Isabel Terra ’23 sees fellow students transform through tutoring.

Terra is one of 60 peer tutors who work in the General Academic Tutoring Center, located on the second floor of the William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center on the Stockton Campus.

“At the beginning of the session, they're lost. Toward the end, they're like, ‘I get it.’ It makes me feel proud of what I’m doing and that it’s benefiting them,” she said. 

Sessions are tailored to a student’s course. Tutors must have completed the course they are tutoring with at least a B+ or faculty recommendation. Drop-in hours also are available for math and biology due to higher demand for those subjects.

Services are free and are provided in hour-long, one-on-one sessions with no limits on the number of sessions students can take. 

“That’s what sets Pacific apart,” said Janice Putman-Gonzales, manager of the tutoring center. “Some institutions allot a certain number of sessions per semester or limit students to once a week per subject. We don’t do that because we want to make sure students are getting the help they need.”

The student-centered approach complements other tutoring on the Stockton Campus including the Writing Center, Math and Bio Lab, Student-Athlete Study Hall and Research Consultation.

Moiz Bukhari ’25 sees it as one of the university’s valuable resources. Like many of the tutors, he also utilizes its services as a student.

“Since it’s student-to-student, most tutors understand your perspective and know what you're struggling with, so they teach in ways you will understand,” he said.

The benefits go beyond course material. For some students, learning study strategies and what to expect from their professors can make a dramatic difference.

“Oftentimes things students did that were successful in high school don't work in college. That's why it's great to glean information from fellow students of all the different ways to learn,” Putman-Gonzales said.

The tutoring center is open by appointment Sundays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students can make appointments online through Canvas or the Student Academic Support Services Hub.

The Math Hub is open Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Students can get help in the Bio Hub Monday through Thursday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Both hubs are located in the tutoring center.