AUK Tutoring Center Receives CRLA Certification

The Tutoring Center at the American University of Kuwait's Learning Support Services (LSS) unit, has been awarded the International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) – Level 1 by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).

ITTPC certifies tutor training programs in postsecondary educational institutions. Once granted CRLA certification, the tutor training programs each have the authority to recognize their tutors as having met the approved ITTPC tutor training program requirements. The purpose of the ITTPC program is twofold-first, it provides recognition and positive reinforcement for tutors' successful work from an international organization; second, CRLA's tutor training program certification process sets an internationally accepted standard of skills and training for tutors.

AUK Tutoring Center sought ITTPC certification to further advance peer tutors' professional skills, and in turn increase the quality of services offered to students. Learning Support Services Director, Hanouf Aljuhail explains, "The Tutoring Center was in a transitional phase a few years ago and its team was searching for ways to improve and diversify the services it offered to AUK students and faculty. Obtaining the CRLA certification was the first step in the right direction. As a certified center, we'll have access to various resources, trainings, and guidelines to take the Tutoring Center and its team of Peer Tutors to the next level."

Tutoring Center staff Sally Saleh and Nada Bedir began the certification process in summer 2016, during which they prepared a training program that met the CRLA requirements and the center's needs. The first cycle of the training program was held during the Academic Year 2016-2017, consisting of 11.5 hours of training, which included 7 hours of trainer-led, interactive, live, real-time (TILR) training, and 4.5 hours of assigned individual reading.

Eighteen students who work as peer tutors at the Tutoring Center have completed the training, and are now certified as CRLA ITTPC Level 1 Tutors.

Following this achievement of Learning Support Services, the Tutoring & Writing Centers held an LSS Open Day to celebrate with the AUK community and award certificates to peer tutors who have completed the training.