Help me if you can

Today marks the first day of the second half of the semester—for students, this means the stress of end-of-the-semester exams and finals is just around the corner. The Columbia College Student Council of 2012 has been working to provide first-years with academic assistance by creating a free and convenient peer-tutoring program. The council should be lauded for their simple yet innovative initiative, but make sure that they finalize the program in time for students to prepare for finals.

Administrators from each of the undergraduate colleges offer their students various tutoring services that assign small tutor and tutee groups based on tutor availability. In contrast to those formal academic assistance resources, the 2012 student council’s initiative encourages academic support that is floor- and dormitory-based for first-years. Students will be able to fill out forms that indicate their areas of expertise as well as access other students’ forms to see if help is available on their hall. The program encourages tutoring in a more accessible, personal setting and—with its simple structure—also eliminates the hassle of University bureaucracy. Establishing the service in dormitories shared by undergraduates in Columbia College and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences allows students to collaborate, which is especially helpful for courses required by both schools, such as University Writing.

CCSC ’12 should be commended for their efforts at providing more convenient and productive peer tutoring. Many freshmen find themselves struggling to balance lifestyle changes with the unfamiliar aspects of college exams, and they should not have to navigate through the University’s bureaucracy—or pay an exorbitant amount—simply to attend a review session. In addition, many students also feel more comfortable in relaxed, one-on-one situations than when placed into a group of other nervous or competitive students. However, with the semester coming to a close, student council should step up their efforts to turn the plans into action. Members should set clear dates for various stages of the initiative, finalize support from resident advisers, and publicize the launch of the program to ensure that students will have this much deserved support in time for final exams.

Columbia students are talented, and each has considerable experience that they can lend to their peers when they struggle. By encouraging students to look to their fellow Columbians for help and motivating capable students to assist their hallmates, the student councils can build stronger community ties and foster a more enriching academic experience.

Mason Fitch recused himself from the writing of this editorial.