Student Policies

Tutoring is provided free of charge through the Bristol Learning Commons.

Current Bristol students can schedule up to three (3) appointments per week. These appointments can be any combination of content, study skills or writing. Back to back appointments are discouraged and standing appointments are not permitted. Additional time may be granted at the discretion of the Learning Commons Coordinator, Director of Tutoring and Academic Support, or Writing Center Coordinator.

Community members can schedule one (1) appointment per week.

Appointment confirmations and reminders will be sent via email to your Bristol email address. If you would also like to receive text reminders, please ask the desk staff for instructions.

Appointments need to be canceled or rescheduled one (1) day in advance. Same day cancelations or same day rescheduled appointments will be treated as missed appointments. Students who miss three (3) appointments without at least one (1) day notice will need to meet with the Director of Tutoring and Academic Support before scheduling future appointments.

All tutoring will take place in the Learning Commons, unless arrangements have been made in advance with the Learning Commons Coordinator.

Students must check in with the Learning Commons desk when they arrive before beginning their tutoring appointment.

All business related to tutoring should be handled through the Learning Commons desk. Appointments should not be arranged or changed directly with tutors.

Appointments are 45 minutes in length. Students who cannot arrive at the start of their appointment should inform the desk staff when scheduling. After 15 minutes, your appointment may be given to another student.

Please come prepared with syllabus, textbooks, assignments, and questions regarding your course work. Tutors cannot help with tests or quizzes without written permission from the instructor.

Refrain from anything that might distract you or your tutor from the focus of your tutoring session. This includes such things as cell phone use, eating or bringing other individuals to your appointment.

Tutors and desk staff cannot signoff that a student attended a tutoring sessions. If confirmation is required, please have the faculty member contact the Learning Commons Coordinator, Director of Tutoring and Academic Support, or Writing Center Coordinator.

Tutors are trained to help you understand the course work; please do not take advantage of your tutor by asking him or her to do work for you. Writing tutors are trained to help students understand and apply writing processes and will make every effort to explain complicated concepts and facilitate learning. Writing tutors will model revision and editing practices and critical reading strategies.

Tutors can only help students with their own original work. We consider it a violation of the college's policy on academic integrity if students bring in friends' work or plagiarized work. If misrepresentation of student work occurs, we may restrict that student's further use of the Learning Commons.

Students of all backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to use the Learning Commons. If you need special accommodations, please speak with the Desk Staff, Learning Commons Coordinator, Director of Tutoring and Academic Support, or Writing Center Coordinator. All students can rely on a strict policy of confidentiality.