In response to the changing educational landscape caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a collaborative of universities, led by St. Norbert College and UW-Oshkosh, implemented online tutoring services to K4-12 students across the state of Wisconsin and beyond during the spring of 2020. Taking off from this initial program, the UWM Virtual Tutoring Program (VTP) began in earnest during the summer of 2020, and continues on today in hopes that children have access to free, online tutoring with qualified tutors during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
The program seeks to provide academic and social support to elementary and secondary students impacted by distance education, continued professional experience for college students, and an opportunity for the UWM community to support the education of young people. Here is a news story by Spectrum News that aired in the early days of the program, and while dated, it gives a good sense of the experience and impact the program can have on both tutors and tutees.
The VTP is coordinated by SET with tutors from a variety of UWM programs including teacher education students, paid America Reads tutors, volunteers, and service learners. There are also other external partners who have joined the program to provide support and tutoring.
Families can register their children for the program and select the type of tutoring support to best meet their children’s needs. All tutors will be trained and go through a background check process. Students will meet at least twice a week for approximately 30 to 45 minutes with their tutor. There are limited spots, but we will do our best to match all students with tutors.
Any questions can be directed to uwm-vtp@uwm.edu
Interested families and K-12 students should complete the following:
UWM Tutors should complete the following: