Hive Mind Free Tutoring Program

The Hive Mind Tutoring Program provides FREE online tutoring sessions for high school students who are struggling with physics, calculus, or chemistry.

Our primary focus is on students in Grades 10–12 who are having difficulty with their courses. For Fall 2026 only, we are also offering tutoring to Grade 9 students from September 28 through October 26, giving students who are just starting high school an opportunity to build confidence and strong foundations early on.

For the Fall 2026 term, tutoring sessions are held on Monday evenings during the school year, with 8 sessions offered each week between our two tutors.*

Hive Mind is staffed by university co-op students as part of their official work term and supervised by Outreach’s Senior Manager. The program gives our co-op students hands-on experience in teaching, program management, and entrepreneurship while providing free academic support to students in our community.

*Some exclusions apply.

New tutors will begin mid-September.

Registration for Fall 2026 is now open, with Sessions beginning September 28!

These 45 minute, one-to-one sessions will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to all students who have registered through the system. Students should come prepared with a specific subject, topic, question, or problem they would like to work on. When booking a session, students are required to provide details about what they would like help with, along with any relevant practice problems or materials, at least 12 hours in advance. This gives our Learning Assistants time to prepare and helps ensure that each session is as useful and focused as possible.

Students can book sessions through their Learning Assistant's calendar once they have completed registration and all required forms. Specific Learning Assistant schedules and availability will be provided after registration.

To allow us to support as many students as possible, please book no more than one tutoring session per week. If you need additional support, please email engoutreach@uwaterloo.ca.

See How to Register below for registration instructions and additional information about booking, cancellations, and session requirements.

1. Create an Account

Create an account in our registration system. Parents/guardians must create the account themselves.

Once your account is created, you can add the student(s) you are registering to your profile by selecting Manage People and Household Information in the bottom left corner. You must be the student's legal guardian; please don't ask a friend or neighbour to register on your behalf!

All students using this FREE tutoring service must be enrolled through Waterloo Engineering Outreach's online registration system. The registration process includes permissions, liability waivers, a code of conduct, and contact information similar to our other Outreach programs. These forms may take a few minutes to complete.

2. Register for Hive Mind

After logging into your account, select:

Start a New Registration → Hive Mind (Gr 9-12) Fall 2026

The system will guide you through the registration process.

For Fall 2026, the program is primarily available to Grades 10–12. Grade 9 students may also register for sessions taking place from September 28 through October 31.

Students must have completed their registration and all required forms before they can book a tutoring session.

3. Book a One-to-One Session

Once registration is complete, the student will receive a confirmation email containing links to Learning Assistant calendars and available session times.

Sessions:

• are 45 minute virtual tutoring with a Learning Assistant.
• can be booked one week in advance on a rolling basis.
• must be booked at least 12 hours in advance.
• are limited to one session per student per week so that we can support as many students as possible.

4. Come Prepared

To help our Learning Assistants make the most of your 45 minutes, students are expected to identify what they would like help with when booking their session.

At least 12 hours before the session, students must provide:

• The subject, grade level, and specific topic(s) they would like to cover.
• Any practice problems or materials they would like to review, if applicable.

Providing this information in advance allows our Learning Assistants to prepare and provide more focused, effective support. Students who do not provide sufficient details may receive a session that is less targeted or efficient. Repeated failure to provide the required information may affect eligibility for future sessions.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

Cancellations and rescheduling requests must be made at least 48 hours in advance.

Students who cancel late or do not attend a scheduled session will receive an email notice. Students who miss more than one session without providing adequate advance notice will no longer be able to book future sessions with a Learning Assistant.

Accessibility

The University of Waterloo and Waterloo Engineering Outreach are committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you require accommodation to use this software, please contact the Engineering Outreach office at 519-888-4567 ext. 46944 or email engoutreach@uwaterloo.ca.