Step Up Tutoring partners with colleges and universities to recruit dedicated tutors who are passionate about supporting Grade 2–8 students. Our university partners vary widely in size, mission, and program type, and we welcome collaboration with institutions across California and beyond.
Who We Partner With
We work with a diverse range of colleges and universities, including:
Large institutions with strong Federal Work-Study programs
Schools with a strong commitment to public service
Universities offering teacher training pathways or educator preparation programs
Smaller schools with hands-on Work-Study Directors
Out-of-state institutions—we are currently exploring our first national partnership with Arizona State University (ASU)
There is no single type of institution we target; what matters most is a shared commitment to educational equity and student support.
NPSS Higher Education Coalition
Step Up also partners with the National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS) Higher Education Coalition, a network of colleges and universities committed to recruiting college students to tutor and mentor K–12 learners.
Schools that join the NPSS coalition make excellent partners because they have already demonstrated a commitment to:
Supporting students who are behind grade level
Recruiting and preparing college tutors
Addressing the national education gap
Partnership Cost
There is no cost for universities to partner with Step Up. Our programming is free for institutions, tutors, and the students we serve.
How We Collaborate With Universities
Our Tutor Recruitment Team works directly with university leaders to:
Understand partnership goals and program needs
Determine how many tutors can be recruited each term
Support tutors with onboarding, training, and ongoing communication
We aim to make the partnership process smooth, supportive, and mutually beneficial.
University partnerships are essential to Step Up’s mission. By working together, we create meaningful service opportunities for college students while expanding academic support for Grade 2–8 learners across the country.
Related Articles
Becoming a University Partner
Becoming a Tutor