Volunteer FAQs

Who will I be helping? +

You’ll be supporting low-income middle school and high school students all across the U.S. Currently, about 75% of our student users are students of color, and the majority are future first-gen college students too.

What’s the average tutoring session like? +

The majority of tutoring requests we get are for help with a specific homework question or assignment. The average session lasts 45 minutes, during which you'll help the student improve their understanding and solve problems.

Do I need any special equipment to communicate with students via UPchieve’s platform? +

No! Any personal computer, laptop, or tablet will work just fine with our online tutoring platform. Since there is no audio or video component to UPchieve, you won’t need a mic or video camera, and you can help students regardless of if you’re in a quiet or noisy environment! You also don’t need any special equipment like a touch screen or stylus to use the whiteboard; a good, old-fashioned mouse or trackpad will work great!

What happens if I have to leave in the middle of a session? +

It's not ideal, but we do understand that life happens. If something comes up, tell the student you need to go and that they should make another request if they need more help. We promise they won’t hold it against you ... they’re super grateful for this free resource and for your help as it is!

Do you have any plans to add more subjects? +

YES! In the long term we plan to offer tutoring on all popular high school subjects. As long as you can help with at least one of our current topics, we still encourage you to sign up now as it’s the best way to be notified when we launch new subjects.

Is this a paid position?

This is an unpaid, volunteer tutor position.

Do you have any programs for companies who want to volunteer? +

Yes, we work with small startups and large global companies! Learn more about our Corporate Partnerships program.

I’ve never tutored before. Can I still be a coach? +

YES! UPchieve volunteers don't need previous tutoring experience to be an academic coach at UPchieve. We’ll give you all the tools and training you’ll need to succeed, including tutor training courses and subject-specific review materials.

I’m really busy. Can I still be an academic coach? +

YES! There is no minimum time commitment for online tutors at UPchieve. If you have a busy week coming up, you can unselect all your availability on the schedule page. Then, just don't pick up any requests.

My schedule is really unpredictable. Can I still be a coach? +

YES! Our volunteer tutors don't work in “shifts," so you’re never required to pick up a request if you're not available. We'll text you about opportunities to tutor periodically, but you can also check the dashboard yourself whenever you have free time to see if any students could use your help!

I’m not good at math. Can I still be a coach? +

YES! You only need to get certified in one subject to begin helping students, and we offer tutoring in way more than math. We offer subjects spanning humanities, science, college counseling, and new subjects are being added all the time! Plus, even if you're not great at more advanced math, most college graduates can pass our Pre-Algebra quiz with a little bit of review.

I live outside the US. Can I still be a coach? +

YES! We actually need volunteers who live in different time zones to help us meet student demand. Right now, we really need your help to tutor students early in the morning and late at night. We highly encourage you to sign up!

I didn’t go to college in the US. Can I still be a coach? +

YES! Math and science are usually taught the same in every country, and our review materials will help you determine if a particular subject is a good fit for you. Even college counseling is fair game if you've read all our review materials.

I’m a high school student. Can I still be a coach? +

YES! If you're 13+ and can pass at least one of our certification quizzes, you're eligible to volunteer with us.

Does UPchieve provide a certificate or proof of volunteering to coaches? If so, how do we get it? +

UPchieve can verify your volunteer hours, either by sending you a signed document or by verifying them through a different hour tracking site. Go to our Verify Your Hours page to learn more and request a letter.

How do I calculate my UPchieve volunteer hours? +

You can find your UPchieve hours on your dashboard under the Impact Summary report. To understand the breakdown of the hours more, please read the guide we provided. We also send coaches weekly summary emails to make it easier to track.

Who should I put down as my point of contact for my volunteer hours? +

You can use the following information for your point of contact.

Name: Nataly Miranda

Title: Program Manager

Email: support@upchieve.org

Phone: (732) 440-9269

I need it to verify my hours, where is the UPchieve office located? +

150 Court Street, Floor 2, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

I believe my hours were logged incorrectly, who should I contact? +

If you believe your hours were logged incorrectly, please make sure to read our Volunteer Hour Tracking Guide. This guide breaks down how UPchieve calculates your hours and typically clears up any misunderstanding. If you still believe your hours were incorrectly calculated, please send an email to support@upchieve.org with a screenshot of your Impact Summary Dashboard and the amount of hours you believe it should display.

I can never seem to pick up requests I get texted, what should I do? +

Don’t worry! This is normal! We text multiple volunteers when a student makes a request, and often what happens is that another volunteer either picks up the request before you, or the student ends the session quickly.

I haven’t been receiving many requests, is something wrong with my account? +

Since UPchieve is an on demand service, there is no easy way to predict or guarantee how many requests a volunteer will get. However, there are ways to increase your odds of working with a student. You can 1) select more availability on the schedule page, 2) get certified in more topics, and finally 3) have the app open and logged in so you can pick up requests as you see them come in. You can pick up requests right from the dashboard whether or not you’re set as available during that time.

Are there fewer requests in the summer? +

Yes! Requests are highest during the academic school year (September - early June). During the summer, requests tend to decrease significantly. However, there are still requests being made, so be on the lookout!

How can I see what subjects I’m certified in? +

You can see all your subject certifications on your accounts Profile page.

I experienced a technical issue on the platform, where should I report it? +

Our apologies for any technical difficulties! If you're a current coach or student, log into the app: app.upchieve.org and click the "Contact us" link to report your bug.

I still have questions. How can I get in touch with your team? +

We’re happy to answer them! Just fill out our contact form.