The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) is committed to fostering inclusive, equitable, and accessible learning environments for its diverse student body. In support of this mission, various units across campus work together to offer a wide variety of resources and services specifically designed to help students achieve their learning goals. This year, the UC Irvine Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (OVPTL) and UC Irvine Learning and Academic Resource Center (LARC) are excited to offer a new resource called UCI ZotPASS.
UCI ZotPASS is a free application powered by TEDU and designed to help students find tutors in a variety of subjects, schedule tutoring appointments, and locate drop-in services with tutors and peer educators. ZotPASS provides a convenient platform where students can access academic support services from across campus all in one place. Students can access ZotPASS by downloading the mobile app from their app store or by logging into the ZotPASS web application using their UCInetID credentials.
“ZotPASS makes it easier for students to find and engage with personalized services both virtually and in person,” explains LARC Director Trace Yulie. They add, “Tutors appreciate ZotPASS features to manage their work, like appointment notifications, and student users are already sharing that they find the platform simple to use. A unified platform for all academic support reduces barriers to participation and empowers students to connect with each other.”
Tutors, peer educators, and department administrators also benefit from ZotPASS. The platform allows tutors and peer educators to keep track of their tutoring commitments, and departments are able to track data regarding the number of students who use their services. Department administrators also have access to program management tools such as an analytics dashboard, outreach tools, and engagement and feedback reports.
“ZotPASS is a powerful tool that will provide deeper insights into student needs which will allow departments to enhance the academic support they offer,” says Michael Dennin, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, Dean of Undergraduate Education, and Professor of Physics and Astronomy. “I’m excited to see the deep conversations and institutional collaborations that ZotPASS sparks as more units adopt it.”
Several departments have implemented the platform for Fall 2024. In addition to the LARC, the Center for Excellence in Writing and Communication (Writing Center) and the ICS Tutoring Center are currently serving students through ZotPASS. Additional units are expected to join ZotPASS in the coming quarters.
The introduction of ZotPASS aligns with UC Irvine Compass, a cross-functional initiative focused on bringing relevant student data to campus advisors, faculty, and administrators with the goal of improving student outcomes and overall student success. Compass seeks to personalize and improve the student journey and serve as a model for advancing educational equity.
“ZotPASS exemplifies our commitment to leveraging technology to enhance student success,” states Tom Andriola, Vice Chancellor for Information, Technology, and Data. “By integrating ZotPASS with the Compass initiative, we are creating a seamless ecosystem that not only supports academic achievement but also fosters a more personalized and equitable educational experience for every student.”
For more information, visit the ZotPASS website or check out the video below: