The University Housing and Dining Services Office is connecting students with their peers to receive help in different academic areas.

Homework Heroes is a program that connects residence to receive help with homework or studying from the different academic fields.

Aseret Gonzalez, a graduate student, said Homework Heroes will provide an academic network for students on campus.

“We wanted to provide an on campus academic network where students could help each other with whatever area they feel comfortable,” Gonzalez said.

She said students from all areas can help students with the different aspects of their discipline.

Jacob Knight, the area director of Lincoln, Stevenson and Douglas halls, said this is an informal setting to get help.

“Homework Heroes is an informal tutoring opportunity,” Knight said. “These are students that are very successful in certain classes and are willing to help out other students who are taking those classes.”

Gonzalez said the students can provide the times they are available and what location they would like to help.

The tables are available at the Carman, Thomas and Taylor halls classrooms.

The schedule of the available times is available through the Student Success Center and outside of the classroom, she said.

The schedule of the available times is available through the Student Success Center and outside of the classroom, she said. 

Mark Hudson, the director of University Housing and Dining Services, said they have a lot of programs that encourage students to attend class and seek resources available to them.

Gonzalez said many students are willing to help, outside of the tutors within the specific department. 

Students who teach can also use the hours as service hours, Gonzalez said. 

“It is a way to actually make the most of your college experience academically,” Gonzalez said. “In addition, it is helping other students who find a certain subject or area they are in difficult.”

The program will allow them to seek out those students who do not find the subject difficult, she said. 

“It is usually the basic stuff that student are looking for,” Gonzalez said. “I’m not a math person, so I can go onto the Student Success Center and find someone who is and when they are available.”

The program is not allowed to call the participants tutors because academic departments already have their tutors, Gonzalez said. 

“It is more students who are willing to help one another by facilitating study tables,” she said. 

Gonzalez said students who teach other people a subject become more proficient in that area.

She said she wanted to have a program like this because it introduces students to each other. 

“You are building your network,” she said. 

She said there are classrooms in most residence halls and thought this would be a good use of them.

“You can go down stairs in your residence hall and meet other students and work on any academic project,” Gonzalez said. 

Each classroom will have information about time management and procrastination.

She said each classroom will have a binder with the schedule of Homework Heroes and the tutors for each academic areas.  

Students who want to sign up as a Homework Hero can email Gonzalez with their availability and location at agonzalez4@eiu.edu.

She said students have resources in the halls and she wants to help students find them. 

“It brings community to the students,” Gonzalez said.  

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.