Cheap or free help is available to students struggling in their classes.

Student Support Services have tutors for almost every course offered on campus. Tutoring Services, one branch of SSS, is an academic support program that offers tutoring to students in a variety of courses.

It costs $1.50 per hour for a student to meet with a tutor. A maximum of six hours per week is available for students to be with a tutor, but there are exceptions if a student requests more hours.

“The earlier in the semester students ask for help, the better it is for them and their tutor to arrange a schedule,” Gina Concannon, Tutoring Services coordinator, said. “There are more tutors available at the beginning of a semester. It is best to get into the routine of having a tutor instead of playing catch-up in a course.”

The starting rate of being a tutor is $6.50 per hour. Each semester, student tutors are able to work their way up the pay scale.

“Tutoring offers competitive pay, the convenience of working on campus, the ability to review material in a student’s major and provides the opportunity to meet new people,” Concannon said.

Some students are eligible for free tutoring. To receive free tutoring, students must fit one of the following criteria: be a first generation college student, meaning neither of the student’s parents attended a four-year university, fit income eligibility guidelines or have a disability, Sharon Pink, SSS counselor, said. Free tutoring is funded by a federal grant.

“The smart students are the ones that get the tutors,” Adam Gee, UW-P student and SSS tutor, said. “Even if a student feels confident and ahead in a course, it is still smart to have someone there to ask questions and do homework with.”

Gee requested a tutor for an advanced math course. The tutor he received helped him excel in the course. After having a tutor to do homework with, Gee was able to help other students in the course that were struggling throughout the semester. Gee’s math teacher noticed his helpfulness and recommended him as another tutor for the course.

The Writing Center, another branch of SSS, has free tutoring available for students wanting extra help with writing skills. Some professors make it mandatory to have student’s papers reviewed at the Writing Center.

“It is a very important life skill to write well,” Jessica Sandry, UW-P student and SSS office assistant and Writing Center tutor, said. “Students carry it with them down the road. There is only so much students can get out of a composition class. At the Writing Center, tutors will teach students tips and tricks to write better.”

Students should call more than a day ahead of time to get an appointment set up with one of the writing tutors.

Tutoring Services is located at 133 Warner Hall and is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Writing Center is located at 360 Gardner Hall and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.