Welcome to the College of the Desert
Tutoring Center
Tutoring Center Topics
Welcome
Staff
Location
Hours
Tutoring
One-on-One Tutoring
Learning Communities Tutoring
Our Tutors
How to Become a Tutor
Tutoring Center Guidelines
Welcome
“Research suggests that students who were tutored remained in college longer than those who were not tutored. Perhaps tutors encourage students to persist in their education by serving as mentors . . .” (“Does Tutoring Help? A Look at the Literature” by Martha Maxwell in Review of Research in Developmental Education, 7(4), 1990).
The Tutoring Center provides open lab tutoring to all enrolled College of the Desert students. Each semester, we offer FREE tutoring in the lower levels of Math, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and the Humanities. (Higher-level Math tutoring is offered at the Math and Science Study Center in the Mathematics building, room M-4. English/Composition and Foreign languages are tutored in their respective labs within the Academic Skills Center.) The hours of operation for the Tutoring Center vary during each instructional session, yet every effort is made to provide tutoring support to our morning and evening students.
Return to Top
Staff
Karen Corvan
kcorvan@collegeofthedesert.edu
(760) 776-7497
- Masters of Science, Education, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 1976
- Bachelor of Arts Sociology with Honors, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, 1971
Karen taught grades 1 through 4 in San Gabriel Unified School District. She was the specialist for five years. She worked as a School Improvement/Chapter I Resource teacher for seven years. Then she became the Distric Office Administrator in charge of State and Federal programs, which included Title I (No Child Left Behind), Title II, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) and School Improvement. Her duties included working with non-public schools, the district K-12 schools in developing school plans, managing budgets and completing reports associated with federal and state programs.
Karen took early retirement in 2005. Karen is married and enjoys traveling and watching college football games. She and her husband travel to as many USC away games as possible.
Chris Farmer
chfarmer@collegeofthedesert.edu
(760) 776-7241
Return to Top
Location
The Center is located in the portable classrooms called the Mind Shack Tutoring Center (MSTC). We are on the North-East side of the campus (next to the stadium). A big, yellow sign with the words “Tutoring Center ” in red, can be found on the West wall of the Center.
Location: ( College Map )
Return to Top
Hours
Hours of operation vary each instructional session. Call (760) 776-7241 to get the current session's schedule.
Return to Top
Tutoring
Tutoring is free. We offer tutoring for all levels in just about every subject taught at COD. In order to receive tutoring, a student must do the following:
- Obtain a “Request for Tutoring” card. This card can be picked up at the MSTC, ASC or with any Special Programs counselor.
- Fill out the pertinent information and have an instructor or counselor sign the card.
- Return the card to a Tutoring Center staff member.
- Register for either the Non-Credit Supervised Tutoring course/ASC 100 or the Credit ASC 97/98 (.5 or 1 unit) section. All hour requirements remain the same regardless of registration time. The hour requirements for the credit courses are the responsibility of the students.
Tutoring takes place in the Tutoring Center on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed to receive help. Students just need to log-in at the front desk computer, find a study space and make an indication to a tutor that they need assistance. It is important to remember to log-out of the Center at the end of every study session.
Return to Top
One-on-one tutoring is only available to ACES, DSPS, and EOPS students. These programs provide the funding so their enrollees may receive one-on-one assistance from a tutor. Special program students can begin receiving one-on-one tutoring after obtaining their respective counselor’s approval.
The contact numbers for these programs are:
ACES Program: (760) 776-0194
EOPS Program: (760) 773-2538
DSPS Program: (760) 773-2534
Return to Top
Learning communities consist of a group of students who are enrolled together in two or three general education courses. The learning communities also meet outside of class in small groups for tutoring sessions which are held in the MSTC. The tutoring sessions are lead by tutors who have excelled in the general education courses and who are willing to provide a mentoring aspect to the group of students.
Return to Top
Our Tutors
“ . . . The tutor’s ability to guide and collaborate is of considerable consequence to the learning process.” (“Peer Tutors at the Collegiate Level: Maneuvering within the Some of Proximal Development” by Robert Nelson, Journal of College Reading and Learning, 27:1, p. 44. W 95/96)
Our tutors come from a variety of backgrounds. We employ educators, current students who have excelled in a subject field, previous students who are now taking upper division courses or have majored in a specific field of study, and qualified community members who enjoy lending a helping hand. All of our tutors desire to help our students achieve their academic goals and are trained to work as a team to provide the best quality of service possible. They are here to support, empower and give students the guidance to excel independently after leaving the Center.
Our tutors are available to review and explain assignments. They also help clarify and understand what the instructor expects. Furthermore, our tutors can assist students in understanding the material within their textbooks by using models, examples, and other resources to aid students.
Return to Top
How to Become a Tutor
In order to be considered for a tutor position, applicants must come to the Tutoring Center at the College of the Desert, Main Campus, and speak to one of the Assistant Tutorial Coordinators. Students who are referred by an instructor will be contacted by one of the Tutorial Coordinators and be asked to come in for the interview and application process.
Tutors are required by the State of California to attend tutor training. There is training available each semester. The training consists of theory based and hands on instruction. California Learning and Reading Association has certified COD's Tutor Training Program. Call the Tutoring Center to obtain the dates of the next Tutor Training session.
Return to Top
Tutoring Center Guidelines
- Food and drink must be left at the specified location at the entrance of the Center.
- Cell phones must be off or set to “vibrate” and all telephone conversations must be conducted outside of the Center.
- It is the student’s responsibility to log in and out of the computer every time he or she enters or exits the Center.
- All students should come to the Tutoring Center prepared to work.
- With few exceptions, tutors are to be shared.
- All students using the Tutoring Center should abide with College of the Desert’s rules and regulations for student conduct.
Return to Top
