Institute for Peer Education
About the Institute for Peer Education
The Learning Center's Institute for Peer Education (IPE) provides training for University of Utah tutors and peer educators (mentors, coaches, facilitators, etc.). The IPE, certified through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), offers a standard of peer-to-peer support on campus by exposing tutors and peer educators to job-specific knowledge, connecting them to valuable resources, and offering a space to network with others in similar roles on campus.
The Institute for Peer Education offers Level 1 and 2 certification from CRLA's International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) and International Peer Educator Training Program Certification (IPTPC).
Spring 2025 Schedule
Level 1
Session 1: Saturday, January 11 - 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Session 2: Saturday, February 8 - 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Level 2
Session 1: Saturday, January 25 - 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Session 2: Saturday, February 22 - 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Tutors and Peer Educators wishing to receive certification must attend both sessions for a given level within one semester.
Certification
Training: 10 hours
Documented Experience: 25 hours
Topics Covered:
Tutor Training (ITTPC)
- Administrative Policies, Record Keeping, & Reporting
- Role of the Tutor
- Conducting a Successful Session
- Professional Ethics (Academic Integrity and Academic Honesty, Copyright Compliance, Plagiarism)
- Tutoring Do’s & Don’ts
- Question Asking Strategies
- Tutoring Conversations
- Learning Theories in Academic Support Services
- Time Management for Tutors
- Challenging Job Situations
Peer Educator Training (IPTPC)
- Administrative Policies, Record Keeping, & Reporting
- Role of the Peer Educator
- Conducting a Successful Session
- Professional Ethics (Academic Integrity and Academic Honesty, Copyright Compliance, Plagiarism)
- Peer Educator Do’s & Don’ts
- Question Asking Strategies
- Peer Educator Conversations
- Learning Theories in Academic Support Services
- Time Management for Peer Educators
- Goal Setting and Planning
Training: 10 hours
Documented Experience: 50 hours and Level 1 Certification
Topics Covered:
Tutor Training (ITTPC)
- Level 1 Review
- Assessing Students’ Needs and Study Behaviors
- Giving Constructive Feedback
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Establishing Boundaries
- Working with Specific Populations
- Understanding Neurodiversity in the College Setting
- Universal Design for Learning
- Motivational Techniques
- Memory and Retrieval
Peer Educator Training (IPTPC)
- Level 1 Review
- Assesing Students' Needs and Study Behaviors
- Giving Constructive Feedback
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Establishing Boundaries
- Working with Specific Populations
- Understanding Neurodiversity in the College Setting
- Universal Design for Learning
- Challenging Job Situations
- Stress Management
How to Get Certified
The Institute for Peer Education is offered in collaboration with campus partners.
The Learning Center Provides:
- Planned training experience for 10 hours per CRLA level including certification and lunch for participants
- Recommended hiring and selection practices
- Structured evaluation for tutors and peer educators
Department Contributions:
- Onboarding training for department-specific policies and expectations
- Tutor & Peer Educator roster for attendance tracking
- Tracking and sharing of tutor and peer educator experience hours
Tutor & Peer Educator Expectations:
- Active participation in training
- Thoughtful implementation of strategies and resources discussed
Those involved in overseeing tutoring or peer education programs (mentoring, coaching, facilitation, etc.) can email Casey.Hoekstra@utah.edu to learn more about getting their tutors and peer educators enrolled.
Tutors and Peer Educators interested in participating in IPE should notify their supervisors.