Supportive Student Culture Powers ARC Peer Tutor Program at Emmanuel

That idea sits at the core of the College’s Peer Tutoring program. Within the Academic Resource Center (ARC), the program facilitates tutoring sessions between students who are seeking academic support and the peer tutors, students who are recommended by faculty. The tutors are trained and supervised by ARC staff to help their peers enhance their learning skills and gain a better understanding of their coursework.

Peer Tutoring & Study Groups

Last year, for example, tutors delivered over 1,700 hours of individual tutoring and 3,000 study group visits, according to Assistant Dean of the ARC, Wendy LaBron.

“It is kind of amazing how tutors are contributing actively to another student’s success,” LaBron said.

The ARC currently has over 60 tutors, offering either 30- or 60-minute one-on-one tutoring sessions. Tutors also hold group sessions for as few as three students or over 60 students, depending on demand – with the larger sessions often taking place ahead of exams.

While tutees receive additional guidance that can help them succeed in the classroom, tutors are working on widely applicable communication and leadership skills by supporting their peers. Each year, tutors make reflections in their self-evaluations, often touting their tutoring role as an overall rewarding experience by helping others to succeed.

The give-and-take of the tutor and tutee relationship is ingrained in the fabric of the program, as well as the collaborative culture that exists at Emmanuel College.

Multi-level Student Support

Abigail Mullins ’25, a writing tutor and history major, said it makes sense to have that culture in such a tight-knit community like Emmanuel has – one where students have the drive to not only see themselves succeed, but help others do so as well.

“We actually want to help, we want to be there for each other,” Mullins said, “it’s really impactful for me to be able to take a weight off of their shoulders.”

Mullins is one of five ARC Lead peer tutors, tasked with being an additional resource for ARC’s tutors and holding guiding sessions on a number of topics like making the most out of a tutoring session, or how to best engage tutees.

“We’re there to help the other tutors be their best selves and be able to support their tutees,” said Lily Casey ’25, a psychology major who tutors French. For example, Casey’s session on setting boundaries reminds peer tutors not to spread themselves too thin and to not overload themselves so they don’t jeopardize their own coursework – and find a balance between supporting themselves and others.

The support that peer tutors provide goes beyond academics as well, Casey added. It’s up to tutors to acknowledge their tutee’s feelings, the challenges they’re facing, and to remind them that they’re not alone. Often it just helps for others to hear that their tutors went through that experience as well.

In her first semester at Emmanuel, nursing major Leah Greene ’27 said the unfamiliarity living away from home and new academic setting was nerve-wracking, but she found the support she needed from the ARC and from her tutor - in both academics and shared experiences.