This fall, UW began implementing a program to address noticeable disparities in the student experience at the university.
The STEP tutoring program offers non-traditional peer tutoring to students in Coe Library. The initiative originated in the Department of Academic and Student Affairs last fall when a gap was noticed in the academic experience at UW. After its inception the program started offering help to students on September 7 of this year.
The STEP program operates exclusively in Coe Library and takes place from 6-10 in the evening Sunday through Thursday. The program is free and available to all students, with the tutoring itself taking place in half hour sessions.
The goal of the program is much different than other tutoring resources on campus said Jess Willford, the coordinator of the STEP program. The library was chosen because, “that’s where the students are studying and that’s where they get most of their work done,” said Willford.
“STEP is meant to be casual and informal, so that atmosphere is friendly and open”, Willford said. She also said that the less
The staff of STEP is comprised of 23 tutors, six of which are from the math assistance center. 18 tutors are hired directly through STEP. The lists of classes that are tutored are developed by working with institutional analysis to determine where the most assistance is needed.
Willford said these are classes are troubling to students in their first years of school.
“These are classes that have high drop, withdraw and fail rates, that students find challenging and struggle with more than others,” Willford said.
The program has grown steadily since it began operation in September, said Willford.
“We have had 1,064 appointments with over 325 different students,” she said. Although, her hopes for the program and its growth extend beyond the numbers the program has seen so far. “Over time there will be more than 300 students. We know there are more than 300 that need the help.”
The next big step for the program is to find full funding, as there is only partial funding guaranteed at this time. “Funding is our biggest issue, unfortunately the program may go away if we cannot find full funding which would really be a shame,” Willford said.
Cassidy Entsminger, a freshman nursing student, feels like the university does a great job of making tutoring resources around campus known. “I feel like I can get a tutor any time I need it and I think it’s more helpful than class,” she said
Entsminger says that tutoring offers several advantages that she does not get in her freshman level classes.
“I enjoy that the help is one on one, they also use explanations other than statistics for classes like bio,” she said. “I can ask personal questions and generally I learn better from my tutors.”
