Proposal: Golden Key Tutor Program

Published: December 2, 2005

The UniSA Chapter is investigating the possibility of running a Tutor Program, whereby members can gain tutoring work for specific University subjects.

The Proposal is available below (or click here for a printer-friendly version) for all interested parties to read and comment on.

The Committee hopes to implement a 'trial version' of this Tutor Program in 2006.

Proposal: Golden Key Tutor Program

Fei Qiao, Education Officer
Alisha Green, President
UniSA Chapter, Golden Key International Honour Society

Proposal

The Executive Committee would like to propose the creation of a Golden Key Tutor Program, to be administered by the UniSA Chapter of Golden Key International Honour Society (GKIHS). The aim is to give our members the opportunity to gain work as tutors. The target group for customers is UniSA students.

Golden Key Tutor Program

GKIHS is the only University organisation that holds the contact information of the best performing students within the University of South Australia. Membership to the Society is offered to the top 15% of students based on GPA over a twelve-month period.

We are able to contact these students directly to create a list of tutors covering all disciplines. Once students have registered their interest in gaining work as a tutor, a private database (to be accessed by GK committee members only) will be created containing the following information:

• E-mail contact details
• Subjects they can tutor, including grade received
• Home Suburb
• Main Campus

Students that apply to be tutors will need to be briefly interviewed and their academic record sighted for subjects they nominate. GKIHS will complete this process.

Private tutoring will occur on a fee per hour basis, a suggested rate to be decided by GKIHS, and guided by Student and Academic Services (SAS). After setting a recommended fee, GKIHS will have no further involvement in monetary matters. The final fee is determined by the tutor and student prior to provision of service.

Suggested guidelines for tutors and students will be kept on the GKIHS Chapter website, created by the GKIHS and SAS.

Administration of the Program

The GKIHS will retain the list of available tutors and will advertise the program on their website. A list of subjects for which the Program has tutors available will be kept on the Chapter website.

We will seek the assistance of USASA to advertise the service in their newsletter to UniSA students, and collaborate with GKIHS to provide on campus promotion in the form of posters, brochures. USASA would also be asked to keep forms in their offices for students to fill out if they are seeking a tutor.

Student and Academic Services and Academic Divisions should be made aware of the service by e-mail/letter. GKIHS will organise this with the endorsement of SAS.

Students interested in hiring a tutor through the Program will fill out a form available at USASA offices or contact the GKIHS Education Officer through the Chapter e-mail golden.key@unisa.edu.au. The Education Officer will assess their needs, and will acknowledge the request.

The Education Officer will contact suitable tutors to see if they are willing to take on the student, and if so, the tutor will be given the applicant's contact e-mail so they can arrange a time and place to meet and discuss the tutoring arrangement.

Feedback will be requested from both the tutor and student on a regular basis.

Responsibility

GKIHS will take responsibility for the following:

• Maintaining an up-to-date list of available tutors
• Maintaining an up-to-date list of available subjects on the GKIHS website
• Promotion of the Golden Key Tutor Program with the assistance of USASA
• Interviewing prospective tutors and determining their academic record
• Connecting applicant students with appropriate tutors
• Offering appropriate guidelines on the website
• Maintain a web message board on the Chapter website (www.unisa.edu.au/golden) for people participating in the program to log general feedback.
• GKIHS will handle all complaints to the best of its ability. GKIHS is not liable for any outcomes.

GKIHS will NOT take responsibility for the following:

• Organising meeting places/times for tutors and students
• Monitoring monetary transactions

Submission

We submit to undertake a small-scale trial, involving the UniSA City West Campus. This will allow us to detect and deal with possible problems. It will also provide the GKIHS with a steady learning curve and necessary experience to expand the Golden Key Tutor Program to other Schools and Divisions.

We will need to specifically request the assistance of USASA in the following areas if the trial is successful, and the Chapter decides to expand the Program:

• 'Stamp of Approval' from USASA and use of USASA logo on our promotional material. We are willing to submit each item to the USASA Education Officer for final approval if necessary.
• Advertisement/article in the USASA newspaper/newsletter
• Promotional materials and forms to be kept in USASA offices for access by students
• If the trial is successful, we would like to a USASA representative to help monitor this program with the GKIHS Education Officer.

We believe that this Tutor Program offers real benefits to both GKIHS members and other University students. We hope to have this tutor service on trial in the City West campus by the start of Semester Two, 2006.