TTA Guidelines

Targeted Tutorial Assistant (TTA)

Guidelines

Section 1: What is TTA?

The Targeted Tutorial Assistance Program (TTA) is a specialised tutorial program operated by the Oorala Aboriginal Centre at the University of New England (UNE). The program is aimed at improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

The TTA Program is designed to be accessible to as many students as possible. Therefore our program offers individual and group tutoring sessions; as well as face to face and online tutoring.

Tutors work closely with students to:

• identify key areas of a student’s academic support needs;
• provide expert advice to allocated students on specific subject areas;
• introduce allocated students to the underlying principles of those subjects or disciplines and discipline/s;
• support allocated students to develop skills in reading and writing for academic (subject and discipline specific) purposes at the required level;
• assist allocated students to develop effective independent study skills.

Students do not incur any fees for accessing this program. However, there are strict responsibilities and obligations that govern the programs that students are required to abide by. These are outlined in the TTA student terms and conditions and the TTA tutor terms and conditions.

Section 2: Eligibility and Priority Access

1. To be eligible to access TTA support, students must satisfy the following criteria:
   1. Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person; and
   2. Be enrolled in a current unit of study at UNE.
2. The funding guidelines, Indigenous Student Assistance Grants Guidelines 2017, instruct Oorala to provide priority access to Pathway students, first year students and those at risk of not successfully completing their course and/or unit.

Section 3: How to Apply

Students can submit an application online. Applications need to be submitted at the start of each new teaching period.

Please be aware that submitting a TTA application does not guarantee that you will be provided with a tutor. Approval of applications will be subject to the availability of a qualified tutor to meet your needs, as well as availability of funds.

Section 4: Tutoring and Assessment and Allocation

Where a student is assessed as being eligible to receive TTA support, as outlined in Section 2 of the TTA Guidelines, Oorala will assign a qualified tutor to provide academic support. Below is an outline of the approved allocated available to students.

The approved allocation is also subject to the following:

1. Tutoring is only accessible during the teaching period which includes the mid-trimester break. This does not include the examination period in the trimester. It is the responsibility of tutors and students to be aware of the dates of the teaching period specific to the student’s field of study.
2. The allocation of TTA hours must not be exceeded. It is the responsibility of the tutor and the student to monitor their usage of their approved allocation of TTA hours.
3. The number of approved TTA hours allocated for each week cannot be carried forward or accrued for future sessions.
4. Applications to vary or increase a student’s approved TTA allocation, must be submitted to the TTA Program Coordinator in writing and prior to tutoring being held. It is the responsibility of the student and/or tutor to submit this application as outlined in Section 5 of the TTA Guidelines.

Section 5: Requesting a Variation or Increase in TTA support

Students and/or tutors must submit a written request to the TTA Program Coordinator if they wish to vary or increase the approved TTA allocation listed in Section 4 of the TTA Guidelines. Requests must:

1. be made in writing and submitted via email to itas@une.edu.au; and
2. outline the desired academic outcome you aim to achieve as a result of the varied/increased TTA hours; and
3. provide details that specifically relate to your need; and
4. outline the number of hours you are requesting and the timeframe for when these hours will be used.

Section 6: Assessment of Requests to Vary or Increase TTA Support

All requests will be reviewed by the TTA Program Coordinator and Student Experience Team Leader within two (2) business days of receiving the request.

The assessment of each request will review:

1. Student’s individual needs and special circumstances
2. If the student requires priority access
3. Supporting documentation (if required)
4. The students’ academic progression
5. TTA support received to date
6. Available funding

A notice of outcome will be sent by email to the student and tutor, within four (4) business days of receiving the request.

If a student and/or tutor would like to appeal the outcome, this can be requested in writing to the TTA Program Coordinator at itas@une.edu.au, or to Oorala Management at ooralamgt@une.edu.au.

In the first instance the review will be conducted by the Student Experience Team Leader in accordance with the TTA complaints handling policy as outlined in Section 15 of the TTA Guidelines.

Section 7: Student-Tutor Matching Process

The process of assessing suitable tutors for applications considers the following:

• The tutor’s field of education and the student’s educational needs;
• Location of tutor and student – face to face tutoring is preferred;
• Previous tutoring arrangements (for both tutors and students) where there have been good results;
• Availability of the tutor;
• Experience of the tutor – new or inexperienced tutors assignment load is reduced whilst they find their feet;
• Ability of a tutor to connect, and therefore make progress, with a particular student

Ideally, Oorala will aim to limit the number of tutors a student is paired with, for consistency in approach to the delivery of support.

