Mission Statement

In recognition that the university science curriculum can be both challenging and stimulating for our students, the College of Science has sought to foster community and academic achievement for our undergraduates. The goals of our support for student learning in the College of Science include:

To improve class performance, retention, time-to-degree, career placement, and related benchmarks for our undergraduates.
To provide opportunities for students to develop the skills and behaviors needed to learn more effectively and engage more directly with faculty and peer tutors to become independent active learners.
To help students transition to Cal Poly, navigate the academic terrain; and create networks of resources.
To develop strong partnerships between faculty, students, and staff in academic support units to promote academic success in university-level science curriculum.
To encourage linkages between academic and the Cal Poly hallmark of hands-on activities.

Tutoring Philosophy

MaSH’s Philosophy: MaSH is concerned with fostering excellence, not remediation! And is grounded in the following beliefs:

To become active and critical thinkers, students must assume responsibility for the learning that occurs in tutorial sessions.
Tutors do not reproduce the role of the instructor. Tutors supplement instruction by getting you to engage course materials actively, critically, and independently through questioning, dialogue, and debate.
Students will find their own intellectual authority only in an environment that combines rigorous academic expectations with encouragement, support, and respect.
Effective tutors are intellectual mentors who offer their personal support and their knowledge of campus life.
Our program is broader than trouble-shooting or remedy-seeking. Tutoring is designed to enhance your learning--even if you are an " A " student - in a social context where you can test your understanding in dialogue with others. Tutoring gives you a place to assume the role of instructor as well as learner; and it introduces you to a network of other students.
Of course, if you are having trouble understanding class material, tutoring is a fine place to seek assistance. Tutoring will help you get started quicker and become more organized and focused, all of which should generate enthusiasm in your work.