The Scientific Scholars Achievement Program (SSAP) is a student-led academic support program that provides peer-led tutoring for STEM subjects, including chemistry, computer science and math. Resident Associate Professor of Chemistry Doug Duquette, the program’s faculty supervisor, said SSAP tutoring helps to create a tight-knit community for STEM students on campus.
“It’s a really important part of the overall community,” Duquette said. “[Building] relationships across class years is so important for making students feel like they’re welcome and wanted as part of the department.”
Eleanor Goddard (senior) said via email that she has tutored organic chemistry through SSAP for two years. According to Goddard, there has been an increase in the number of students attending chemistry SSAP tutoring. She said that the program is a crucial part of creating connection among STEM students.
“SSAP definitely creates a STEM community,” Goddard said. “Most students who come to SSAP enjoy the collaborative nature of SSAP tutoring, which influences them to be more involved in the STEM community on campus.”
Lucy Brodsky (sophomore) is a computer science and math double major who said she began attending SSAP for computer science in the fall of her first year. Brodsky said she has remained friends with the first person to tutor her at SSAP and that she enjoys going even when she is not struggling with a specific concept or problem.
“I go so often, and I don’t even need help every time I go. Sometimes I just go for the vibes,” Brodsky said. “Whether or not I need help on a specific assignment, I find it really useful to get advice from the people there.”
Brodsky said attending SSAP has made her more confident in her abilities and that the group eased her feelings of intimidation when it came to studying STEM.
“I really enjoy [SSAP] because I feel like it makes me more productive to know that the people around me are struggling with the same kinds of things that I’m struggling with,” Brodsky said. “It’s a fun way to commiserate.”
Lily Gebhart (senior) said she has been a math SSAP tutor since her sophomore year and has co-run the entire SSAP program since last year. Gebhart said tutoring with SSAP has improved her understanding of the foundational aspects of math, as well as preparing her to become a professor, one of her career goals.
“It’s definitely helped me solidify my math foundations,” Gebhart said. “It’s helped me think critically and understand how other people think.”
Goddard said via email that she has gained confidence in herself and her abilities since starting as an SSAP tutor. She said that through helping students and sharing her knowledge of chemistry, she has developed her own passion for the subject.
“My favorite part of being an SSAP tutor is to see the light in a student’s eyes when they figure out the problem or a concept clicks for them,” Goddard said. “Many students are facing barriers of their own, so it’s nice to see them push through those barriers and learn to love STEM subjects.”
Ethan Schoen (junior) said he has been tutoring computer science with SSAP for a year and a half. He said SSAP is a valuable way for newer students to develop connections with upperclassmen, and that tutoring has improved his critical thinking skills and abilities with the foundational aspects of computer science.
“I really like tutoring and teaching because it makes me rethink how things work,” Schoen said. “I really appreciate having that challenge of, ‘How do I explain this topic to someone whose approach to it is so different from mine?’”
Gebhart said SSAP is currently looking to hire students in all seven of the STEM disciplines that it provides tutors for.
“This year, 95 percent of our tutors are graduating,” Gebhart said. “So we’re hiring for a lot of spots.”
Schoen said there were only a few people returning next year to tutor for the computer science SSAP program because most of the current tutors are graduating seniors.
“I’m definitely grateful for them because they’ve had a great impact on the program as a whole,” Schoen said. “The people who are returning hopefully can hold it down and make sure that next year goes smoothly. I think it’s a really valuable program, so I hope it stays for as long as possible.”
According to Gebhart, since SSAP tutoring is mainly targeted towards students taking introductory-level classes, the program is seeking prospective tutors who have completed introductory courses in the STEM subject they aim to teach, as well as tutors who possess skills like patience and a unique teaching style. She said that to assess for these characteristics, the interview process includes a mock tutoring session.
Schoen said his interview featured a simulated tutoring session and that it felt like he was being assessed for his teaching style, as well as his technical skills and knowledge.
“[They looked for] the ability to not just tell the student the answer, but make sure that they’re actually learning it,” Schoen said. “And also conversational ability because we want people to come back. So if you’re inviting and warm, I feel like that’s really important.”
Brodsky said the SSAP tutors have encouraged her to pursue computer science, even when the material is challenging.
“I came into college with no idea what I wanted to do, and I think even though the SSAP tutors may not know that they played this role in my life, their kindness and welcoming-ness has made computer science an attractive option,” Brodsky said. “I am glad that the people of SSAP were so willing to help.”
Contact Ruby Gower at gower@oxy.edu
