Phipps CDC provides an innovative volunteer tutoring program for residents of the South Bronx. Share your expertise with youth and adults from low-income communities who are eager to achieve their academic goals and move their lives ahead.

We are looking for students, professionals, and residents in the New York metro area to lead weekly tutoring sessions to provide homework help for junior high and high school students, and support adults enrolled in our ESL and GED programs.

• Connect with students from low-income communities to help them achieve their goals
• Help volunteers develop as leaders through a wide range of tutoring experiences, and provide support as they engage with students
• Work individually with students in a unique, small-session environment, and collaborate as a team to provide an enriching experience for all participants
  

• Sessions held once a week per tutoring site
• 2-3 students per tutor, based on academic strength/area of specialty
• Program length of 3-6 months, concurrent with school semester

Contact the Tutor Recruitment Team for session locations and schedules: volunteers@phippsny.org

• Strong academic history and the ability to support the academic development of students
• Commitment to a specific 1-1½ hour time slot each week, through the end of the academic semester (min. 3 months)
• Previous tutoring experience is a plus but not necessary

Applicants will be selected for interviews on a rolling basis.

Tutoring schedules will be determined during the interview process, based on the volunteer’s availability.

Spread the Word! Download a flyer to pass along or post at work or school.
For more information, contact the Tutor Recruitment Team
at (718) 620-1900 ext. 40 or 41 or volunteers@phippsny.org

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should I become a volunteer tutor?
2. Where and when will tutoring take place?
3. How many hours will I need to commit? If I can't make that commitment, are there other ways to help?
4. I've never been a tutor before, what kind of training will I receive?
5. I'm interested in working with just one student in a specific subject. Is this possible?
6. I need to meet a minimum number of service hours this semester—can I volunteer for more hours each week?
   
7. After I submit my application, how soon will I hear back and when would I start?
8. I am/I know a student who needs some tutoring! How do you enroll as a student?

1. Should I become a volunteer tutor?
   Volunteering as a Phipps tutor is a great way to contribute to the New York City community and help to improve educational advancement in the South Bronx, where nearly 40% of residents live below the poverty line. You will help to open doors for young people and adults so they can achieve their education and employment goals. Opportunities to tutor ESL, pre-GED, and high school material will help you develop as a leader and gain experience as an educator/tutor. Phipps offers a unique, collaborative environment in which volunteer tutors get to know each other, work together and benefit from each others' skills and support.
   
   
2. Where and when will volunteer tutoring take place?
   Tutoring sessions will be held at Phipps CDC program sites in the Bronx. Weekly sessions will take place at a regularly scheduled time for the duration of the program semester, which coincides with regular school semesters. Contact Phipps tutoring staff for current session locations and schedules at volunteers@phippsny.org.
   
   
3. How many hours will I need to commit? If I can't make that commitment, are there other ways to help?
   Tutoring sessions are held once a week and we ask our volunteers to commit to a specific 1-1.5 hour time slot each week, through the end of the academic semester (i.e. minimum of 3 months). Because we want to provide a consistent service for our students, we can only accept tutors with regular availability. There may be limited opportunities for more flexible administrative positions; you may inquire by contacting Phipps tutoring staff at volunteers@phippsny.org before filling out an application. We encourage volunteers to explore other opportunities at www.nycservice.org, and invite you to email us with general questions about volunteering in the Bronx.
   
   
4. I've never been a tutor before, what kind of training will I receive?
   Tutors are selected based on academic skill and ability to work independently. All tutors participate in an orientation and training program to acquaint them with the program philosophy and structure, as well as with each other. Phipps also offers ongoing training resources to help build tutoring skills. We are committed to providing ongoing support for our volunteers; if there are any questions or concerns during the course of your participation as a volunteer, please don’t hesitate to contact a tutoring staff member.
   
   
5. I'm interested in working with just one student in a specific subject. Is this possible?
   We anticipate that the tutor to student ratio will fluctuate throughout the semester and cannot guarantee that tutors will be working with only one student, or tutoring only one subject. We will try to match you as best as we can with students whose needs match your tutoring preferences.
   
   
6. I need to meet a minimum number of service hours this semester—can I volunteer for more hours each week?
   Absolutely! Scheduling will depend on your availability. We are happy to accommodate tutors who are interested in tutoring for more than one weekly session.
   
   
7. After I submit my application, how soon will I hear back and when would I start?
   We will review your application to determine if your experience and availability matches our program needs and if so, you will be contacted for an in-person interview. If your interests are outside of our program needs, we will be happy to direct you to other volunteer opportunities that may be more suitable. During the interview process, we will identify a tutoring session that best fits your schedule and interests. Once assigned to a weekly tutoring session, you will participate in an orientation and training to prepare you before working with the students. We are currently recruiting tutors for weekly sessions scheduled to begin in the spring semester.
   
   
8. I am/I know a student who needs some tutoring! How do you enroll as a student?
   The Phipps Volunteer Tutoring Program serves students who are already enrolled in one of several Phipps education or enrichment programs. To learn about the programs that Phipps CDC offers, please visit http://www.phippsny.org/programs.html  You may also e-mail us with specific questions and we will determine on a case-by-case basis if we can enroll you for tutoring.