Off-Campus Tutoring

The West Philadelphia Tutoring Project Off-Campus Program gives Penn students the opportunity to impact their community by improving academic standards through one-on-one tutoring with students in West Philadelphia. This semester, over three hundred WPTP tutors are working in five public school and one charter school. Tutors and tutees meet weekly at the tutees’ schools for one-on-one sessions that are tailored to the tutees’ specific needs. In order to enhance this experience, WPTP encourages Penn tutors to form a close mentoring relationship with their tutees both to strengthen their connection with the West Philadelphia community and to increase the quality of their tutoring.

Basic Expectations for Off-Campus Tutors

Attendance:

Consistency is essential to the success of WPTP. Tutors are expected to attend ALL tutoring sessions throughout the semester. Tutors with inconsistent attendance will be removed from the program.

WPTP Workshop:

Each WPTP must attend one workshop throughout the semester. There will be four WPTP-organized events offered, two of which will be skilled-oriented, and two of which will be policy-oriented. Additionally, tutors can attend specific events on Penn’s campus that have been previously identified by WPTP. A complete list of these events can be found in the “Home” tab of the WPTP website and in the WPTP weekly emails. Please note that all tutors who attend any of the Penn events must arrive at least five minutes before and sign in with a WPTP Executive Board Member wearing a navy blue WPTP T-shirt.

Communication:

In order to ensure a well-run program, WPTP tutors must remain in contact with their section leaders and Executive Board Members throughout the semester. Sections leaders are experienced tutors that remain in close contact with the Executive Board Member assigned to the school to discuss weekly tutoring issues. Tutors are encouraged to contact their Executive Board Members with any WPTP-related feedback throughout the semester. Tutors ARE REQUIRED to contact the EBM (Executive Board Member) when confronted with the following:

o    Expected Absence- If a tutor will be unable to attend a session (due to an avoidable event such as illness, medical appointments, or rescheduled exams), he/she MUST contact their EBM in advance. If a tutor falls ill the morning of tutoring, he/she is expected to inform his/her EBM as soon as possible so this information can be relayed to the school.
o    Inappropriate/Dangerous Behavior: If a tutor witnesses behavior from a tutee that is inappropriate or dangerous, he/she is expected to contact his/her EBM as soon as possible so this can be addressed. Similarly, while conversations with tutees are meant to protect the tutee’s privacy, if a tutor learns something that will endanger the tutee or others, he/she is expected to contact the EBM immediately so this can be further addressed.

Appropriate Dress:

WPTP’s presence in the school is meant to be motivational, not destructive. Tutors are expected to enter the school dressed appropriately. T-shirts with expletives, pants/skirts with writing on the backside, tight shirts, tight pants/skirts, muscle-Ts CANNOT be worn while tutoring. If a tutor is unable to comply with the dress requirement, he/she will be removed from the program. 

Quality Tutoring:

There is a learning curve for every WPTP tutor as he/she improves as a tutor. However, tutors are expected to approach each session prepared to work diligently and make progress with their tutees. Tutoring can be difficult and frustrating at times, but tutors are expected to work towards a focused, controlled hour of study.