Resources/Frequently Asked Questions

Additional Resources General FAQs Study Groups FAQs Tutoring FAQs E-Tutoring FAQs

Additional Resources

While the PLUS program provides academic support services to over a thousand students per quarter, we cannot provide an in-person study group or tutor for every course or student. We always recommend using your instructor as a primary resource. Talk to them before or after class, send them a Canvas message, and check their office hours on the course syllabus. If you cannot attend office hours, try scheduling an appointment with them via email/Canvas message, phone, or after class. The list below provides additional resources on campus and online that can help students succeed in their coursework:

For Math/Statistics/Accounting/Economics:

The Kingston Math Lab offers free drop-in math tutoring on Zoom.
- Please view their schedules for MATH and MTHD including ALEKS using the link above.
Calculator, Laptop, Tablet, Headphone Loans! JFK Library provides some technology equipment checkouts.
Chegg Learn, a free learning resource that provides students with comprehensive information on a wide range of topics spanning relevant coursework like Calculus.
Chegg Prep https://www.chegg.com/flashcards/create-flashcards , is a brand new, FREE service students can use to find, create, share and study flashcards for any subject
FREE! Open Source Textbooks, link 2 LibGuide courtesy of JFK Librarian Liya Deng.
Numerade provides free helpful tutorial videos similar to Khan Academy, for
- Algebra 1 and 2
- Precalc
- Calc 1, 2, and 3
Anki and Quizlet are digital flashcard tools. Create a Kahoot game to test your knowledge of concepts and play it with study buddies.
Paul's Online Math Notes provides free detailed notes, practice questions, and cheat sheets from algebra to differential equations.
Finite Mathematics tutorials, quizzes, and games.
WikiHow has guided visual walkthroughs with pictures and practice quizzes for statistics topics like Variance or Using a TI-84 Calculator for Standard Deviation and mathematics, like Finding the Y Intercept and Dividing Polynomials
Anki and Quizlet are digital flashcard tools. Create a Kahoot game to test your knowledge of concepts and play it with study buddies.
Chegg Learn, a free learning resource that provides students with comprehensive information on a wide range of topics spanning relevant coursework like Chemistry and Physics.
FREE Open Source Textbooks, link 2 LibGuide courtesy of JFK Librarian Liya Deng.
Numerade provides free helpful tutorial videos similar to Khan Academy, for:
- General Chemistry 1 and 2
- Organic Chemistry
- Physics 1, 2, and 3.
  - Need to refresh on algebra? Check these resources out - 1 and 2.

MasteringOrganicChemistry has a helpful blog with tips on how to succeed in organic chemistry and learning vs. memorizing.
Organic Chemist on Call provides links to various problem-solving videos, lectures, and blog posts.
WikiHow has guided visual walkthroughs with pictures and practice quizzes for Physics concepts.

For Computer Science and Engineering:

The Computer Science (CS) department provides drop-in tutoring. Contact department for details.
Calculator, Laptop, Tablet, Headphone Loans! JFK Library provides some technology equipment checkouts.
PythonTutor helps you visualize your code for various computer languages including Java, C++, C, Python, and more.
Open Source Textbooks, link 2 courtesy of JFK Librarian Liya Deng
Chegg Learn, a free learning resource that provides students with comprehensive information on a wide range of topics spanning relevant coursework like Computer Science, Software, Engineering & Technology.

For English writing courses and Modern Languages:

The Writers' Center in the Learning Commons provides responders who will meet with you individually for a one-time scheduled appointment or you can choose to schedule weekly appointments (they also offer Skype sessions and a texting service). Responders have a master's and/or doctoral degree.
- Book an appointment online at: https://inside.ewu.edu/writerscenter/.
The Purdue OWL provides writing guides for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, as well as formatting examples for your Works Cited, in-text citations, quotations, paraphrasing and more!
The Spokane Public Library and Spokane County Library District provide free access to the Pronunciator language-learning resource (just need a library card), including ESL.

General Assistance:

Khan Academy offers free online assistance for a variety of subjects.
Anki and Quizlet are digital flashcard tools. Create a Kahoot game to test your knowledge of concepts and play it with study buddies.
FREE Open Source Textbooks, link 2 courtesy of JFK Librarian Liya Deng
Calculator, Laptop, Tablet, Headphone Loans! JFK Library provides some technology equipment checkouts.
Struggling with Procrastination? Check out this quick video for tips.
Want more college tips on test-taking, test anxiety, note-taking, and more? View the College 101: Best Practices for Studying video playlist

PLUS Services:

PLUS Drop-In Tutoring
PLUS Online Tutoring is a user friendly online service that allows students to work with tutors online for a given subject or post questions.
- Online Tutoring How-To Manual with screenshots

General FAQs

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 or at the Catalyst building - please check in with the study group PAL (peer-assisted leader) for updates.

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 FAQs

Who can use study groups? Do I have to sign up?
Any students who are enrolled in a course listed on the quarterly/semester 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 term to term 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 FAQs

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.

E-Tutoring FAQs

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