By Jeffrey Morris

With the end of the semester approaching, Resources for Academic Achievement (REACH) is in full swing helping students prepare for finals. That means more help from the many tutors who

“There is nothing like tutoring,” said Elizabeth Russell, a REACH tutor. “It has been the most rewarding experience of my life.”

Last month, REACH celebrated National Tutoring Week which honored the 133 full-time student tutors. To become a tutor at REACH, students must have 3.0 grade point average. Afterward, they go through an interview process which includes filling out an application and obtaining personal recommendations. If approved, 10 hours of training is required. All tutors are full-time and paid between $8 and $8.50 an hour.

For many tutors, REACH is a way to learn important social skills that they will need in the future. Math tutor Zachary Bear started tutoring in high school when he helped coach an elementary school academic team and a fourth-grade basketball team.

“I found it a very rewarding experience and wanted to continue it in college. I feel that there are few other jobs that develop your social skills as well as interacting with tutees,” Bear said. “I love the fact that tutoring develops my communication skills. I feel this will be pertinent to the rest of my career. I also enjoy the feeling you get when a tutee tells you that you made a difference.”

Founded in 2000 to help improve U of L’s low retention rates, REACH is the university’s principle academic support service. “REACH, has a unique mission … to assist undergraduate students in achieving their individual academic goals. REACH provides academic support services and retention programs which encourage students to be independent and successful learners,” said REACH’s Executive Director Cathy Leist. She said that during the 2004-2005 academic year, 4,276 individual students used REACH for a total of 34,228 student-to-tutor contact hours.

REACH, located in Strickler Hall, offers general help in a variety of courses in the Learning Resource Center, and also provides tutoring in math and computers. REACH can be contacted at 852-6707.