The Academic Achievement Center at William Jewell College has switched to using an outside online platform for tutoring services as opposed to having college students tutor their peers.

All students now have access to TutorMe, a virtual service that pairs students with highly educated tutors in a variety of subjects. The service’s website boasts that tutoring is available at all times and students will be connected with a tutor within 30 seconds of a request.

Pharamond Guice, director of the Academic Achievement Center, pushed for the switch because he feels it makes high quality tutoring more accessible for students.

“A concern I had over the years was getting tutors, and then getting good tutors, and then getting good tutors to commit,” Guice said.

In the past, the Academic Achievement Center hired Jewell students to tutor their peers. Guice experienced Jewell tutors not responding to requests for tutoring, not showing up and giving confusing instruction. TutorMe means students are able to get qualified instruction the moment they need it.

Guice says he had been interested in investing in a virtual tutoring platform for about three years. He expected to make the transition in the next two years but implemented the change sooner because of COVID-19.

“COVID shined a big, bright light on a lot of different issues. In auditing the way I work and the way I structure academic achievement center, I’ve essentially eliminated the barrier to tutoring,” Guice said.

In the past, students filled out a Google Form to request a tutor. The Academic Achievement Center would then process the request and assign a student to a tutor. After a tutor was assigned they would initiate a tutoring session. This process could take anywhere from 24 hours to one week.

Now to request a tutor a student should enroll in AAC 101 on Moodle. The Moodle page provides instruction for both Critical Thought and Inquiry (CTI) and non-CTI courses.

Tutoring for non-CTI courses will be provided exclusively via TutorMe. Students must first watch a brief instructional video before following the Moodle page’s instructions on connecting with a TutorMe tutor. 

Guice likes that he can see analytic data on TutorMe’s website. 

“You can see the ratings that the students give their tutors. It’s just incredible,” Guice said of this analytic feature. 

He purchased 200 hours of tutoring back in March. Students have used six hours so far. He expects to see a significant increase in tutoring with the release of week five grades in October.

Guice has received positive feedback from students who have already used the service.

“I had a first-year student actually reach out to me to give me her review of the platform and ironically enough her tutor with whom she connected actually studied the same Latin book she was using. It was pretty cool to hear that story,” Guice said.

The cost of the platform is one drawback. However, Guice believes the investment is worth it for the quality of instruction. 

The Academic Achievement Center had no training system for tutors. With TutorMe, Guice likes that students always get qualified tutors.

He also notes that TutorMe makes tutoring hours more efficient. In the past Jewell students have been allotted four hours of tutoring per week but Guice thinks TutorMe can cover the same amount of material in less time.

“What would take a Jewell tutor maybe an hour and a half to convey, these tutors can get it done in 15 minutes,” Guice said.

Jewell students still serve as tutors for CTI courses. The only change to CTI tutoring is that students can now directly contact the designated tutor instead of filling out a Google Form first. The Moodle page includes a Google Sheets document with contact information for CTI tutors. Tutors will respond within 12 hours.

All tutoring is available virtually. CTI tutors have access to a professional Zoom account so they can help students who may be in quarantine, off campus or uncomfortable with meeting face-to-face.

Guice’s goal with the changes to tutoring is to make sure high quality help is easily accessible for all students.

“The last thing I want a student to encounter is a huge barrier to getting the support they need,” Guice said.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, William Jewell College has extended student support services in order to promote student welfare during this time. Among these resources include expansion of Student Life support, financial aid policies and academic policies.

According to an email from the Student Life office, Jewell has taken services for academic support, counseling services, health services and career development and internships online. Student Life has also sought to host online programs and activities for the remainder of the semester. 

Office of Counseling Services:

The Office of Counseling Services has taken support online. Students can access tele-mental health services and find what services may be available to them by contacting Dr. Tricia Hager, director of counseling services.

On Mondays and Thursdays from 3-4 p.m., counseling services hosts “Let’s Talk Support Group” with Hager on Zoom. 

Student Life:

Student Life has been providing strategies, tips and opportunities for connection during the pandemic. One of these opportunities is taking Friday Jewell Time online so students can meet with Student Life staffers via Zoom. Student Life is hosting yoga with Kathy Benavidez Thursday nights from 8:15-9 p.m. on Zoom. More information can be found by contacting Student Life and sessions can be joined via this link.

Shelly King, dean of students, said Student Life has gotten positive feedback from students about the continued availability of resources. King also commented on Student Life’s priorities during this time. 

“[Student Life is continuing] to be available and accessible to students during this challenging time,” King said.  “Students used to stop by our office to meet in person so we started a Student Life Jewell Time on Fridays at 10:15.  We had our first one this past Friday and had five students participate.  We’ve had other students ask if it will be continued because they want to participate next time. Zoom has worked great to stay connected and to actually see students during some sessions.” 

Student Health Center:

The Student Health Center is offering tele-health services from Jewell’s nurse practitioner, Paula Brown. The center is open 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Students can call 816-415-5020 or email Brown to schedule appointments. Full time undergraduate students can have tele-health visits for no charge and postgraduates will be charged $15 per visit. 

Students should include a phone number when scheduling appointments – and students will be texted to start appointments. All visits should take place on phones, laptops or computers with camera capabilities. 

Brown is also keeping the Jewell community updated with a Student Health Center blog. Check back at the blog for weekly updates about health and wellness.

Financial Aid:

Financial aid suspended its normal refund policy and will provide refunds for unused room and board costs. Students will be refunded approximately $2,400 for eight weeks worth of room and board fees. Graduating seniors will be refunded via check, and continuing students will have the refunded money credited to their fall semester 2020 tuition and fees. Continuing students may request the refund in the form of a check. For students with an outstanding balance, the refund will go toward that balance, with the remainder being credited to fall semester tuition – or in the form of a refund check. Jewell aimed to distribute checks by April 17.

The College also significantly increased the price threshold for course registration. Now students with an account balance up to $2,500 can register for courses in the fall. Students with an account balance greater than $2,500 were encouraged to contact the financial aid department for assistance with registration.

Students with work-study positions will also continue to receive payments throughout the semester. Students will be paid according to how much they work in a typical week. Work-study students were advised to get in contact with the business office to avoid any disruption in payment. Students with workship positions are not eligible for continued payment but can continue working remotely if possible.

Academic and Tutoring Resources:

Academic resources have taken tutoring services online. Students can find more information about academic resources like tutoring and other academic support at the Academic Achievement Center Moodle course. All tutoring appointments will be online, and more support can be found from Pharamond Guice, director of the Academic Achievement Center.

By keeping tutoring services running, the Academic Achievement Center is both providing free support to students who may be struggling with the move to online courses and is providing support to students with tutoring positions – who can continue earning money despite being off-campus. 

Career Development & Internships

Career Development and Internships is providing assistance and support of career-related needs. All remaining career development events will be held virtually – more information can be found at legacy.jewell.edu/career-development. Marissa Bland, director of Career Development and Internships, can also be contacted for more information about career development and internships.