USF Sarasota-Manatee tutoring program earns certification

Both the LSS’ regular tutoring and advanced tutoring programs are now certified by The College of Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), attesting to the quality and effectiveness of the LSS’ tutors. The recognition took a year to achieve.

“This is very significant because it has taken us a long time to achieve certification because of all of the documentation that had to be submitted,” said Dr. Su Senapati, faculty coordinator of LSS. “This certification assures students that the tutors who help them with academics are highly skilled and professional.”

Learning Support Services began as a writing consultation service but developed into a comprehensive, structured program when tutoring in such subjects as math, Spanish, accounting, finance and the sciences were added to meet student needs. The certification, known officially as the International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTP), represents the LSS’ crowning achievement.

To attain the CRLA approval, the office needed to submit documentation to demonstrate how it recruited, trained and assessed its tutors, as well as how it prepared them for different kinds of learners.

“The tutors must undergo hours of training,” Dr. Senapati said. “It’s important for the students seeking help to learn the material rather than have the answers given to them. Tutors have to walk a fine line.”

During the last academic year, the LSS’ tutors handled 373 student visits, providing 1,045 hours of one-on-one tutoring while achieving a 99.9 percent student-approval rating. Learning Support Services in located in the auxiliary building at the campus’ north end.

Certification of the LSS’ “master tutors” is expected later this year.

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