Tutoring
The Student Success Center offers free, individual tutoring to USC Upstate students.
Tutors primarily help with 100- and 200-level courses. Students may schedule two tutoring appointments per week for each course they are taking. These 1-hour appointments must be made 24 hours in advance. For writing assistance, please contact the Writing Center.
For math assistance, students may also stop by our drop-in Math Lab. The Math Lab is open Mondays through Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm in Library 203.
Location
The Student Success Center is located on the second floor of the USC Upstate Library. Face-to-face appointments are typically held in the library or at the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics in downtown Spartanburg. The appointment reservation will specify the meeting place. Students may also choose to attend all appointments virtually.
Schedule a Tutoring Appointment
To schedule a tutoring appointment with the Student Success Center, please contact Jana Gordon in Library 210 by phone at 864-503-5070 or email (jgordon7@uscupstate.edu).
Preparing for Your Session
Come prepared for your tutoring session. Tutoring sessions last 1 hour, so preparation is essential. Consider reviewing your notes before your tutoring session and making a list of the concepts you are struggling with to share with the tutor.
We recommend having questions ready when attending a tutoring session. It is also a good idea to bring the following items:
- your textbook
- your class notes
- assigned readings
- examples provided by instructors
Online users should download Microsoft Teams before their session.
Tutors cannot and will not assist with any graded assignments, such as homework or take-home tests/quizzes that you have not yet submitted for a grade. In addition, tutors are not a replacement for your professor. Your professors’ office hours are an excellent source of academic assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
Try not to cancel an appointment unless it is an emergency. If you do need to cancel, contact Jana Gordon 24 hours prior to the appointment time. Call 864-503-5070 or email jgordon7@uscupstate.edu. Students who frequently “no show” will no longer have access to tutoring services.
When should I use tutoring?
Take advantage of tutoring early and often, rather than waiting until the night before a test. To get the most out of tutoring, make sure to consider these guidelines:
- Show up early to sessions so you have enough time to ask questions and get assistance.
- Attend sessions early in the semester, as sessions before a test may not be available and/or unable to cover all the topics needed in a limited timeframe.
- Attend sessions often throughout the semester to stay on top of course concepts and assignments.
- Do not wait until mid-terms or the final exam to attend tutoring sessions.
What if tutoring is not offered for my course?
If a tutor is not readily available for your course, submit a request to Jana Gordon at jgordon7@uscupstate.edu. We will make every effort to find an available tutor for 100-, 200- and some 300-level courses. Tutors are not available for 400-level courses.
How can I become a tutor?
Being a tutor is a great way to be part of our campus community and offer indispensable support to many students. The College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) has recognized USC Upstate’s tutors under the International Tutor Training Program Certification. All of our tutors are CLRA certified.
If you are interested in becoming a tutor, please complete the tutor application below:
You may also contact Jana Gordon at jgordon7@uscupstate.edu.