UH-Victoria

Employment (Peer Tutors and Supplemental Instruction Leaders)

Welcome to the Academic Center’s employment page. Here you can learn about the benefits of working as a Peer Tutor or Supplemental Instruction Leader while going to school, about the positions available, and about how to apply.

Email Sandra Heinold if you have questions about working in the Academic Center or applying to be a Peer Tutor or Supplemental Instruction Leader.

In Victoria, we’re seeking tutors in writing (multiple positions, 10-19 hours weekly), math/statistics (two positions, 10-19 hours weekly), government (one position, 10 hours weekly), and biology, including nutrition (1 position, 5 hours weekly).

In Sugar Land, we’re seeking tutors in writing (1 position, 10-15 hours weekly), math/statistics (1 position, 5-8 hours weekly), biology (1 position, 5 hours weekly), and computer science (1 position, 5 hours weekly).

Benefits of Working in the Academic Center

Peer Tutors and Supplemental Instruction Leaders get to . . .

  • Earn money for college or living expenses,
  • Meet and work with really great people,
  • Build their resumes,
  • Get published,
  • Enhance communication skills,
  • Learn more by teaching others,
  • Network with faculty and students, and
  • Earn certification from the College Reading and Learning Association.

Consider applying for one of the positions below. We accept applications throughout the year, and we hire at the beginning of each fall and spring semester.

Become a Peer Tutor:

Peer tutors encourage and support students by providing one-to-one or group tutoring about content knowledge (e.g., math, biology, etc.), writing skills, or academic success strategies (e.g., study skills). Practically, what tutors do is to help students develop strategies for learning course content, to encourage students to evaluate their writing skills analytically, and/or to provide tips for note-taking, reading comprehension, or test taking.

Peer tutors work at least ten hours but no more than nineteen hours weekly. Scheduling is flexible; tutors typically have a great deal of input into the number of hours and when they want to work these hours, so arranging work around their school schedule is possible.

Tutors often tutor more than one subject (math, computer science, biology, writing, and so on), but aren’t required to. Tutoring may occur online or face to face.

Qualifications:

  • Enrollment at UHV and maintenance of a high GPA (minimum: 3.0/4.0).
  • Successful completion of courses in the subject(s) the tutor is tutoring with an A or B. Writing tutors should have completed ENG 3430.
  • Recommendations by UHV faculty (or high school teachers if the course was for college credit) in subject-areas being tutored. Two total recommendations are required. If you’re applying to tutor more than one subject (e.g., writing and math), you’ll need at least one recommendation for each subject.
  • Possession of superior communication and interpersonal skills and basic or greater computer skills.
  • Enthusiasm for helping others along with an appreciation of different points of view or ways of thinking.
  • Ability to work independently within a larger context of team cooperation along with the ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks.

Become a Supplemental Instruction Leader:

Supplemental Instruction Leaders provide support to one section of an academic course (e.g., one section of college algebra) by providing review sessions for course work and information about academic success strategies (e.g., study skills). Supplemental Instruction Leaders also work closely with faculty members by sitting in every class, and leaders prepare carefully for each review session, developing appropriate materials to support the session. Time spent working with students, in preparing, and in attending class is paid (usually between 9 and 12 hours a week for each section of a class).

Qualifications:

  • Enrollment at UHV and maintenance of a high GPA (minimum: 3.0/4.0).
  • Successful completion of courses or a similar course the supplemental instruction leader is providing support for with an A or B.
  • Recommendations by UHV faculty. At least two recommendations are needed. At least one must be the in subject-area you wish to work in.
  • Possession of superior communication and interpersonal skills and basic or greater computer skills.
  • Enthusiasm for helping others along with an appreciation of different points of view or ways of thinking.
  • Ability to work independently within a larger context of team cooperation along with the ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities of Peer Tutors and Supplemental Instruction Leaders

Your main responsibility as a Peer Tutor or Supplemental Instruction Leader is to encourage and support students in a positive and enriching learning environment. You may provide one-to-one or group instructional assistance about content knowledge or academic success strategies (e.g., study skills).

To work as a Peer Tutor or Supplemental Instruction Leader, you must fulfill the following responsibilities:

  • Participate actively in all Academic Center training sessions (between three and six Friday mornings at the beginning of the semester) and complete required UH System and UHV Student Worker Training programs. (Training is paid.)
  • Arrive on time for all scheduled shifts in the Academic Center.
  • Conduct one-to-one, group, or Supplemental Instruction sessions. Tutor online when required.
  • Maintain professionalism and confidentiality.
  • Maintain Academic Center records.
  • Enhance professional development by participating in Academic Center activities.
  • Communicate with fellow tutors, Supplemental Instruction Leaders, and full-time staff to ensure that the Center functions effectively and students receive the best possible instructional assistance.

Peer Tutors and Supplemental Instruction Leaders may not grade assignments or tutor exams or finals, but they may conduct review sessions for exams.

Application Directions

  • Submit a UHV Application for Student Employment. Available within CareerLink!
  • Ask instructors to fill out the Recommendation Form (PDF 86KB) and forward to the Academic Center. (You should complete the top part.) Please note that you need at least one recommendation from an instructor in the subject to tutor in that subject. (So, if you’d like to tutor freshman composition and college algebra, you will need to ask a writing instructor and a math instructor who are familiar with your work to submit the recommendation forms.)
  • Submit a resume and cover letter (An interest essay, an essay describing why you’re interested in becoming a tutor or SI Leader, can be substituted for the cover letter).

Writing tutor applicants must also submit a writing sample (a research paper or researched essay).

Send all application materials to the Academic Center, University of Houston-Victoria, ATTN: Director, Student Success, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Room 129 UW, Victoria, Texas, 77901, or deliver to University West, Suite 129. You can also submit documents within CareerLink! or via email to harkeyw@uhv.edu.