Section 8: Qualifications and Assessment of Tutors

To be considered for the role of TTA Tutor, you must complete the online registration.

Individuals will be asked to demonstrate that they:

1. Have obtained a Tertiary qualification, or are currently in the process of obtaining a tertiary qualification having completed a minimum of 2 years full time equivalent of study at an Australian University; and
2. Can demonstrate their ability to work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people; and
3. Can demonstrate their experience, or their ability, to provide academic support and mentoring to a University student; and
4. Can demonstrate high level communication skills and inter-personal skills; and
5. Have demonstrated administrative experience including the use of computer based records systems.

Section 9: Induction for Tutors

Induction of tutors can be completed at the Oorala Aboriginal Centre in Armidale or via phone as arranged with the TTA Coordinator.

Section 10: Administrative Responsibilities of Tutors and Students

The TTA program is funded by the Australian Federal Government. A condition of that funding is that Oorala provide regular reporting on the management and performance of the program, therefore Oorala relies on the prompt and accurate administration by tutors and students alike.

Failure to comply with your administrative duties may lead to a termination of a TTA contract.

Tutors must:

• not commence tutoring prior to an official offer being made to them by Oorala. Any tutoring prior to this will not receive payment.
• draft and submit tutoring work plans. A work plan must be completed during the first tutoring session for each student and each unit during a teaching period.
• promptly submit a record of tutorial session via TTA Online.
• submit an End of Trimester Evaluation via TTA Online.
• submit a payroll timesheet every two weeks via web kiosk.
• claim a minimum of 2 hours per single engagement as per the UNE Academic and English Language Teaching Staff Enterprise Agreement.

Students must:

• apply for TTA support each trimester via TTA Online.
• review and approve/decline tutor match via TTA Online.
• review and approve/decline work plan via the TTA Online.
• must review and approve/decline record of tutorial session via TTA Online. Failure to do so promptly will prohibit your tutor/s payroll timesheet being approved. Consequently tutorial sessions may be suspended until actioned.
• submit an End of Trimester Evaluation via TTA Online.

Section 11.Originality of Students' Work

Under no circumstances is a tutor permitted to do any part of the student's work for them. Tutors are not permitted to undertake library research, take or supply notes, nor write or word-process assignments on the student’s behalf. Any non-compliance may result in the withdrawal of TTA support.

Section 12: Cancellation Policy

If a tutor or student needs to postpone a tutorial session, they are required to provide 24 hours notice to the other party by phone or email. However if a tutor or student is unable to provide 24 hours notice due to unforeseen circumstances or an emergency, they must provide as much notice as possible by phone or email.

If less than one 1 hours notice is given by the student, or no notice is given at all this is deemed a “No Show”. The tutor may claim a 2 hour “No Show” payment, and the 2 hours will be deducted from the students allocation of TTA tutorial hours for that week. Students and tutors should communicate any “No Shows” to the TTA Program Coordinator.

A TTA tutoring contract may be terminated when a third “No Show” occurs.

Section 13: Conflict of Interest

To ensure the integrity of the TTA program, as well as the academic relationship between a student and a tutor, there must be no undeclared conflict of interest influencing their participation in the TTA Program. Both student and tutor need to be aware that the following restrictions apply for individual or small group tutoring sessions:

• Tutors and students cannot have a pre-existing personal relationship with one another. These include but are not limited to partners, family members, friends or professional colleagues.
• Tutors must not be involved in the assessment of the unit they are tutoring into. This includes but is not limited to any other role they may have in relation to the unit (eg.the unit coordinator, regular lecturer, tutor, or exam assessor).

Any actual or perceived conflict of interest between a tutor and student that is identified/declared will need to be managed in accordance with the UNE Conflict of Interest Policy and Conflict of Interest Procedures.

Section 14: Privacy and Confidentiality

Any personal information provided to the University of New England and The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (the funding body for the TTA Program) for the purpose of monitoring, reporting and evaluating the TTA Program will be managed in accordance with the UNE Privacy Management Rule.

Section 15: Grievance Policy

When students raise a grievance or there is a dispute over actions or decisions by Oorala staff, we will do our best to resolve them in-house in a timely and courteous manner, in accordance with the University’s Student (Related) Grievance Handling Policy and its associated Procedures

If the student does not feel satisfied by the response to their grievance, they may contact the Student Grievance Unit at any time.