Instructional Support for Writing

The Chicago School's Academic Support Center offers Embedded Tutoring in strategically chosen courses throughout the undergraduate programs to:

1. promote writing across the curriculum,
2. to enhance students' self-efficacy for writing and skills in writing,
3. to enhance faculty self-efficacy for providing writing instruction in the classroom, 
4. to promote the use of writing support services, and
5. prepare students for the rigors of academic writing throughout their educational career at The Chicago School.

We aim to target courses early in a student's degree program that assess their writing but that are not, in and of themselves, writing courses. We believe strongly that introducing students to formal writing instruction alongside their content knowledge acquisition—in other words, focusing on both learning to write and writing to learn—can improve their overall academic development.

Supporting this program through the incorporation of peer tutors supports the development of peer mentorship across campuses at The Chicago School. Embedded tutors are “peer tutors who work in an academic course with individual students and in small groups to increase students’ understanding of course material, in a program that offers additional in-class support to students who may be wary of seeking academic support on their own” (Defined in “Embedded Tutoring,” by Loren Kleinman, Candice, Kaup Scoisia, and Roseann, Torsiello, Handbook for Training Peer Tutors and Mentors, CRLA).  

As we continue to grow and evolve as a university system, the Embedded Tutoring Program (ETP) is also making thoughtful adjustments to ensure we allocate our resources in ways that best support our academic community. Beginning Fall 2025, the ETP will focus its traditional embedded tutoring services on undergraduate courses, where writing development is most critical early in a student’s academic journey. We will focus on developing a peer tutoring model, increasing student support and collaboration through guided peer mentorship. 

Embedded Tutoring is not available for Graduate Level Programs at this time.

Embedded tutors can engage in the following types of activities:

• help facilitate small group exercises or discussions
• offer the perspective of an experienced student in class discussions
• work with individual students who require additional support during class activities
• assist students to learn how to effectively utilize software, tools, etc.
• guide students, provide feedback and answer questions during in-class hands-on practice

Things embedded tutors are not permitted to do:

• teach new concepts the course instructor has not already introduced
• lead the class without the instructor present
• grade assignments
• enforce class management or discipline policies
• function as a personal assistant to the instructor