Madison Reporter

The Greater University Tutoring Service (GUTS) has maintained its focus on student-to-student tutoring despite changes over the years. Established in 1974 at Sellery Hall, GUTS provided academic assistance to over 400 students last semester. Caitlin Farrell Haven, assistant director of learning support, emphasized the program's enduring mission: “Students empowering each other to do the work and to learn.”

Originally known as Help At Sellery Hall (HASH), GUTS was initiated by Harry Webne-Behrman, a house fellow who sought to replicate successful peer tutoring experiences from his high school days. The organization expanded rapidly, offering support across campus libraries and residence halls.

Today, GUTS operates as a Registered Student Organization at 333 East Campus Mall, offering five main programs: Academic Match, Drop-In Tutoring, General Study Skills, Conversational English, and World Language Learners. “Academic Match is small group tutoring,” said Farrell Haven. “That’s the bread and butter of GUTS.” Last semester it supported 180 students across various courses.

Conversational English offers informal environments for practicing English skills while World Language Learners provides settings for non-English languages like Spanish and Chinese. There is also growing interest in General Study Skills support where students discuss organizational skills and exam preparation.

Webne-Behrman noted that from its inception, GUTS was a collaborative effort between staff and volunteers. Today it partners with organizations like the McBurney Center and Multicultural Student Center to ensure accessibility for all students. Farrell Haven highlighted this commitment: “We want to ensure that tutors are in spaces where students feel comfortable.”

Though professionally supported by the Office of Academic and Career Success, daily operations remain student-led with ten coordinators managing programs alongside approximately 70 tutors each semester. Abbigail Hickman, a junior studying political science who works as an operations coordinator at GUTS remarked on her role: “It’s absolutely helpful that — other than Caitlin and our professional staff — we’re all students.”

To learn more about connecting with any of GUTS’ program areas, interested parties can visit their website.