In Fall 2014, SASS launched a tutoring/mentoring program in which we paired community volunteers with SASS recipients who needed help with their classes. The program proved so successful that we expanded it for the spring semester to include close to 20 student/tutor pairs.

SASS held its first ever tutor training session on January 24th. During that training, SASS President Elizabeth Weal gave a brief presentation on hurdles SASS recipients typically face, strategies for helping students improve their reading and writing, and ways in which tutors can also serve as mentors by making students aware of available resources and opportunities.

Tutors represent a cross-section of professions including a physician’s assistant, financial planner, teacher, social worker, software engineer, and marriage and family counselor.

“There is no doubt that several SASS recipients who were struggling in their classes would have dropped out of college were it not for the invaluable help of their tutors,” Weal said. “These are capable students who need a jump start. That’s exactly what our tutors provide.”