UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday. April 28, 1994
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Brian Vanderylet / KAN$AN
Room for one more
$ ^{1} $ Students tried to shield themselves from the rain yesterday while waiting at the bus stop in front of Lippincott Hall.
Earning money, helping students reasons to tutor
By Manny Lopez
Special to the Kansan
For many tutors, helping someone pass Spanish or economics is simply about earning beer money.
But student tutoring is a thriving business at the University of Kansas, and the potential to earn hundreds of dollars is real, tutors say.
"It's a classic supply and demand thing," said Steve Able, Wichita graduate student and math tutor. "I think that if I did not have a heavy class load or was a teaching assistant for a lower level course, I could make $400 to $500 per semester."
Other tutors said they got into the business as a stepping-stone toward their careers.
But money is not the only reason students become independent tutors. "I tutor to see the subjects again and to work with students," said Jonathan Paretsky, KU Law graduate and Western Civilization and German tutor.
"Iam planning on teaching Japanese and English back in Japan," said Osato Shiki, Osaka, Japan, graduate
student. Shiki tutors Japanese and charges $6 an hour.
Students hire tutors for a variety of reasons.
"Iam sometimes hesitant to go to a professor," said Dan Ely, Overland Park senior. "Going to another student makes the situation less intimidating and more relaxing."
Ely, who is tutored by Shiki, said he was satisfied with the help he received from him. Ely said he went to Shiki only when he was unclear about specific grammar points, but he also called on Shiki when he could not get help during a professor's office hours.
"The money that I pay to Osato is definitely worth it." he said.
Arthur Kelly, KU graduate and English tutor, said that business picked up as finals neared.
"I sometimes get students who call at 10 p.m. looking for help for something due the next day," he said.
Paretsky also said he received more phone calls than he could handle, especially during finals. But he said he usually tried to first help those students that he had helped before. The
Getthefacts
The tutor listing book at the Student Assistance Center, 133 Strong Hall, contains tips for hiring a tutor.
rest he tutored on a first-come, first-served basis.
KANSAN
Rates for tutors range from $5 an hour to $16 an hour. Paretsky said he charged $15 an hour.
Laura Morgan, assistant director of the Student Assistance Center, said that students who wanted a tutor should make contacts and payment arrangements early. Students can check the tutor listing book at the center, 133 Strong Hall, which lists tutors who have filed applications.
But Morgan said that the office did not guarantee the tutors' quality. There are no prerequisites for filing an application, and Morgan said that students should verify a tutor's credentials on their own.
Operators are standing by to cut you off.
When it's time to get your electricity turned off, the only line you'll have to deal with this year is the one attached to your telephone.
Just call 1-800-794-4780 anytime day or night.
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