main focus in popular subjects like Chemistry and Math, especially at the 100 or 200 levels.

When can I put in a request for a tutor?
We have a limited number of tutors available, so request a tutor as soon as you register for classes. Unfortunately, completing a tutor request form does not guarantee that a tutor is available or will be assigned, but we will do our best to pair you with a tutor.

Will I be sharing my tutor with other students in a small group?
In especially popular courses, it is not possible to serve the volume of students who've requested tutoring without grouping students. The small groups tutoring will be made up of 2-3 students and a tutor.

Can my tutor do my homework with me?
No, your tutor will assist you by explaining the concepts that you don't understand. Your tutor may even go over study skills, learning styles, and many other learning techniques that can help you in all of your coursework at EWU.

What is on the tutoring agreement?
The tutoring agreement goes over the goals of tutoring, how they are and are not reached, the student’s responsibilities in the tutoring relationship, and the tutor’s responsibilities. Your tutor should go over this with you during your first session.

Online Tutoring

Need help logging in or using Online Tutoring? Use this manual to help you navigate the site. 

Online Tutoring Demonstration Packet

When is Online Tutoring open?
Students may access Online Tutoring 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  However, because our tutors are also students, they are not scheduled through the night. Live tutors are generally available from about 7 AM until 11 PM PST.

How does Online Tutoring work?

  • Live Tutoring is available to all registered EWU students. Here you can meet one on one with a tutor via a fully interactive online whiteboard with the option of using Live Chat with a microphone and headphones.
  • Offline eQuestions is a service that allows you to leave a specific question for an eTutor who will respond within 48 hours.
  • The eWriting Lab is a service that students can use for writing assistance. Students can upload up to three drafts of a paper they are working on for an eTutor to read over and provide comments. Responses from an eTutor generally take up to 48 hours.

What credentials do Online Tutors have?
Our tutors are all at different places in their studies — just like you are! This means that one tutor in Calculus (or any subject) might have different levels of expertise than other tutors in the same subject. If you find a tutor and s/he can’t help you with your problem, we encourage you to find another tutor who may be able to help you.

What does Online Tutoring cost?
Online Tutoring is provided at no cost to EWU students.

What times are certain tutors available?
Online Tutoring schedule and subjects can be found by logging onto the Online Tutoring site.

What subjects are available for Online Tutoring?

  • Accounting
  • American Sign Language (ASL)
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Biology (including Anatomy & Physiology)
  • Calculus
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science (Java & C++ only)
  • Economics
  • Math (from the developmental level through Calc II)
  • Microsoft Office
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Web Development
  • Writing Lab including Graduate Writing

Who Can Use Online Tutoring?

  • EWU Cheney Campus
  • EWU Spokane Campus
  • EWU at Bellevue College
  • EWU at Clark College
  • EWU at Lake Washington Institute of Technology
  • EWU at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland
  • EWU at Lower Columbia College
  • EWU at North Seattle Community College
  • EWU at Pierce College
  • EWU at Everett College
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