Math Learning Centers Employee Manual

Email:  tsendova@msu.edu

Tsveta is the point person for the Math Learning Centers.  She assists with policy and procedure creation and coordinates space needs for the centers.

Email: adrachma@msu.edu

Alec is one of two coordinators responsible for the day to day operations of the Math Learning Centers. He also oversees the hiring and training of all MLC Monitors and approves payroll for hourly employees.  Alec should be included in all communications regarding MLC issues.

Email: zimme220@msu.edu

Jane is the second coordinator responsible for the day to day operations of the Math Learning Centers.  She is responsible for the hiring and training of all MLC Supervisors. In addition, she oversees the schedule database, summarizes student usage data and tracks attendance. Jane should be included in all communications regarding MLC issues.

Directions to Setup Direct Deposit for your Paycheck from MSU

• Go to ebs.msu.edu
• Click on the EBS Login button at the top of the screen
• Log in with your MSU Net ID and Password
• At the top will be a button that begins with ESS and will have Student Employee or Graduate Assistant - Click on this button
• On the next screen is a PAYROLL Button – click on this
• The next screen will be a list - Click on Direct Deposit Information
• Complete the Bank Information and hit REVIEW and then SAVE
• Exit – and then Log Off of EBS.

Hourly employees must enter their time in ebs following the Bi Weekly payroll schedule at https://controller.msu.edu/payroll/payroll-schedules.

To enter your time

1. Log in to https://secportal.ebsp.msu.edu/.
2. Click My Time & Payroll.
3. Click Time Entries & Statement.
4. The Calendar View and the Timesheet will open.

 

1. You will receive an email from one of the MLC Coordinators at the beginning of the semester indicating the date and time that the schedule will be available
2. At the indicated date and time go to https://apps.math.msu.edu/lcscheduler (it’s first come, first serve so sign up early to get your choice of shifts).
3. Log in with your MSU NetID and Password
4. You will be prompted to add your assigned number of shifts to your schedule

Procedure when being absent for personal reasons:

1. You must give your supervisors at least two days' notice (more is preferable) of the day you will not be able to work.
2. Go to https://apps.math.msu.edu/lcscheduler and log in using your MSU Net ID and password.  
3. Choose Sub-Requests, then Create Request.
   1. If you have already arranged for a particular person to sub for you, choose “Direct Request”. In this case, only that person will be able to accept the request.
   2. If you have NOT already made arrangements, choose “Open Request”. An email will be sent to all employees who are currently tutoring the same course.
4. All substitutions must be recorded in this system. If not, the substitute will not be able to sign in or out of the shift.

If you are not able to find a sub and this is not a university excused absence, you are expected to come to work.  If you fail to do so, it is considered an unexcused absence and may effect hiring decisions for future semesters.

If you are not able to find a sub and this is a university excused absence, be sure to notify the shift supervisor and the MLC coordinators so they can plan accordingly.

Sometimes illness or family emergencies occur, and there is no time to follow the above protocol. We do understand. However, you should email your supervisor and both MLC Coordinators as soon as possible so that they can plan accordingly.

It is our goal to ensure that each student receives the best tutoring possible and to send a strong message to the students that we are there for them. It is therefore our policy to refrain from the following activities:

1. Using Cell Phones
2. Using Laptops
3. Wearing ear buds or listening to music
4. Reading
5. Grading
6. Working on homework or own material
7. Eating

1. Sign in to your shift at https://apps.math.msu.edu/lcscheduler.
2. If necessary, help arrange tables and whiteboards.
3. Grab a “tutor” name tag so that students can identify you as a tutor.

An exemplary tutor excels at the following five categories: Knowledge, Activeness, Timeliness, Friendliness, and Efficiency.

