Tutoring

Peer Connections tutors enhance students’ individual learning in particular courses. Tutoring is FREE for SJSU students.

Classic tutors offer appointments for a wide variety of subjects as well as undergraduate and graduate student writing. Embedded tutors are assigned to specific sections and attend every class. Outside of class, they offer tutoring appointments for students in that course as well as other classes. 

Check out our List of Tutored Courses for more information on the many courses we can assist you with. Meet our Classic Tutors and Meet our Embedded Tutors to learn more about them.

Our tutoring program is internationally certified by the College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA).

Tutoring Appointments:

How do I make an appointment?

You can make appointments online or by phone at 408-924-2587. We offer both in-person and online/virtual appointments.

In-person appointments will take place in Peer Connections (SSC 600). Online/virtual appointments will take place on Zoom. Once your appointment is scheduled, an email confirmation, along with the Zoom link, will be sent to your email address as saved on mySJSU. A tutor will reach out to introduce themselves and to inquire about your session goals.

Students may work with a tutor for 30 minutes or 1 hour. In most cases, we recommend making a 1 hour appointment so you have sufficient time to try out new strategies with your tutor.

Please note that you can only schedule 30 minute appointments via phone at 408-924-2587 or emailing us at peerconnections@sjsu.edu.

Do you offer drop-in tutoring?

We currently offer drop-ins for Math, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Please visit Spartan Connect for information on our drop-in availability.

Goal of Tutoring

How will my tutor assist me?

The goal of tutoring is for you to become a more independent and confident student. Tutors are skilled at asking questions, suggesting study strategies, and clarifying concepts to help you learn in your classes. For example, a math tutor might walk you through an example problem to clarify the differences between two concepts, while a writing tutor might ask you questions about your essay to help you better organize it.

Tutors will not do your work for you. That means they will not do your homework, check every problem in your assignments, or edit your papers. You will learn to do those things for yourself!       

Frequently Asked Questions about Tutoring:

How many appointments can I make per day?  Per week?

Undergraduate students: Undergraduates may schedule a maximum of two appointments per day, as long as they are for different subjects. For example, you could have a CHEM 1A appointment in the morning and a Physics 2A appointment in the afternoon. We recommend giving yourself at least a 30 minute break between appointments to rest your brain and prepare for your second appointment.

Undergraduate students may schedule a maximum of one appointment per subject per week. This is so we can provide tutoring for as many students as possible. Also, the goal of tutoring is for you to become a more independent and confident student, so you need time to try out what you have learned in tutoring between sessions.

Graduate writing students: Graduate writing students may schedule a maximum of one appointment per week. Please visit the SJSU Writing Center[BROKEN LINK] for drop-in writing tutoring for graduate students.

How far in advance can I schedule an appointment?

If you wish, you may schedule recurring appointments for the same day and time with the same tutor throughout the semester, depending on the tutor's availability.

How do I cancel my appointment?

You can cancel an appointment online or by e-mailing us at peerconnections@sjsu.edu.

What happens if I do not show up for my appointment or if I cancel less than 24 hours before the session is scheduled to begin?

It will be considered a "no show" appointment. If you "no show" three times, you will need to speak with a Peer Connections professional staff member before scheduling additional appointments.    

Many of the departments and programs at SJSU use the same Spartan Connect system. Please note that if you have "no shows" in multiple programs (e.g. you miss an advising appointment and "no show" at the Jack Holland Student Success Center), you might need to speak with one of our professional staff members before scheduling additional tutoring appointments in Peer Connections.

What is a typical tutoring session like?

At the beginning of the appointment, you and your tutor will set goals for the session. Your tutor will ask you questions, suggest study strategies, and clarify concepts to help you meet those goals. You will leave the session with a record of what you worked on with your tutor and a plan for studying or completing your assignments on your own. 

I am registered with the SJSU Accessible Education Center (AEC) and need accommodations for tutoring.  Can you provide those accommodations?

Yes, of course! The request for tutoring accommodations begins at the AEC. All accommodations, including support with tutoring, are determined by the AEC. Please contact AEC to request support with tutoring services. AEC will also send us a letter with your tutoring accommodation and our staff will ensure your request is met.

Will I work with the same tutor each time?

Based on our experience and best practices in the field of academic support, we strongly suggest that students work with the same tutor throughout the semester. This makes your tutoring time more efficient, because you won’t have to catch up a new tutor on the details of your course, your experience, and your unique learning preferences. 

Working with more than one tutor can be confusing for students because no two tutors are exactly alike; they might give different advice or explain the same ideas differently, leaving you uncertain about what to do.

What if my tutor isn’t available at a time I want to make an appointment?  Can I meet with another tutor?

If your schedule changes, let your tutor know and see if there is a new time you can meet together. If there is an instance your tutor is unavailable (because they are sick, for example), wait until they return or make an appointment with another tutor if one is available.

What if I start out working with one tutor, then want to switch?

You are welcome to switch tutors over the course of the semester. It is polite to let your current tutor know that you will be switching. The Peer Connections staff understand that sometimes a tutor and a student are not a good match.

I am looking for private tutoring for my middle schooler or high schooler, or a friend who is not enrolled at SJSU, etc.  Can Peer Connections tutors provide private tutoring services?

We do not provide private tutoring. If you are looking for a private tutor for a K-12 student, we recommend you ask the student’s school staff for resources.