Frequently Asked Questions

It's not uncommon for there to be questions about the processes and ways of the Tutoring Center.
Hopefully the following information will help answer some questions you may have.
If not, please feel free to call us at (408) 848-4838.

  Who can access tutoring at the Gav TC?

The tutoring offered at the Gavilan Tutoring Center is for students of Gavilan Community College. If you are a Gavilan student, you are entitled to tutoring services through us. If you are not a Gavilan student, please see our information about making a Private Tutoring Request.

  How much does tutoring cost?

Tutoring at the Gav TC is absolutely and completely FREE to all Gavilan Students.

  What subjects are available?

Although we cannot claim to tutor all courses offered at Gavilan, we do cover the majority. Our tutors are students who have taken courses at Gavilan and who have passed the class with a B or higher.
A typical coverage of subjects for a semester includes:

ACCT 103, 20, 21;
AH 3, 11;
BIO 10, 15 or higher;
CHEM 30A/B, 1A/B;
CMUN 10, 1A;
ECON 1, 2;
HIST 1, 2;
MATH 400-233, 5, 8A/B, 1A or higher;
POLS 1;
PSYC 1A, maybe 1B;
SOCI 1A;
SPAN 1A/B

Each semester is different due to staffing changes. For more detailed information please call us at (408) 848-4838.

  Is tutoring one-on-one?

We do not provide guaranteed one-on-one tutoring. Our tutoring sessions are designed to allow multiple students in the same course learn to use each other as resources and develop independent learning skills; our tutors are meant to facilitate this process. There are many benefits to studying in groups. Although there may be instances where a student is the only person scheduled for an appointment, this should not be expected.

  How often can I get tutoring?

Each person learns differently and the amount of tutoring need can vary greatly between students. We encourage that students use our services two to three times a week per subject. This is flexible; however, under no circumstances will we do back-to-back tutoring hours for the same subject.

  What if there are no appointments that match my schedule?

You can make schedule change requests by completing a Guidance 550 form. Once submitted, the information noted on this form is compared to the schedules of our staff and  available subject areas. We try to complete this process within a day or two; however, it should be noted that fulfilling schedule requests cannot always be possible. The more hours of availability a student notes on this form, the greater the chance that an hour can be put on the schedule that suits his/her needs.

  What is a Guidance 550 form?

The Guidance 550 form is an add request to enroll students into GUID 550: Supervised Tutoring. This is a free, non-credit course that does not appear on credit transcripts. The Gav TC receives funding through the number of hours students use our tutoring services. With the Guidance 550 form we are able to add each student to our log-in computers, and from the hours logged, receive funding for future semesters. The Guidance 550 form is also used to match our tutoring schedules to the schedules of the students seeking to use our services (please see above).

  Why do I have to log-in?

Students logging-in on our computers is the only way the Gav TC can prove to the state that students are accessing our services. It is vitally important to our program for students to accurately log-in and out so that the Gav TC can receive funding for future semesters. If you have any questions about logging-in, please ask. We are always happy to help.

  Where are you located? Contact info?

The Gav TC is located at the Gavilan College Main Campus at 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., Gilroy, CA. We are on the South side of Library in LI 116. Our telephone number is (408) 848-4838, or e-mail Kimberly Wilson for additional assistance.