Knowledge: It can take many years to be able to tutor in all subjects, so we do realize that not everyone will know 100% of the material. However, knowledge also encompasses:

1. Knowing your limitations: Students can get frustrated if you stumble around a problem a lot. If you get stuck or don't know where to begin, please do not hesitate to call over another tutor for some help.
2. Thirst for Knowledge: During slower times it is always a good idea to listen to other tutors. This way you can begin learning some more difficult problems (maybe in 132,133,234,235) so that next time a student asks, you can help. This is also a great way to see other people's techniques in tutoring and help to grow your tutoring skills.

Activeness: It should be every tutor's goal to ensure that everyone who has a question gets an answer. Not all students are comfortable with raising their hands. It is recommended that if you don't see any hands up, that you go back to students that you have already helped and ask them how they are doing. After completing this step, it is best to walk around and look for students' heads to lift as they begin to look for a tutor. There is a natural activeness hierarchy which goes:

1. Walking around, asking students if they need help
2. Walking around, looking for hands
3. Standing, looking for hands
4. Sitting, looking for hands
5. Sitting, thinking about personal things

Every tutor should strive to be #1 or #2 on this hierarchy at all times.

Timeliness: This is a very simple subject. It's bad to be late. It's good to be on time. It's best to be a few minutes early. There are always things that can be setup, and it would be best if everything was ready to go right when we opened.

Friendliness: One of the most amazing things about the Satellite MLCs is the relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We want students to feel welcome and relaxed when they come to our centers. When you help a student you should try and do the following things:

1. Smile and give them a friendly greeting
2. Be nonjudgmental and stay away from phrases like "People usually learn this in middle school"
3. Before you leave, point out your name (on your nametag) and say something like "My name is ___, and I'll try and come check on you in a little bit. If you need anything else before that, just raise your hand and I or someone else will come help you."

Efficiency:  When the centers are busy, it is important that we do not stay with any one student for too long. Helping multiple people with a problem (like on WeBWorK) is a great technique to be efficient. Also solving only parts of problems not only helps with efficiency, but it also helps the student reinforce math ideas on their own. It's important that when you are helping to solve only part of the problem, the student doesn't think you are abandoning them. This ties heavily into friendliness. A great line to use is: "I'll let you work on this for a couple minutes, but if you get stuck, just let me know".

1. Help rearrange tables, chairs, and white boards if necessary.
2. Sign out at https://apps.math.msu.edu/lcscheduler

*Note:  If you are working consecutive shifts you should sign in at the beginning of your first shift and sign out at the end of your last shift.

1. Sign yourself in at https://apps.math.msu.edu/lcscheduler
2. Sign in to the monitor portal at https://apps.math.msu.edu/LCStudent/Monitors.

1. As students come in to the MLC, they should sign themselves in using either the QR code at the monitor station or the “Location Sign-in” link found on the main page of the MLC Website.
2. They should show or tell you the verification code they received so you can enter it using the “Enter Verification Codes” button in the Monitor portal.
3. Direct student to the correct table (organized by course).
4. When the student leaves, they should check out with the monitor who will sign them out using the “View Current MLC Attendance button in the Monitor portal.

All tutors should sign themselves in and out.

1. If a tutor shows up that is NOT on the schedule, the MLC Coordinators must be notified for approval and attendance tracking purposes. This should be rare.
2. To view a list of tutors or students currently signed in, either go to https://apps.math.msu.edu/LCScheduler and click on “Verify Attendance” or from the Monitor Portal, click on “MLC Staff Attendance”.
3. About 10 – 20 minutes after the beginning of the shift, the supervisor should walk around to check that everybody who has signed in is currently in attendance and report back to the monitor.
4. The monitor should then click the verify button for each tutor currently signed in and physically present.
5. If somebody is signed in but not physically present, the monitor should sign them out and notify the MLC Coordinators.

Occasionally glance around the room for frustrated students, seating problems, etc.  Make sure that each student is being helped and redistribute tutors if need be. If you notice that a class is significantly understaffed, notify the coordinators so they can attempt to schedule more tutors during that time.