Drahmann Drops Individual Tutoring

By Claire Ingebretsen

Last year Jessica VanderGeissen was having trouble in Physics 31 and 32, so she got an individual tutor. A year later, she confidently said, "I would not have passed without my tutor." 

This year, I inquired after an individual tutor for my economics class. I was informed that one-on-one tutoring was no longer available.

Not understanding why this resource was now gone, I spoke with Garrison Dyer, Residential Learning Community advisor, who stated there were three reasons for nixing the individual tutoring option. First, there was little oversight over the tutors, so they could have easily taken advantage of the system, and not done the work they were hired to do. Second, the student could sign up for an allotted space, but flake, which underutilized the tutor. Lastly, the demand for tutoring is creeping up, so to meet this surge, the Drahmann Advising Center has eliminated all individual tutoring in favor of group work.

These are all great points. The new format provides more structure to a system that is in high demand. However, I fail to see a sound justification for the elimination of the individual tutoring.

I do not need to remind anyone how expensive this school is. Regardless of whether you are on scholarship, someone is paying for you to attend classes. Not having the ability to get extra help with a one tutor to one student ratio strikes me as unfair.

It is not just about being provided with a service we seemingly pay for. This problem suggests an inconsistency in Santa Clara's application of its mission to educate.

Education is about having a deep understanding of the subject you are learning. If you need help achieving this, it is your job as a student to seek help. 

A study conducted by the University of Chicago found that individual tutoring yielded the highest aptitude scores from students. Essentially, private tutoring often leads to better, substantive learning. In the interest of better learning, the Drahmann Center has a duty to supply individual tutors.

A perk of individual tutoring is that you get your questions answered directly, whereas in group tutoring you may have to compete for your tutor's attention. Private tutoring greatly benefits students who are hesitant to ask questions in front of others. 

Although a group tutoring session is more intimate than a lecture, some may still feel uncomfortable asking questions. Lastly, individual tutoring gives a student the flexibility to choose exactly what material they want reviewed and the level to which it should be reviewed. Again, group tutoring does not necessarily rule out this same opportunity, it merely makes it more difficult.

Individual tutoring, although expensive and sometimes wasteful, is a resource that Santa Clara students should have at their disposal. Dyer reminded me  that this new model "is a work in progress, and that it still needs some tweaking." 

I suggest the center reopens the individual tutoring option so students will have the chance to decide whether they want individual tutoring.