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Schedule an Appointment

Click below to schedule an appointment with a Subject-Based Tutor, Adult Learner Coach, Peer Academic Coach, Technology Coach, or Writing Assistant!

Schedule an Appointment

Overview of Subject-Based Tutoring at USM

Through partnerships with academic departments at USM, the Learning Commons is able to offer free tutoring in 60+ undergraduate courses across multiple subject areas. We are a peer support service, meaning that all tutors are current USM students who have completed a nationally accredited tutor training program. Subject-Based Tutors provide 1:1 support and active practice in specific undergraduate subject areas, including Biology, Math, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Nursing, and more. 

USM students can enjoy the benefits of two tutoring appointments per week per course. For example, students can schedule two CHY 113 appointments as well as two MAT 108 appointments. The content of each tutoring session is determined entirely by the student.

Appointments are available in Portland, Gorham, and online via Zoom (from any location!). It is always best to plan ahead and schedule an appointment in advance; however, students may also drop by the Learning Commons in Portland or Gorham to see if a tutor is available.

View this semester’s current list of supported courses before scheduling.

What Tutoring is:

  • Engaging in academic time-on-task
  • Reviewing course concepts
  • Discussing topics actively
  • Developing effective learning strategies
  • Building confidence as a learner
  • Making connections with peers

What Tutoring is NOT:

  • Completing homework assignments
  • Attending without participating
  • Replacing class time
It is important to note that tutoring at USM is not just for students who are having difficulty, but rather for any student who wants to maximize their success. Many of the students who use tutoring are USM’s best, since they know it will help them stay on top! Students are encouraged to plan ahead and make tutoring part of their weekly academic time-on-task!

Subject-Based Tutoring FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the tutoring service. If you don’t see the answer to your question, please visit our more comprehensive FAQ page or email Cristina Kerluke, Associate Director of Learning Support Programs, at cristina.kerluke@maine.edu.

Note: If you are looking for information on Peer Academic Coaching and/or Adult Learner Coaching, visit our Academic Coaching page.

Any USM student who is enrolled in at least one course is eligible for this free service! 

USM’s Subject-Based Tutors work collaboratively with students to clarify and/or reinforce content in various subject areas, provide tools students can use to become effective self-confident learners, and help students achieve their academic goals. Tutors are not course instructors and working with a tutor is not a substitute for attending class.

Each session is 50 minutes long, allowing the tutor 10 minutes to prepare for the next appointment. Students may elect to schedule their tutoring appointments back-to-back (with a ten-minute break in between) or spread them out over the course of the week.

The content of the tutoring session is determined entirely by the student. For example, a student who selects a MAT 100 session can choose to discuss/review any relevant course concepts during their 50-minute session, from rational and radical expressions to ratio and proportion.

NOTE: Tutors are not permitted to provide students with answers for assignments, although they can help practice similar concepts.

No, it would be a violation of USM’s Academic Integrity policy to assist students with any material that hasn’t been graded yet, including homework and take-home exams. However, tutors can help students actively review the feedback from instructors once the assessment has been graded, guide students through the material they haven’t quite mastered yet, and provide opportunities to actively engage with the concepts in a safe and supportive environment.

USM students can use our convenient self-service online calendar to easily view available appointments and schedule a time with a tutor. For step-by-step guidance, please review our How to Schedule a Subject-Based Tutoring Appointment resource.

View this semester’s current list of supported courses before scheduling.

Students may also call The Learning Commons at (207)780-4228 or email usmlc@maine.edu for assistance with scheduling. 

The location of an appointment will depend on the selection the student made when scheduling their session. Portland-based appointments will be held on the second floor of Glickman Library, and Gorham-based appointments will be held on the first floor of the Gorham Library, 120 Bailey Hall.

Students can also elect to have an appointment held live, online via Zoom (from any location!). To join scheduled online appointments, log back into the scheduling calendar, open the appointment window, and click on the link labeled JOIN MY APPOINTMENT to start an online session.

NOTE: Both the scheduling calendar (WCOnline) and Zoom are mobile-device optimized so that a student can participate in the appointment via a smartphone if needed.

The Learning Commons provides support for 60+ USM undergraduate courses. Any courses for which tutoring is offered are listed in the scheduling calendar and updated each semester. (You may also view this semester’s current list of supported courses before visiting the schedule.) If you don’t see the course you’re looking for in the drop-down menu at the top of the calendar, please refer to our What to Do When Tutoring is Not Available resource for alternative support options.

  • “My tutor finally helped me understand concepts I’d been stuck on in Economics. She explained things clearly and took the time to make sure I really got it.”
  • “My tutor was excellent and was able to accommodate my learning styles to provide me with help in ways that made sense to me.”
  • “My tutor was incredibly helpful and I feel much stronger academically because of meeting with her!”

USM students, faculty, and staff seeking additional information regarding Subject-Based Tutoring may visit our internal MyUSM page.