Calvin News

Noelle Haviland came to Calvin as an Honors student.  

But when it came to Calculus … “I felt lost,” said Haviland. “I didn’t even know what it was I didn’t understand.” 

While Haviland worked really hard and ultimately did okay in the class, she admits she waited too long to ask for help, and it caused her to struggle. So, when her statistics class came around, she didn’t make that same mistake.

Taking a different approach

“I decided to get a tutor right away and take advantage of that resource and also having someone as an accountability partner to make sure I was doing my homework,” said Haviland. 

While Haviland was receiving tutoring in one area, she was tutoring her peers in others. 

“Everyone has different strengths academically and I feel that that’s another way tutoring is helpful, sharing those skills,” said Haviland. “Someone who is really good at math helping someone in the humanities, and vice versa.” 

It's like iron sharpening iron. Emily Bosscher, a peer support coordinator and academic counselor at Calvin University, says that a peer-to-peer tutoring model has proven to be successful.

Using a proven model

“We have a peer tutoring model at Calvin, and nationally the research shows that’s the better model,” said Bosscher. “Students respond better to their own peers. They want to be with someone who has just been in the trenches, who has just experienced that particular professor’s way of teaching and testing.” 

This model provides students with a trusted guide, with someone who has been there, done that, and recently. Bosscher gets recommendations for tutors from professors and then trains the students on the techniques and the logistics of being a good tutor.  

“If you did well in the class and have a passion for helping other people, that’s pretty much all you need,” said Bosscher.

Ask for guidance ... early

Bosscher says that tutoring is just one of the academic supports offered to students at Calvin. She said her office also offers coaching and group study sessions.  She says while there are plenty of academic supports in place, too many students decide to ask for tutoring out of panic rather than prudence. 

“I would recommend any student set up an appointment with a counselor in Student Success to determine if tutoring or coaching is the best direction given their situation,” said Bosscher. “We love to counsel people early on to find the best route, so they don’t have to get to a place of panic.”

For Haviland, who has now benefitted from being both the recipient and provider of tutoring and coaching, she sees the benefit of moving from a feeling of being lost to one of confidence. 

Your peers want to help

“Sometimes admitting to yourself you need help can be difficult, but it’s important because you don’t want to stay stuck or struggling when there are resources that can help you,” said Haviland. 

Students who choose tutoring have a 1-on-1 one-hour session every week with a peer who has a grasp on the material being taught and understands the style of the professor teaching it.  

“If you are struggling in a class and you really want help from someone who has been in your position before, gone through that class with that professor, then tutoring is a really great resource,” said Haviland. 

Equipped to thrive

Students who choose coaching spend time each week with a peer mentor learning time management, study skills, the importance of getting enough sleep, and other skills important to making the transition from high school to college expectations. 

“I think that many of the tutoring requests that come in are probably better served by teaching study skills, and so coaching is a way that we can help students,” said Bosscher. 

Bosscher says there are 120 tutors currently on staff. Last year more than 500 students were involved in one-on-one tutoring or coaching pairings and there were 1,850 visits to study sessions. 

Whether you are looking to become a tutor or coach or to receive tutoring or coaching, or both, contact Emily Bosscher.