Academic Enhancement’s Peer Tutoring Program Receives Recertification From CRLA

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 28, 2012) — The College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) recently awarded UK Academic Enhancement re-certification until September 2017.

Academic Enhancement, located in The Study on the third floor of the Complex Commons Building, offers services to faculty, staff and students. Its most popular and well-used resource, the Peer Tutoring Program, employs approximately 100 undergraduate students who are required to attend an intensive training session each fall before working as a peer tutor.

Peer tutors must also become certified through the CRLA's International Tutor Certification Program. CRLA, an association of higher education affiliates who are actively involved in reading and learning assistance, developmental training, tutoring and mentoring, offers certification in three different levels for organizations that work with students in higher education. Academic Enhancement peer tutors have been certified Level 1 through CRLA for the past four years.

Jim Breslin, associate director of Academic Enhancement, said he was proud of the Academic Enhancement staff for achieving recertification through 2017.

“This is the culmination of an immense effort to document the intentional training and professional development Academic Enhancement peer tutors receive, as well as an affirmation of the impact the program makes for UK students," Breslin said. "As a certified Peer Tutoring Program, UK students can be confident when they access services in The Study that they will be able to work with outstanding peer tutors.”

In addition to CRLA Level I certification, all peer tutors employed by Academic Enhancement are also trained on effective tutoring methods, campus resources, effective study habits and productive interpersonal communication skills. The Peer Tutoring Program employs undergraduate students who have earned at least an A or B in the course for which they tutor and have maintained at least an overall 3.0 GPA.

Tutors offer sessions in over 30 different subjects free of charge to all undergraduate students at UK. Last year alone, Academic Enhancement offered 18,651 group tutoring sessions. More than 91 percent of UK students who have used this resource have agreed that the Peer Tutoring Program increased their knowledge of the subject for which they were tutored, and more than 93 percent of students said that the Peer Tutoring Program was beneficial to their academic careers.  

For more information or to access any of Academic Enhancement’s services, please visit www.uky.edu/ae.

For more information about College Reading and Learning Association, please visit www.crla.net. 

Academic Enhancement is part of the Division of Undergraduate Education, which promotes academic excellence at the University of Kentucky through collaboration with colleges and support units across the institution.  Central to the division’s mission is campus leadership on issues pertinent to student retention, success and graduation, and innovation in teaching and learning.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Geegan, (859) 257-5365; sarah.geegan@uky.edu