 |
 |
LouAnn, We are at a small liberal arts college, so we probably have far fewer students to deal with than you do. We still run into a lot of no-shows, cancellations, and re-scheduling, but we've instituted a couple of policies that seem to help in keeping it manageable. First, there are no tutoring appointments set up in the first week of classes--tutors are still getting their schedules put together and this gives us time to solidify who's going to be available when. Also, we don't set up permanent appointments (i.e., a set time for the student to meet with the tutor) in the first three weeks of classes. The student has to meet with the tutor at least once and discuss the best time for a regular session. Then, the student can set up a weekly appointment for four weeks--after that, they can sign up for the same time, if it's available, or another time, for the next four weeks. We've discovered there's a certain amount of "panic scheduling" in the first few weeks of the semester--students who freak out after a few meetings of a difficult class, sign up for a tutor, and then get a handle on the course and never show up for appointments. We've found that a few timing policies help everyone think rationally about what they really need, and can really do. I hope this helps, and good luck! --Bailey Smith University of La Verne >===== Original Message From Open Forum for Learning Assistance Professionals <[log in to unmask]> ===== >Hi all, > >As the peer tutoring coordinator of a community college, one of the problems that I am experiencing this fall is that students are coming back once they have been scheduled with a tutor and telling me that they can't be here at the time they are scheduled and they need a new day and time. They have had a variety of excuses: my schedule changed, my work schedule changed, my carpool times have changed, I am in class at that time, I must have put down the wrong times I had available, etc. Has anyone else ever had this problem? I have a sign hanging up that states for them to consider carefully the hours that they say they are available on their request forms. In the past I would always have a few change requests but never a many as I have had this fall. It has become a real headache because of budget cuts, I have less hours to work with for tutoring purposes and then students want a time that is more convenient for them. > >I have considered a more automated system of scheduling, but I don't think it would ever work at our school. There are just too many variables out there when it comes tutor/student scheduling. Or am I being too flexible with the students? I figure that the more convienct it is for them the more likely they are to show up for tutoring. > >Does anyone else have thoughts on this topic? >LouAnn Oppitz >Peer Tutoring Coordinator >Inver Hills Community College >Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 >(651) 450-8693 >[log in to unmask] > >To Unsubscribe, >send a message to [log in to unmask] >In body type: SIGNOFF LRNASST. To Unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] In body type: SIGNOFF LRNASST.