USC Aiken's Center for Student Achievement wants students to excel academically. To that end, we offer various academic support services that are free for currently-enrolled USC Aiken students. Please take a look at the sections below to find a tutoring service that best fits your needs.

For information about the Writing Center, maintained by the English Department, please visit the Writing Center website.

For information about the Math Lab, maintained by the Math Department, please visit the Math Lab website.

Free Peer Tutoring

Drop-in Subject Tutoring in Library

Tutoring takes place in the Learning Commons area, located in the back, right-hand side of the first floor of the Library. Just find a tutor from the list below, check his/her schedule on the calendar, and then stop by the Learning Commons area for tutoring. Tutors in the area will have badges identifying them as USC Aiken tutors. If you can’t find your tutor, feel free to check with the front desk.

Drop-in tutoring is a great way to get quick answers to questions you may have about course material. Of course, we recommend you visit your professors during their office hours for additional support. Even if you don't need tutoring, feel free to come study in the area. Keep in mind that tutors are available to help you gain a better understanding of your course material. However, tutors will not do your work for you. When you come to a tutoring session, bring your syllabus, textbooks, and any notes or other materials that will help make your tutoring session a productive one!

Please take a look at the list of tutors and their subjects below, and then click the calendar link to find a specific tutor's schedule. You may view the calendar by week, month, or in a list format. 

The tutoring calendar is updated daily & the schedule is posted monthly. Please check the calendar before going to tutoring. If a tutor has to miss a regular time due to illness, doctor appointments, etc., then we will update the calendar to reflect those changes.

Please note that although we provide tutoring for many courses, we do not provide tutors for all courses. We focus on providing tutoring support for courses with high DFW rates at the 100 and 200 levels that have a high tutor-request rate from students. Although we actively recruit tutors for courses, it isn’t always possible to find students who can help with every course each semester. Many tutors are upper-level students who graduate after a semester or two of tutoring. Therefore, the availability of tutors who can help with different courses may vary from semester to semester. If a peer tutor is unavailable for your course, try using Brainfuse, our online tutoring option that lets you meet virtually with a professional tutor (scroll down for more information).

Current Subjects Available

BIOLOGY 243, 244, 250, CHEMISTRY 101, and EDPY330

Book an appointment with Brya

GERMAN 101, 102

Book an appointment with Luke

FRENCH 101, 102, and 210

Book an appointment with Catina

SPANISH 101, 102, 130, 210, and BIOLOGY 121

Book an appointment with Maggie

Free Online Subject Tutoring with Brainfuse

During the summer 2021 sessions, subject tutoring is online through Brainfuse. Please see the information below for more information about how to access Brainfuse.

Brainfuse offers students access to live, online tutoring. Each student currently enrolled in a USC Aiken course receives six free hours of tutoring with a Brainfuse tutor. Papers submitted to the online Writing Lab count as 40 minutes each.

Tutors are available in many subjects, including math, biology, chemistry, accounting, Spanish, and more! If you submit a paper to the online Writing Lab, you will receive feedback, usually within 24 hours, about how to improve your writing.

Learn how to submit a paper to the Brainfuse Writing Lab.

Check out the current USC Aiken Brainfuse schedule! 

To access Brainfuse, log on to Blackboard, click on any of your current USCA courses, and then choose “Tools” and “Brainfuse.” You will be redirected to the Brainfuse website. From there, you can access live tutors or the Writing Lab from the top of the page. You can also explore other Brainfuse services that don’t count against your six hour limit, including the ability to create flashcards, test yourself in different subject areas, or schedule online meetings with your classmates (a great way to collaborate on group projects or to form online study groups).

For live Spanish tutoring, click on “Language Lab” on the Brainfuse main page. Then, choose “Spanish” and “Get Live Help.”  You can also click on “Vocabulary Builder” for free resources for Spanish, French, and German.

If you have any questions, please call the Coordinator of Academic Coaching, Tutoring & Supplemental Instruction at 803-641-3297.

Chemistry Tutoring

The chemistry faculty will be holding their office hours on the first-floor library in the CSA Learning Commons!  You will have the opportunity to meet and seek guidance from the chemistry professors right in the heart of the university.

If you need assistance with understanding complex concepts or simply want to chat about the wonders of chemistry, the CSA is your go-to spot. This collaboration between the faculty and the library aims to create a warm and supportive environment where you can comfortably engage with your professors.

Make the most of this opportunity to interact with our dedicated chemistry faculty during their office hours in the library. Remember, they are here to help you succeed and thrive in your studies. Don't hesitate to swing by, say hello, and make the most of their expertise.

Apply to Be a Tutor

If you are a current USC Aiken student who would like to work as an academic peer tutor, please complete the application.

If you are interested in becoming a tutor, please call the Coordinator of Academic Coaching, Tutoring & Supplemental Instruction at 803-641-3297.

If you are not a USC Aiken student, please see Private Tutoring below for more information on tutoring opportunities. 

To work as an academic peer tutor, you must be a USC Aiken student; have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; have an A or B in the classes in which you would like to tutor; and we must receive two faculty recommendations for you.  If a position is available, we will contact the faculty members listed on your application for their recommendations. There is no need for you to contact faculty for reference letters.

Please note that although we provide tutoring for many courses, we do not provide tutors for all courses. We focus on providing tutoring support for courses with high DFW rates at the 100 and 200 levels that have a high tutor-request rate from students in those courses. Therefore, the courses/subjects for which you feel you could provide tutoring may not necessarily be courses for which we need support.

Courses/Subjects for which we often need additional support include: 

• Sciences (biology, especially BIOL 121 & 122; anatomy & physiology; chemistry, especially 111 & 112; physics, etc.)
• Business courses (accounting, finance, economics)
• Languages (Spanish, French, & German)

FAQ's

How much do tutoring services cost?

All USC Aiken tutoring services are completely free to currently enrolled USC Aiken students. However, you do have the option of finding a private tutor, who may or may not charge.

I need help in a course but there are no drop-in tutoring times available for that course. What can I do?

If you need help for a course that is not listed under our drop-in tutoring section, contact the Academic Coaching and Tutoring Coordinator at 803-641-3297.

I'm struggling in a class but it's not really related to the course material. Is there anyone I can talk to?

Sometimes students have problems related to time management, test-taking anxiety, study skills, etc. We always recommend that you speak with your instructor and academic advisor about any concerns you have. You can also make an appointment for an academic consultation with a professional staff member from the Center for Student Achievement.