Course Tutoring
Course-Specific Tutoring
All our free virtual course tutoring sessions are led by upper-year TRSM students who have received a grade between the A+ to B+ range. There are three types of tutoring sessions we offer which are: Tutoring, Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) and Peer-Led Course Review. You'll see the main difference between them in the table below the registration page (scroll down).
Our Academic Integrity Policy: In order to maintain academic integrity and comply with Policy 60, the Student Success tutoring team is not allowed to assist with any graded work (including homework, assignments and tests).
Our No-Show Policy: To ensure fair access to events for all 12,000+ Ted Rogers School students, you must cancel your event registration at least 24 hours in advance if you can no longer attend. Failing to do so for three events will result in a violation of the Event No-Show Policy, and your future event registrations will be automatically canceled. To reinstate your registration privileges, you’ll need to complete a form confirming your understanding of the policy. Learn more on our Event No-Show Policy page.
Our Late Policy: In order to not disrupt the students or staff currently in a session, any student that is more than 10 minutes late will not be permitted to join the session. In the event that you arrive more than 10 mintues late, your ticket will be cancelled and you will be asked to book another session.
Our Prep-Work Policy: Any prep work created by our staff for the purpose of facilitating tutoring sessions is property of the Student Success Tutoring Team and will not be distributed to students. If you would like pre-written resources on a topic, please check out our course-specific tip sheet page.
Learning Strategy Consultation
For further support on topics like time management, increasing productivity, and building study schedules, students can also access 30-minute one-on-one learning strategy consultations (virtual or in-person) with Gillian Lee, our Peer Learning Support Facilitator.
Note: These appointments are NOT 1-on-1 course tutoring.
What's the Difference?
Session Type | What should I know? | Courses Offered |
Tutoring | You should arrive with a list of questions and topics prepared that you want the tutor to help with. Maximum group size: 7 | ACC 100, ACC 406, FIN 300, FIN 401, LAW 122 |
Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) Study Groups | PAL is embedded directly into the course with PAL Leaders attending lectures and completing course readings. In conversation with the course instructor, the PAL leader will have a set of activities prepared based on last week's course content. Under the guidance of your PAL Leader, you will work with your peers in your study groups (breakout rooms) to practice the more challenging parts of the material. Maximum group size: 35 | ITM 107, QMS 110, QMS 130 |
Peer-Led Course Review | Under the guidance of one of our tutors, you will work with your peers to complete difficult practice problems together as a group (no breakout rooms) based on last week’s course content. These are facilitated by our tutors, not our PAL Leaders meaning it's not as course-embedded. Maximum group size: 35 | FIN 300, FIN 401, LAW 122 |
Get help with course content
Develop learning skills
Meet other TRSM students
Contact Us
Have a question about tutoring or need help registering? Contact us at tutoring.trsm@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) .
- PASS YouTube channel (external link, opens in new window)
- Course-specific tip sheets
- Student Learning Support: Calculator Tutorials
- Student Learning Support: Math Support
- Student Learning Support: Supported Learning Groups (SLG Schedule on home page)
- Economics Help Centre.
- (PDF file) Zoom Video Conferencing Information for Students
These policies outline the structure of tutoring sessions as well as students’ responsibility for their own learning and contributing to a collegial learning environment.
- 1. Tutoring sessions are 50 minutes in length and they start at 10 minutes past the hour. Each week students are permitted to pre-register for one 50-minute session per class. When space permits, students may join additional sessions by contacting the Virtual Tutoring Centre front desk (tutoring.trsm@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) ). A maximum of five (5) students can be assisted at a time by one (1) APH during virtual group tutoring.
- If students are unable to attend a tutoring session, they are expected to cancel their session as soon as possible (or at least two (2) hours in advance). If students fail to attend two (2) pre-registered sessions without advance cancellation, they will be required to speak with a member of the Tutoring Centre staff to discuss booking privileges.
- If students do not arrive by ten (10) minutes into the session (twenty minutes after the hour) the spot may be given to another student. Likewise, if arriving in the last twenty (20) minutes of a session, students may be asked to register for the next available session.
- Student relationships with tutors are professional only. It is not appropriate to ask for a tutor's contact information to talk or meet outside of virtual tutoring or ask to copy their notes. Students should direct questions about course content to their Course Instructor. Questions about the tutoring program should be directed to tutoring.trsm@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) .
- Tutoring does not replace instruction in class. Students are responsible for keeping up with course content, including attending virtual classes and/or watching lecture or tutorial videos. Tutors (Academic Peer Helpers, APHs) will not be teaching missed class content.
- Students are responsible for preparing for the tutoring session, including completing the Tutoring Questionnaire before each virtual tutoring session to provide specific content and questions they would like to see addressed in the session and familiarizing themselves with course materials.
- Students agree to complete a feedback form at the end of each tutoring session.
- Students are responsible for having their own supplies, such as: device for connecting to Zoom, headphones/microphone for participating in sessions, calculator, textbook, paper, etc.
