FEDERAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM

Peer Tutors Honored

From left: Tanya McAllister, Ben Atwood, Kerrijean Houser, Merisa Janoske, Seth Kellas, Pat Lucca (Work Study Coordinator) and John Houser.

In recognition of the invaluable assistance the Peer Tutors provide to New England Tech’s students, a celebration was organized by the staff of the Academic Skills Center. 

Peer Tutors are students who provide tutoring and assistance to their fellow students, ultimately to help them succeed in college. Their duties include staffing the college's open labs, tutoring in basic computer skills and technology courses, and providing guidance to students wishing to learn about and utilize other college resources available to them at NEIT.

To qualify as a Peer Tutor, a student must meet the Work Study criteria set forth by the Federal Government, maintain at least a 3.4 GPA, receive a recommendation from an instructor, and possess a mastery of basic computer skills.  Following acceptance into the Peer Tutor Training Program, the prospective tutor is trained in the theory and practice of tutoring.  They also receive certification from the College Reading and Learning Association, a national organization.

Anyone interested in becoming a Peer Tutor should contact the Academic Skills Center.

Phi Theta Kappa Helps Save the World

From left: PTK Club Advisor and Associate Professor Mike Recorvitz and student Jason Smith

The Beta Xi Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) has been very busy since being chartered in February 2006 at New England Tech.  During the fall 2006 quarter, PTK conducted two activities, a book drive to collect college textbooks and a pine sapling giveaway. Both activities were very successful. 

The collected books were forwarded to an organization called Better World Books in exchange for a small donation per book. Better World Books converts donated books into funding that supports world literacy efforts. The book drive proved to be extremely successful as some of the large book bins on campus had to be emptied a number of times. 

The sapling giveaway was derived from an effort to help plant 2,007 trees in the year 2007. The New England Regional Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa invited local chapters to participate in this activity to help the environment and to increase local and regional exposure of PTK. In support of this effort, PTK advisors and student members were seen in the lobby of the CT Building distributing Eastern White Pine saplings. The saplings, organically grown, fertilized, and pesticide free, came from a commercial forest run by Vermont forest planners.  The saplings were donated, and thus were given away free of charge, with donations accepted, but not required.  All 250 plants given to NEIT were distributed and donations totaled just over $300. 

Thank you to all who participated and/or donated. Look for more Phi Theta Kappa events coming to campus.

Information for this article was provided by James Sloan, EET student, and Press Secretary of NEIT’s PTK Chapter.