Peer Tutoring

Tutor requirements: To be eligible to become a tutor, students must meet all the following requirements:

• Be legally entitled to work for any employer in Canada.
• Be enrolled at Algonquin College in at least level 3 of a program (exceptions can be made for 1-year programs).
• Receive a minimum A- grade in a course(s) previously completed and selected to tutor.
• Maintain a Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
• Receive a positive reference from a Professor or Coordinator.
• Complete the application and training requirements.
• Commit to at least 5 hours of availability per week.
• Offer tutoring for ALL courses they are eligible to tutor (A- or higher), exceptions can be made. 

Peer Tutoring will accept applications for tutors a few times per year. Prospective tutors must follow the instructions provided at that time.

Yes. Peer Tutors are paid minimum wage.

Tutors are limited to 24 hours in appointments per week. Tutors can manage their own Peer Tutoring schedule based on their availability.

Peer Tutors provide guidance and instruction on concepts already learned in class and help facilitate students’ independent learning. Peer Tutor’s do not complete, correct, or proofread assignments. They do not teach course material, however, they can clarify and deepen the understanding of the course material students are having difficulty with. Peer Tutor roles and responsibilities are discussed in more detail during Peer Tutoring Orientation Training.

You must have a grade of A- or higher in the course you wish to tutor.

Students are expected to follow the Algonquin College policy on student conduct (SA 07 – Student Conduct), which states that “all students and prospective students will conduct themselves in a manner that respects the rights of all members of the College Community, and College property.”

Under SA 07- Student Conduct, Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, “Assault, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment and/or other conduct, which result in members of the College Community perceiving threat or danger.” Please see the full policy for a complete list of actions considered Misconduct.

This policy defines the format and expectations of peer tutoring sessions.

Tutoring is a one-on-one service only. Group sessions are not permitted. Attempts by tutors or tutees to violate this policy may result in them losing access to the tutoring program. Tutors who violate this policy will not be compensated for the affected sessions.

Role of Tutors: Tutors act as guides to help tutees with their course material. Please remember that tutors are fellow students in higher levels of their program – they are not subject matter experts and may not have all the answers. However, tutors are well-prepared to clarify concepts, assist with understanding course content, offer study strategies, and help you work through challenging topics. Their goal is to support your learning and help you build a deeper understanding of the subject.

• Remember that tutors cannot correct or complete assignments or homework for tutees. Doing so is strictly prohibited and may be considered an act of Academic Misconduct.

Required Materials: To make the most of your session, provide a detailed description of the help you need when booking your session. Be sure to bring all relevant study materials such as textbooks, class notes, and specific questions.

This policy outlines the payment expectations for tutoring.

The fee for tutoring sessions is $9.00 per hour.

Before booking, tutees must set up a payment method in the Peer Tutoring booking system by adding a valid bank card to their account.

After a student sends a booking request, the tutor can either accept or decline it.

• If the tutor accepts,the payment is processed at the start of the session.
• If the tutor declines,the student must submit a new request for a different time or tutor.
• If the request expireswithout being accepted, the student is not charged.
• If the payment fails,the student should contact the Peer Tutoring Coordinator at ormanm@algonquincollege.com for assistance.

Students facing financial barriers can inquire about available sponsorship options by contacting the Peer Tutoring Coordinator at ormanm@algonquincollege.com.

Booking sessions with a sponsorship: Once a sponsorship letter is submitted to the Peer Tutoring Coordinator, please allow up to 24 hours for processing. Note that the Peer Tutoring Coordinator’s office is closed on weekends therefore any sponsorships submitted during that time will be processed on the next business day.

Approved sponsorships are applied to the tutee’s account in the form of coupons, which serve as payment for booking sessions. To use a coupon, select it in the Coupon field when booking a session. One coupon = one 1-hour session.

Sponsored tutoring hours must be used in accordance with the sponsorship agreement. Hours cannot be saved or used outside the approved terms. Violating these guidelines may result in tutees being disqualified from future sponsorships.

Multiple Sponsorships – Financial Aid: Students already receiving any other Peer Tutoring sponsorship are not eligible for Financial Aid Sponsorship.

Booking Requests: Tutees must submit booking requests at least 12 hours in advance and wait for a confirmation email once the tutor accepts the request. All session requests and confirmed bookings can be viewed in the Calendar within the Peer Tutoring booking system.

