Tutors and Academic Coaches
“Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty.” - Albert Einstein

Tutoring

Tutoring services through the Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) are available to all current USF student-athletes. Tutors are University of South Florida undergraduate and graduate students, who are selected through an intensive interview and hiring process; this ensures the most elite and effective tutoring services. Once hired, tutors are required to attend training sessions through USF's Tutoring and Learning Services department.

The Academic Enrichment Center provides an efficient and effective study environment for student-athletes. With five tutor rooms, a quiet study lounge, and a computer lab, student-athletes have access to quiet areas to study and discuss academic concepts with other student-athletes and tutors.
 
All tutoring sessions take place in the Academic Enrichment Center during regular hours. Student-athletes can contact their academic coordinator to request an appointment.
 
Individuals interested in becoming a tutor should contact Jason Frank, at jmfrank@usf.edu.

Excel/Academic Coach

Excel and Academic Coaching are two programs offered through the AEC which support the academic success of our student-athletes, focusing on first-year, transfer, and academically at-risk student-athletes.  The Excel Program offers academic progress tracking through the student-athlete’s academic advisor, with weekly meetings and structured grade performance checks.  The Excel Program is mandated for all first-year and transfer student-athletes.

The Academic Coaching Program offers intensive, one-on-one academic progress tracking and guidance to academically at-risk student-athletes, or those who may have difficulties with time management or study skills.  Academic Coaches are undergraduate and graduate students who meet with these student-athletes on a weekly basis, and continually check their progress on assignments and tests.  Academic Coaches help struggling student-athletes align their priorities, set goals, and organize their academic, athletic and personal responsibilities.  Each Academic Coach has his/her individual style of mentoring, which makes each Academic Coaching experience unique.  Academic Coaches may provide the student-athlete with daily, weekly, and monthly calendars (which include travel, exam, and assignment due dates), goal definition and assessment, and remediation of time management and study skills.  Reports of any grades or professor comments regarding a student-athlete’s academic progress within a class are discussed during the weekly meetings, and plans for budgeting time for academics, athletics, and personal requirements are also reviewed.  Academic Coaches communicate (both verbally and in written form) with the student-athletes’ Academic Advisors and coaches on a regular basis, providing them with reports on each student’s individual progress and needs. 

Learning Disabilities Program

The Academic Advising staff of the Academic Enrichment Center work in conjunction with the USF Student Disability Services office (SDS) on-campus to provide student-athletes who may need assistance with proper testing measures and all necessary and required accommodations (upon diagnosis).  Once a letter of intent is signed by a student-athlete (who has a diagnosed learning disability), he/she should provide documentation of this diagnosis to his/her Academic Advisor as soon as possible so that proper accommodations can be provided upon the commencement of the student’s academic experience.

In addition, if a student-athlete suspects that he/she may have a learning disability and wishes to be formally tested, the student’s Academic Advisor can arrange further psychoeducational testing through Student Disability Services.  The Student Disability Services office provides accommodations such as note takers, test readers, signers, and other services (such as extended time on tests, noise-free environments, etc.) to students who have diagnosed learning disabilities.  This service extends to all University of South Florida students, not just student-athletes.  By working with the Student Disability Services office and the individual student-athlete, the Academic Enrichment Services staff can provide each student-athlete with an individualized plan that best fits the student-athlete’s learning needs to provide them with the most effective academic experience while a USF Bull.