The Academic Success Center (ASC) is the home for tutoring services at Pitt-Johnstown. Tutoring is specifically designed to meet students’ academic needs, with the goal to increase students’ academic success in all content areas. All tutoring services are free of charge.
The Pitt-Johnstown tutoring program follows a peer tutoring model, with full-time students providing all tutoring services. Peer tutors help fellow students develop the skills they need to succeed as independent learners. They model effective strategies and methods for approaching challenging course material.
All tutoring sessions are conducted on campus in public areas. Tutoring may occur as frequently as the tutee requests and at the convenience of the tutors' and tutees' schedules
At Pitt-Johnstown, students have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one individual tutoring, small group tutoring, drop-in sessions, and Supplemental Instruction (SI).
For more information about each type of tutoring, please select the links below. Tutoring may begin during week 2 of the semester; SI and drop-in sessions begin during the third week.
- Drop In Tutoring
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The Academic Success Center, in collaboration with several academic departments, offers drop-in tutoring for Chemistry, Math, Public Speaking, Biology, Physics, and Writing.
Students do not have to schedule an appointment to attend drop-in tutoring and all services are free. Students may simply show up to a drop-in location during the time below and ask for specific help with a project, assignment, or topic. Students are encouraged to show up no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled end of a drop-in tutoring session
- Individual and Group Tutoring
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Discussing course material and related ideas is a highly effective means to understand and remember content—and individual tutors can serve this role with students, who may request an individual tutor for any class. Each semester, students are eligible to request a tutor for up to two courses. For courses with a higher demand, group tutoring may be offered instead of one-on-one tutoring.
Students must first request a tutor via Pathways. It is the student's responsibility to contact the tutor to arrange a meeting time and place (a public area on campus).
Information about requesting a tutor:
If you have any questions regarding one-on-one matches, please email tutorupj@pitt.edu.
- Supplemental Instruction
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Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an internationally recognized academic success initiative designed to target high-risk courses and courses with high enrollment rates of first-year students and courses that serve as broad electives and prerequisite courses but may be more difficult. In SI, peer leaders are trained not only to review content but also to help students improve study skills and develop general academic success strategies geared toward each specific course. SI leaders work closely with the collaborating faculty member to provide additional content support to students in the sessions. Students who are in another section of the course (which may not offer SI opportunities) are still welcome to drop in to any SI session as appropriate.
Supplemental Instruction Sessions, Spring 2025
Instructor Course SI Leader Location Time Robart BIOL 110: Biology 1 Smith Krebs 120 6 p.m. Thursdays Dahlin BIOL 120: Biology 2 Fetsko Krebs 240 7 p.m. Tuesdays Webb BIOL 360: Cell Biology Charity Krebs 240 7 p.m. Wednesdays Bonachea BIOL 950: A & P 1 Pavusek Nursing 103 6 p.m. Thursdays Henning BIOL 970: A & P 2 Pavusek Nursing 103 7 p..m. Thursdays Bird CHEM 111/150: Chem 1 Derricott E & S 273 6 p.m. Tuesdays Ritchey CHEM 112/151: Chem 2 Bean E & S 241 5 p.m. Tuesday/Thursday Grimminger CHEM 112/151: Chem 2 Stahl E & S 273 5 p.m. Wednesdays Bell-Loncella CHEM 190: Chem for Health Professions Morgan E & S 273 6 p.m. Thursdays Nigam CHEM 231: Organic Chemistry Pebley E & S 273 5 p.m. Tuesday/Thursday Kunberger ENGR 0132: Statics Hurley E & S 130 6 p.m. Thursdays Coughenour GEOL 1005: Geomorphology Howard Blackington 141 Blackington 134 4 p.m. Tuesdays; 1 p.m. Thursdays Hoffman MATH 0002: College Algebra Mucci Krebs 240 6 p.m. Thursdays Klavuhn ME 0052: Thermodynamics Massart E & S 115 3 p.m. Monday/Friday Khanal PHYS 150: Physics 1 Bean Krebs 131 5 p.m. Tuesdays Khanal PHYS 152: Physics 2 Mattiko Krebs 130 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays Wilson SPLED 1040: Autism Spectrum Disorder (BRIDGE) Shank, Rossetti Biddle 141 12 p.m. Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. Fridays
- Become a Peer Tutor
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Peer tutoring at Pitt-Johnstown offers you a unique opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience. In addition to providing a valuable service to other students, it further develops a tutor's cognitive and affective skills, looks great on a resume, and allows students to study past course material they may need in the future.
What are the benefits of being a peer tutor?
- Valuable and rewarding experience in providing academic assistance to fellow students
- Opportunity to review important course concepts and to learn new ways of helping students master course material
- Training and experience in areas such as helping strategies, problem solving, and instructional methods
- Tutors earn $10-$12 per hour and may request letters of recommendation from Academic Success Center Staff
- Ability to work as much (up to 20 hours/week) or as little as you'd like
- Looks great on a resume!
How do I become a tutor?
Peer tutors are hired at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. To become a tutor, apply online, interview with the Tutoring Coordinator, submit all HR paperwork, and complete New Tutor Training.
More detailed information is emailed each semester, so please be sure to regularly check your email.Students who would like to be a course SI must be requested by the professor or instructor of the course.
Am I qualified to be a tutor?
- A strong record of achievement in content areas (minimum B+ in the designated courses)
- An overall solid record of achievement (cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher)
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including positive attitude, empathy, patience, and openness
- A strong commitment to helping students succeed academically
- Basic skills necessary to facilitate peer learning (active listening, appropriate and effective explanation and demonstration of content, recognition of learner’s strengths, etc.)
For more information about the tutoring program, please email tutorupj@pitt.edu.