Academic Support & Mentoring
The College of Engineering offers free academic support services staffed by trained, experienced engineering students to support undergraduate students in both their academic as well as personal success. Peer Tutoring is available by scheduling an appointment or by drop-in sessions. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program consisting of regularly scheduled study sessions with trained peers. Two peer-mentoring programs are available: The Peer Mentoring Program serves ENGR 1020 students, providing connections and resources to experience a successful first year. Check out your options below!
Peer Tutoring
The Peer Tutoring program is available by appointment and as a drop-in service, providing individual and small group tutoring to students. Trained peer tutors assist students in improving academic achievement by meeting with them on a regular basis to clarify learning problems, work on study skills through coaching, and assist the student in becoming a successful, independent learner. Other assistance might include reviewing class material, discussing the text, predicting test questions, formulating ideas for papers, or working on solutions to problems.
- Drop-In Tutoring
Drop-in tutoring is housed in Clement 208, the main office for the Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center. Drop-in tutoring is scheduled by course title, with times published in The Bulletin at the beginning of each semester. The course-tutoring schedule is also posted on the digital bulletin boards throughout the college and inside the success center.
To receive tutoring during drop-in hours, individual students or small groups of students can stop by 208 Clement during the scheduled hours and find available tutors stationed in the center.
- Tutoring by Appointment
Tutoring is available by appointment and takes priority over drop-in tutoring. You can guarantee a tutoring time by scheduling it in advance. All tutoring is housed in Clement 208, the main office for the Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center. To schedule a tutoring, visit your TechConnect portal to search for your course title and make an appointment.
- Become a Peer Tutor
Peer Tutors supplement classroom teaching, maintaining strict adherence to records, privacy, FERPA regulations and confidentiality while coaching students on improving academic achievement.
Qualifications
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in the College of Engineering.
- Responsible, dependable, honest, mature, and sensitive to a diversity of students.
- Must be able to commit to up to 10 hours weekly for tutoring. Hours may include nights and/or weekends.
- Must be able to attend mandatory training and meetings as scheduled. Must be willing to tutor in at least two of the following courses (grade on record must be an A or B and course must have been taken at TN Tech): CSC 1300, MATH 1710, MATH 1720, MATH 1730, MATH 1910, MATH 1920, MATH 2120, PHYS 2110, and other engineering/computer science courses as needed
Preferred Characteristics and Skills
- Disposition to help, prepare and teach others to achieve success.
- Willingness to collaborate with a team.
- Desire to learn
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
- Strong work ethic
- Basic computer skills
Responsibilities
- Attend tutor training at the beginning of the semester
- Provide face-to-face tutoring in the Student Success Center (CH 208) for drop-ins and appointments on a regular, weekly schedule (for a maximum of 10 hours per week)
- Submit reports in Tech Connect following tutoring appointments
Compensation
- Tutors are paid $10 per hour (Max of 10 hours per week)
If you are interested in applying to be an Tutor, please submit an application:
https://tntech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ehYHUFdxPCZf01M
For more information contact Dr. Elizabeth Powell at 931-372-3540 or epowell@tntech.edu
Supplemental Instruction
- About Supplemental Instruction
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic assistance program consisting of peer-assisted study sessions called recitations, facilitated by SI Leaders who have successful past experience with the course and attend all class lectures, take notes and act as model students.
Recitations are scheduled, informal review sessions in which students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools and predict test items. Students learn how to integrate course content and study skills while working together.
SI is a free service offered to all students in a targeted course considered challenging for most students. All students are encouraged to attend SI sessions, as it is a voluntary program. Students with varying levels of academic preparedness can participate.
SI is national model* used at many universities, with data showing that, on average, students who attend receive half- to a full-letter grade higher than those who do not attend.
** The Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center follows the model developed by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and administered by UMKC trained supervisors. - Become a Supplemental Instruction Leader
If you are someone looking for leadership experience, consider student employment as a Supplemental Instruction Leader.
Qualifications
- Must have taken the class for which you are an SI Leader and passed with a grade of A or B
- Must have the ability to communicate effectively
Responsibilities
- Attend SI Leader training at the beginning of the semester
- Attend all course classes
- Create lesson plans for SI sessions
- Hold a minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class sessions each week
Compensation
- SI Leaders are paid $10 per hour (Max of 10 hours per week)
If you are interested in applying to be an SI Leader, please submit an application:
https://tntech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dbZeNfZGoZxtkXA
For more information contact Dr. Elizabeth Powell at 931-372-3540 or epowell@tntech.edu
Peer Mentoring
The College of Engineering has two peer mentor programs:
- Engineering Peer Academic Leaders (ePALs) for freshmen and sophomores
- Transfer Student Success Peer Mentor Program for new transfer students.
