Salt Lake City, UT, October 26, 2006 — The University of Utah’s ASUU Tutoring Center has earned its place as one of the 1,000 Tutor Training programs worldwide to gain certification under CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association). For students and staff at the University of Utah, this is good news. It means that highly motivated, skilled, and professionally trained tutors are available at a very low cost through the ASUU sponsored Tutoring Center.

CRLA is an association of student-oriented professionals in the fields of reading, learning assistance, developmental education, and tutorial services aimed at the college/adult level. The association has sponsored the rigorous International Tutor Training Certification Program since 1989, with the goal of setting a standard of skills and training for tutors, as well as establishing an internationally recognized channel to recognize and award tutors and programs committed to successful tutoring practices. With CRLA Program Certification, the ASUU Tutoring Center can now award CRLA certificates to individual tutors, recognizing their completion of Level 1 and Level II Tutor Training, which includes skill building in areas such as communication skills, effective questioning, learning styles assessment, multicultural competency, and productive tutoring techniques. CRLA Program certification also provides individual tutors with transferable skills recognized at universities and colleges nationwide.

Leslie Giles-Smith, ASUU Tutoring Center Coordinator, has built and customized the ASUU tutor training program in accordance with CRLA guidelines, providing student tutors with improved training over the last several years. The official CRLA Program certification is recognition of the outstanding efforts of the ASUU Tutoring Center and Learning Enhancement Program to provide excellent, affordable tutoring services to University of Utah students.

CRLA’s International Training Program Certification is endorsed by the National Association for Developmental Education, Commission XVI of the American College Personnel Association, the American Council of Developmental Education Associations, Association for the Tutoring Professional and the National Tutoring Association.

For information: thatch@sa.utah.edu, lgiles@sa.utah.edu

Phone: 801-581-3208, 801-581-5153