- If students lack any necessary tech items, they should contact the TRSM Student Help Desk for support. TRSM Program Advising and Student Success TRS 1-004 (7th floor) 575 Bay Street (Entrance at 55 Dundas St. West) Email: trsm.academicsuccess@torontomu.ca
- Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the general features of Zoom, including: mute, video enabling, “raise your hand” feature, and chat function, using tip sheets available on the Zoom website to assist.
- Tutors are not able to assist with material that will be graded, such as assignments, quizzes, take-home tests, etc. because it is against TMU (PDF file) Senate Policy 60: Academic Integrity.
- Students are partly responsible, along with their peers, to create and maintain a welcoming and accepting learning environment. They are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct as outlined in Senate Policy 61. If students breach the policies of the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct, virtual Tutoring Centre staff will report and investigate the incident as well as take the advice of the Student Conduct Officer regarding tutoring registration privileges.
- Students agree to read the PASS’s tip sheet on (PDF file) Netiquette to prepare themselves for successful and respectful virtual tutoring sessions.
- The Virtual Tutoring Centre works to maintain safety and quality assurance by recording and securely storing tutoring sessions. Attendance at these events is consent to such recordings. In addition, a member of staff from the Tutoring Centre may enter the Zoom session at any time to observe the APHs tutoring and/or check to see if students want to continue to the next session. Students are not permitted to take screenshots or recordings of virtual tutoring sessions without consent of the PASS Virtual Tutoring team.
- Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) Sessions are 50 minutes in length and they start at 10 minutes past the hour.
- A maximum of thirty-five (35) students can be assisted at a time by one (1) PAL Leader during a scheduled PAL session. If the maximum number of participants is reached, students may be asked to attend the next available PAL session.
- If a PAL Session needs to be cancelled, students will be notified immediately and at least 2 hours in advance when possible.
- Student relationships with PAL Leaders are professional only. It is not appropriate to ask for a tutor's contact information to talk or meet outside of virtual tutoring or ask to copy their notes. Students should direct questions about course content to their Course Instructor. Questions about the PAL Program should be directed to peer.trsm@torontomu.ca.
- PAL Sessions do not replace instruction in class. Students are responsible for keeping up with course content, including attending virtual classes and/or watching lecture or tutorial videos. PAL Leaders will not be teaching missed class content.
- Students are responsible for preparing for the PAL session, including familiarizing themselves with course materials before each virtual PAL session, coming to the session with specific questions, and being ready to participate actively and collaboratively with their peers.
- Students agree to complete a feedback form at the end of each PAL session.
- Students are responsible for having their own supplies, such as: device for connecting t Zoom, headphones/microphone for participating in sessions, calculator, textbook, paper, etc If students lack any necessary tech items, they should contact the TRSM Student Help Desk for support.
- Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the general features of Zoom, including: mute, video enabling, “raise your hand” feature, and chat function and using tip sheets available on the TMU Zoom website, to assist. TRSM Program Advising and Student Success TRS 2-168 (8TH floor) 575 Bay Street (Entrance at 55 Dundas St. West) Email: trsm.academicsuccess@torontomu.ca
- PAL Leaders are not able to assist with material that will be graded, such as assignments, quizzes, take-home tests, etc. because it is against Senate Policy 60: Academic Integrity.
- Students are partly responsible, along with their peers, to create and maintain a welcoming and accepting learning environment. They are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct as outlined in Senate Policy 61. If students breach the policies of the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct, Program Advising and Student Success staff will report and investigate the incident as well as take the advice of the Student Conduct Officer regarding PAL attendance privileges. Adhering to this code will be especially important when working with peers in breakout rooms.
- Students agree to read the PASS’s tip sheet on (PDF file) Netiquette to prepare themselves for successful and respectful virtual tutoring sessions.
- The Program Advising and Student Success works to maintain safety and quality assurance by recording and securely storing PAL sessions. Attendance at these events is consent to such recordings. In addition, a member of staff from the Program Advising and Student Success may enter the Zoom session at any time to observe the PAL Leader and/or check in on the session. Students are not permitted to take screenshots or recordings of PAL sessions without consent of the Program Advising and Student Success team.
- To work with an upper-year peer who has a good knowledge of the course material
- Opportunity to ask questions about course content and how to approach solving various problems
- Referrals to other available resources, both within TRSM and on campus, regarding tutoring and learning skills
- To be actively engaged in the session. To gain the most from your visit/ session, it is best to come prepared with questions, having done the reading/ attended lecture (ideally both!)
- A welcoming and collaborative environment. Regardless of your knowledge with the courses, there are always areas where we can assist you in improving! We respect that students who come to the Tutoring Centre may have varying learning and personal goals. Remember: we are here to help!
NOTICE: PASS cannot assist students with material that will be graded, such as assignments, essays, quizzes, take-home tests, etc. as guided by TMU's Academic Integrity Policy. For more information, please visit the Academic Integrity Office's website (which houses short and informative videos on A.I. policies at TMU), and read/ review Procedures for TMU Senate Policy 60: Academic Integrity.
Please contact the Tutoring Centre at tutoring.trsm@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) in advance of your attendance to let us know if we can make any accommodations to ensure your inclusion in the tutoring sessions.