Booking Status Notifications:

• Accepted: The session will show as “Accepted” in the Calendar.
• Declined: The sessions will disappear in the Calendar. The tutee should book a different time or choose another tutor.
• Pending: The session will show as “This event is waiting for a response” in the Calendar. The tutee can contact the Peer Tutoring Coordinator at ormanm@algonquincollege.com.

Joining Sessions:

• For in-person sessions, the tutor will confirm the location.
• For online sessions, in the booking system go to Dashboard, click “Actions” > “Open Teams”

Last Minute Requests: Sessions requested between 12 and 24 hours in advance are considered last-minute and are subject to a special cancelation policy. For full details, please refer to the Cancellation policy below.

No tutor available? Contact the Peer Tutoring Coordinator at ormanm@algonquincollege.com.

Tutors who wish to receive tutoring must notify the Peer Tutoring Coordinator, Maria Orman, at ormanm@algonquincollege.com.

This policy defines what constitutes as a no-show and explains the consequences for tutees or tutors when they fail to arrive/attend a scheduled appointment.

If a tutor or tutee fails to cancel and does not attend their scheduled session, they will be marked as a No Show. In such cases, both parties only have to wait 15 minutes from the scheduled start time.

Tutor No-Show: If the tutor does not arrive within 15 minutes of the session start time:

• The tutee is entitled to a refund.
• To request a refund, the tutee must email the Peer Tutoring Coordinator at ormanm@algonquincollege.com, within 7 days of the missed session
• Alternatively, the tutor may offer to reschedule the session. In this case, no new booking request is required.

Tutee No-Show: If the tutee does not arrive within 15 minutes of the session start time:

• The tutor is entitled to receive payment for the session.
• The tutee will not be refunded for the missed session.
• The tutor should report the no-show by emailing the Peer Tutoring Coordinator at ormanm@algonquincollege.com.

Repeated No-Shows: If a tutor or tutee accumulates three (3) no-shows, they will lose access to Peer Tutoring services until further discussions with the Peer Tutoring Coordinator.

This policy outlines the expectations for tutees and tutors when cancelling an appointment.

Tutors/ tutees can cancel a session in the Peer Tutoring booking system at least 24 hours in advance. In this case, the tutee will receive a refund.

Last Minute Requests Cancellation: Sessions booked between 12 and 24 hours in advance are considered last-minute. Once accepted by the tutor, these sessions cannot be cancelled, and no refund will be issued to the tutee.

This policy includes information for students interested in becoming a tutor.

Tutor Requirements: To be eligible to become a tutor, students must meet all the following requirements:

1. Be legally entitled to work for any employer in Canada.
2. Be enrolled at Algonquin College in at least level 3 of a program (exceptions can be made).
3. Receive a minimum A- grade in a course(s) previously completed and selected to tutor.
4. Maintain a Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
5. Receive a positive reference from a professor or Coordinator*.
6. Complete the Application and Training Requirements.
7. Commit to at least 5 hours of availability per week.

Applying to become a tutor: Peer Tutoring will accept applications for tutors a few times per year. Prospective tutors must follow the instructions provided at that time.

Compensation: Tutors are paid minimum wage.

Hours: Tutors are allowed to work up to 24 hours per week.

Note: Tutors are expected to offer support for all courses in which they have earned a grade of A- or higher. These eligible courses must be listed on the tutor’s profile in the Peer Tutoring booking system. Exceptions can be made for general elective courses – tutors may choose not to list those.

Availability: There are no set hours when tutors must be available. You are free to choose times that work best for your schedule – whether that’s early mornings, between classes, evenings, or weekends. Tutors are not expected to remain available during mid-terms and final exams as their studies take priority. We also recognize that mid-term dates may vary across different programs.

Students, whether tutors or tutees, who wish to provide feedback on a peer tutoring policy or procedure, suggest improvements, or report an unsatisfactory experience are encouraged to contact the Peer Tutoring Coordinator, Maria Orman, at ormanm@algonquincollege.com.

The coordinator will connect with the student to discuss the situation in detail and determine a suitable course of action.

Peer Tutors provide guidance and instruction on concepts already learned in class and help facilitate students’ independent learning. Peer Tutor’s do not complete, correct, or proofread assignments. They do not teach course material, however, they can clarify and deepen the understanding of the course material you are having difficulty with.

You will need to have ready any materials needed for your tutoring sessions such as textbooks, class notes, etc. Your Peer Tutor will need to know what material you are having difficulty with so please come prepared with questions.