By SYLVIE BERRY Staff Writer

The first step to seeking help is asking for it. Niagara College students struggling to maintain steady grades can put that worry to a halt by applying to the Peer Services program.  

Peer Services Facilitator at the Welland campus, Josie Tremonte encourages the first-year, first-term students to come in as soon as they experience difficulty. Photo by Sylvie Berry

As for the tutors, they are also students who’ve either been referred by faculty or who have sought out the service wanting to help and make a little bit of money all at once. Josie Tremonte, Peer Services facilitator at the Welland campus, has been working at the college for over eight years and has seen the program grow and evolve into the student-based program it is today.

“Certainly over the years it’s grown so much in the fact that I think it’s built up its integrity. It’s working better in the sense of awareness; faculty are more aware, so they’ll do the referrals,” says Tremonte. As facilitator, Tremonte works with students who are using the service at the Welland campus. Through the use of a database, Tremonte matches tutors and learners based on schedules, availability, personality or gender preference.

Every student who’s used the service is logged in the database for future reference. The hours someone received tutoring, the hours someone tutored, the number of tutors and learners, among other information, are all logged. “It constantly has to keep getting updated with all the new programs at the college, as well as any new courses that have come about.

Between me and Valery Chambers, who’s the facilitator at the Niagara-on-the-Lake [NOTL] campus, we would put any of that information in,” says Tremonte. During the first term, from September to December, 445 students from both campuses applied for tutoring and were matched with a tutor. During those same four months, 186 applied as tutors and were available to work for $10.25 an hour.

Altogether, 2,968 hours were spent tutoring. “I was quite excited because there was an increase in enrolment this September, and most offices that offer any services were affected, but it really showed higher usage in here.” Second-year Construction Engineering Technology student Tyson Weaver, 21, started tutoring last term after being referred to the service because of his grades. This term Weaver tutors on average six to eight hours a week and works with two students.

“It’s rewarding to see people improve and get better marks. I’m also gaining communication skills and team-work skills,” says Weaver. In addition, course professors or program co-ordinators will notify Tremonte of the improved students.

“When a student [tutor] has made a difference, the professor will come to me and say that tutor has done a great job, so even though you may not have that learning curve or marginal rate going up, you hear about it,” says Tremonte. Although Peer Services is available for anyone seeking help, Tremonte encourages all first-year, first-term students who are recent graduates of high school to come in as soon as they notice difficulty in their programs.

First-year Civil Engineering Technician Kyle Widdifield, 35, is a Second Career student and has been receiving tutoring in his statics course for a month now. He receives tutoring three hours a week and overall has had six sessions. “It was a slow start for [both] of us, but now things are great because we have a set schedule,” says Widdifield. “I did all right on my last assignment, but I’m hoping to get a sticker on my next one.” Success stories and an overflow of appreciation come from those who’ve done well through the service.

“I got a hug in the hallway yesterday for all the help I gave them, and to me that was just a lottery ticket,” says Tremonte. The Peer Services office at the Welland campus is in SE102 and in W107 at the NOTL campus.