Center for Academic Excellence Earn International Certification for Tutoring Program

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Posted on September 27, 2023

Joy Washington

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The University of South Alabama Center for Academic Excellence has been awarded the Level 1 College Reading and Learning Association certification for peer tutor training by this internationally recognized association.

“This has been a very rigorous, yet rewarding process,” said Dr. Nicole Carr, associate vice president for Student Academic Success. “We have worked diligently since 2019 to earn this certification and build a tutor training program. We are pleased that we were able to submit a very extensive application last fall and receive this prestigious level of certification this academic year.”

The Center for Academic Excellence at South Alabama offers free tutoring for undergraduate students. All student tutors attend mandatory training throughout the academic year to enhance their skills. During the fall of 2022 and spring of 2023, 7,000 students averaged at least three tutoring appointments, which is a record number.

“Achieving this level of certification has been a goal for several years,” said Justine Burbank, interim manager for Student Academic Success. “I am proud we have received certification from one of the largest professional organizations in the world. In the process, we have become a robust full-service Center of Academic Excellence.

Achieving Level 1 Certification means South Alabama’s tutoring program has met the organization’s high standards for tutor selection, evaluation and direct service to students. The program also provides skills to student tutors that will prepare them for future careers.

“This has been gratifying,” Carr said. “I love how students are able to learn to be successful in the classroom. We want our student peer tutors to provide exceptional tutoring services to our students. We plan to continue building our tutor training program to apply for Level 2 and 3 certifications.”

For more than 30 years, the College Reading and Learning Association has been a leader in learning assistance, reading and academic support programs, with nearly 1,300 members and more than 2,000 certified training programs worldwide.

Student Academic Success (SAS) supports the mission of the University by developing, implementing, and assessing initiatives and practices to ensure all students are offered the resources and relationships necessary for high quality learning, academic persistence, and degree completion.

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