Come summer, there will be a new Internet matching service for students seeking a little extra help with classwork.
Student Government and Tutoring Zone will be launching a private tutoring matching service via Facebook.
"Obviously Tutoring Zone has filled a niche here in Gainesville, but it always focuses on group tutoring," said Matt Hintze, one of Tutoring Zone's co-founders.
Hintze, along with Ethan Fieldman, the center's other owner, put together a Facebook application that allows students to search for tutors by subject or course number of the class that is giving them trouble.
"You know, Dr. Denslow's been perplexing students for 30 years," Hintze said.
Fieldman said the search should lay out tutoring options for students.
"We're simply bringing together a disorganized market," he said.
Fieldman and Hintze, who both tutored for the University Athletic Association after graduating from UF, said they wanted to find a way to bring the same quality of individual tutoring sessions to all members of the Student Body.
"We've basically copied the Athletic Association on everything," Fieldman said. "They have a great system worked out."
With the Facebook application, students will be able to shop around before picking a tutor. They will be able to compare prices as well as check student ratings and reviews.
"This way tutoring becomes much more affordable," Fieldman said, adding the competitive Gainesville market will help drive down prices.
Once students find a tutor to their liking, they can book a time and meeting place and pay for the session online.
Jordan Johnson, who will be taking over as Student Body president on May 1, said SG's role is to raise awareness by informing students and teachers about the new program via e-mails, Facebook and print ads.
Fieldman said he hopes SG will contact professors, graduate students and T.A.'s to help get the word out about the service, but expects the application itself to spark the most interest.
"The great thing about Facebook is that it will spread by itself," he said.
