The peer writing and tutoring program at Missouri Southern’s student success center provides free assistance to any University student struggling with homework.

Dr. Debbie Fort, academic skills specialist, said the student tutors “go through the paper and offer suggestions. We don’t write the paper for you. We don’t necessarily edit the paper for you.”

Instead, the writing center can “read, and give you some advice” Fort said.

Tutors evaluate papers for punctuation, voice, style and “whichever writing standards [students] want us to look at” said Fort.

After the initial evaluation, some students feel they need more help, so they make an appointment to meet one-on-one with a tutor.

Fort said all students are allowed two free hours of tutoring per week.

Campus departments can request tutors be hired and trained for specific subjects as well.

Fort wants the student body to be aware that a tutoring service is not just for students struggling to pass a course.

They have students come in who are making a B in a class and want help so they can make an A. They even helped a grad student with a dissertation.

Dual-credit high school students are also welcome to use the service.

Tutors are hired based on need. Currently, the center employs 18 tutors.

This semester, Fort has seen a dramatic increase in walk-ins requesting a tutor.

“Last time I checked, we [have] done 68 hours of tutoring in two weeks,” she said.

Tutors must have a 3.0 or higher grade-point average, and they must have received an A or a B for the course in order to help others with that course.

They receive at least 10 hours of training and become certified by the College Reading and Learning Association. They are trained to recognize and teach according to an individual’s learning style.

The tutor can continue to use this certification in grad school also.

According to Stephanie Hopkins, director of the student success center, the service has been on campus since 1984. It started as the Learning Center, and Hopkins is only the third director in its history.

Students who want to use the service may submit their papers to [email protected] at least 48 hours before the assignment is due. Assignments can be submitted online or by drop-off service at Hearnes Hall room 301.

Instructions to properly submit an assignment can be found on the website http://www.mssu.edu/student-success-center/tutor-peer-writing.

Student Success Center

Location: Hearnes Hall 301

Phone: 417-659-3725

Hours: Monday- Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Price: Free to MSSU students