To learn more about being a mentor or mentee in one of these programs, please read below and feel free to reach out to Dr. Powell for more information (epowell@tntech.edu).
Engineering Peer Academic Leaders
(ePALs)
ePALs is a peer mentor program that aids engineering, engineering technology, and computing freshmen and sophomores at Tennessee Tech University by connecting them with upper-level students in their major. These mentors assist freshmen and sophomores by using their knowledge and experience about what it means to be a student in the College of Engineering at Tech.
- » Why should you be a Peer Mentor?
The Peer Mentor Program at the Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center is seeking motivated engineering students who are passionate about helping others succeed. As a Peer Mentor, you will play a critical role in supporting freshmen and sophomore students in the College of Engineering, helping them transition smoothly into university life and thrive academically.
- » Responsibilities
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Meet Bi-weekly with assigned mentees
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Facilitate study sessions and exam reviews
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Help students find campus and community resources
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Help students become acclimated to campus life
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- » Requirements
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GPA of 2.8 or higher
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Undergraduate sophomore or higher
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Full-time engineering, engineering technology, or computing student in good standing
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- » Why join as a mentor?
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Hourly pay: $10/hour
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Gain leadership experience working with peers and new students.
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Learn about valuable campus resources and make connections within the College of Engineering.
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Build resume-enhancing skills for future career opportunities.
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Open doors to potential campus leadership roles.
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For more information about responsibilities and requirements, please contact Dr. Powell, epowell@tntech.edu.
If you’re enthusiastic about making a positive impact in your peers' university experience, apply today to join the Peer Mentor Program and help build a stronger engineering community!
Why should you participate as a mentee?
If you are a freshmen or sophomore engineering or interest-engineering student, you can apply to connect with a peer mentor in the Engineering Peer Academic Leaders (ePALs) program. Some of the benefits to participating as a mentee are as follows:
- Learn from upperclassmen about how to make a successful transition from high school to college.
- Learn from an engineering , engineering technology, or computing student about curriculum and registration.
- Get study tips from upperclassmen.
- Access career readiness resources.
- Learn about on- and off-campus resources.
- Engage in social activities with like-minded peers and peer mentors.
For more information about the peer mentor program, please contact Dr. Powell, epowell@tntech.edu.
If you would like to apply to be a mentee in the ePALs program, please fill out the following form.
Transfer Student Success Peer Mentor Program
The Transfer Student Success Peer Mentor Program is a peer mentor program that aids engineering, engineering technology, and computing new transfer students at Tennessee Tech University by connecting them with upper-level transfer students in their major. These mentors assist transfer students by using their knowledge and experience about how to make a successful transition from another institution to the College of Engineering at Tech.
- » Why should you be a Peer Mentor?
The Peer Mentor Program at the Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center is seeking motivated transfer, engineering students who are passionate about helping others succeed. As a Peer Mentor, you will play a critical role in supporting transfer students in the College of Engineering, helping them navigate the transition from their previous institution to Tech.
- » Responsibilities
-
Meet Bi-weekly with assigned mentees
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Help students access student orgs and other groups of interest
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Facilitate study sessions and exam reviews
-
Help students find campus and community resources
-
- » Requirements
• GPA of 2.8 or higher
• Undergraduate sophomore or higher who transferred from another institution to Tech
• Full-time engineering, engineering technology, or computing student in good standing - » Why Join as a mentor?
-
Hourly pay: $10/hour
-
Gain leadership experience working with peers and new students.
-
Learn about valuable campus resources and make connections within the College of Engineering.
-
Build resume-enhancing skills for future career opportunities.
-
Open doors to potential campus leadership roles.
-
For more information about responsibilities and requirements, please contact Dr. Powell, epowell@tntech.edu.
If you’re enthusiastic about making a positive impact in your peers' university experience, apply today to join the Peer Mentor program and help build a stronger engineering community!
Why should you participate as a mentee?
If you are a new transfer student, you can apply to connect with a peer mentor in the Transfer Student Success Mentor program. Some of the benefits to participating as a mentee are as follows:
- Learn from students how to navigate the challenges of transferring to Tech.
- Get to know other transfer students and students in your major.
- Access career readiness resources.
- Learn about on- and off-campus resources.
- Engage in social activities with like-minded peers and peer mentors.
For more information about the peer mentor program, please contact Dr. Powell, epowell@tntech.edu.
If you would like to apply to be a mentee in the Transfer Student Success Peer Mentor program, please fill out the following form.
We're here. Let's talk.
Location:
Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center
Clement Hall 208
Hours:
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT
Call or email:
931-372-3553
engineeringssc@tntech.edu
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