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Commons Fireside Lounge

Tutoring @ Commons Fireside Lounge

At the Commons Fireside Lounge, a limited number of tutors will hold an hour long Weekly Learning Roundtable group session in CHEM 1601 for a maximum of ten students. This will be followed by an hour of drop-in sessions for a wider selection of courses, not necessarily just CHEM 1601 students, which is capped at a maximum of five students. These drop-in hour sessions are designed to allow for individual questions that a student may have for the tutor in a quick question setting. If only one student signs up for the Drop-In session, then that session hour may be treated as a regular individual tutoring session.

  • Every Sunday, 7:00 – 8:00pm with Mike (CHEM 1601 Roundtable only)
  • Every Monday, 7:00 – 9:00 with Nathan (CHEM 1601 Roundtable + Drop-In Session)
  • Sunday, September 10, 7:00 – 10:00 with Joel (Two CHEM 1601 Roundtables + one hour of Drop-In Sessions)
  • Wednesday, September 20, 8:00 – 10:00 with Joel (CHEM 1601 Roundtable + Drop-In Session)
  • Wednesday, November 15, 8:00 – 10:00 with Joel (CHEM 1601 Roundtable + Drop-In Session)
  • Wednesday, December 14, 8:00 – 10:00 with Joel (CHEM 1601 Roundtable + Drop-In Session)

Weekly Learning Roundtable

What is a weekly learning Roundtable?

Weekly Learning Roundtables (or just Roundtables) provide students with the opportunity to study regularly with dedicated peers enrolled in the same course as they work together to master course content.

During Weekly Learning Roundtable meetings, students work together with each other to answer questions and clarify course concepts. A facilitating subject tutor is present at all Weekly Learning Roundtable meetings to help assist working groups as needed. Through studying collaboratively, students improve their own understanding of course material while helping their peers do the same in a supportive environment.

Update: in advance of the CHEM 1601 exams,Tutoring Services will add in additional Weekly Learning Roundtables in CHEM 1601 to be held in-person at our main office, 1801 Edgehill Ave. Go here for more information.

How do I sign up for a Roundtable?  

All Weekly Learning Roundtables open for sign-ups 7 days in advance of the present date. Each weekly group is limited to 10 students, and sign-up is on a first-come basis.

  • All Roundtables are found in our Group Scheduler and are capped at 10 students per session.
  • Reserve your appointment with the tutor for the relevant course using WCOnline, our online scheduling platform.
  • Make note of your tutor’s name, time, and date of your session. This info is also included in the confirmation email.
  • All CHEM 1601 Commons Fireside Lounge Roundtables are held in-person, on the first floor of the Commons, in the glassed in classroom off the main lobby.

Policies for a roundtable

Please arrive for your Roundtable at the Commons Fireside Lounge, located on the first floor of the Commons on the Peabody Campus side. You may enter the room at any time prior to the start of the Roundtable. Please greet your tutor and sign in with them.

Please arrive on time, or prior to the top of the hour, for your Roundtable session. If you cannot be on time and are more than ten minutes late, then the registered space will be given to another student, should there be one on a waitlist.

If you cannot make it to the Roundtable, please make all effort to cancel your appointment which will allow another student to fill your space. Note that our Cancellation Policy for Group Sessions is more strict than for individual tutoring sessions, requiring that Roundtable group cancellations be made at least four hours before the start of the session. Failure to cancel group appointments at least 4 hours in advance is subject to our Missed Appointment Policy.

If the Roundtable is fully booked on our WCOnline scheduler, you may arrive at the Commons Fireside Lounge in-person and tell the tutor on staff that you are on the waitlist should a registered client not show up.

Please exit the Fireside Lounge at the end of your Roundtable session, as the tutor will hold a Drop-In Hour for a separate group of students.

Drop-In Hour

What is a drop-in hour?

Drop-In sessions are designed to allow for individual questions that a student may have for the tutor in a quick question setting. Drop-In sessions are capped at 5 students per session hour, which would allow a minimum of ten minutes per student if the session is fully booked. If only one student signs up for the Drop-In session, then that session hour may be treated as a regular individual tutoring session.

Drop-In courses for the fall are generally: CHEM 1601, BSCI 1510, MATH 1200. Additional courses may be available depending on tutor availability. Ask your tutor whether your course can be accommodated for a drop-in session.

How do I sign up for a drop-in hour?  

  • Drop-In Hour sessions are found in our Group Scheduler and are capped at 5 students per session.
  • Reserve your appointment with the tutor for the relevant course using WCOnline, our online scheduling platform.
  • Make note of your tutor’s name, time, and date of your session. This info is also included in the confirmation email.
  • All Drop-In Hours are located in the Commons Fireside Lounge.
  • Students who do not sign up beforehand online are still encouraged to come and ask the tutor if there is space for them to attend a session!

Policies for a drop-in hour

Please arrive for your Drop-In Session at the Commons Fireside Lounge, located on the first floor of the Commons on the Peabody Campus side. Please do not enter the room until the top of the hour, as just prior to the Drop-In Session, tutors in the Fireside Lounge will be hosting the Weekly Learning Roundtable session.

If you have registered on WCOnline prior to the Drop-In session, you are guaranteed a spot in the tutors’ session hour. If you are truly “Dropping-in”, and there is space to accommodate you (i.e., less than five people pre-registered in the Drop-In session) please let the tutor know that you are not registered and ask if there is space to attend.

If the Drop-In hour is fully booked on our WCOnline scheduler, you may still arrive at the Commons Fireside Lounge in-person and tell the tutor on staff that you are on the waitlist should a registered client not show up.

The scheduled tutor has full discretion in the moment to distribute their time effectively throughout the full Drop-In session.

Questions about Roundtables or Drop-in hour?

Please contact us at tutoring@vanderbilt.edu with any questions the tutoring services we offer at the Commons.