A new study center could create competition for TutoringZone.
Nine tutors from TutoringZone in Gainesville have left the company to form a new academic study service called StudyEdge.
The decision to split was announced at the beginning of the break between Summers A and B, said Margaret Kelsey, director of communications for TutoringZone.
While the permanent location is under construction, StudyEdge will be offering live review sessions for Summer B at UF Hillel, located at 2020 W University Ave.
The tutors held their first review session Tuesday.
The new location is anticipated to open Sept. 1 at the former Goerings Book Store location, 1717 NW First Ave., behind Tijuana Flats and Jimmy John's.
StudyEdge will offer free review sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Hillel during Summer B.
StudyEdge tutors are trying to be more accessible to students, said Graham Rees, co-founder of StudyEdge. He said they want students to be well-acquainted with the tutors so they will feel comfortable asking questions.
StudyEdge tutors started a new company because they were tired of TutoringZone repeatedly ignoring student concerns, Rees said. They wanted to offer quality reviews with proficient tutors.
TutoringZone would "plug holes" with unqualified tutors to make money, he said.
TutoringZone is being affected by the loss of its seasoned tutors. When its physics 1 with calculus tutor left, the company was left without anyone else to teach the summer review sessions. Preregistered students have to get their money refunded and take their business elsewhere.
"For students, we would have loved to have been training someone for physics," Kelsey said. "We refuse to throw anyone who we haven't trained into the mix."
Jess Bodzo, 19, a sophomore computer science engineering major, said he didn't know this course was no longer being offered until he went to TutoringZone this week.
He was told he will get his money back but was not given an explanation. After contacting his physics tutor on Facebook, he learned about StudyEdge.
Kelsey wants to squash rumors that the new company is a switchover. There are two different companies now, she said.
Francesca Dickhaus, a 19-year-old sophomore biology major, was a regular at TutoringZone her freshman year.
She took reviews for organic chemistry 1 at TutoringZone the first half of this summer. Now, she said, her tutor works at StudyEdge.
Like many of her classmates, she has a tough decision to make - deciding which review service is better for her.
As a student, the most important thing is who is teaching the material, she said.
"I don't care about being loyal to one company," Dickhaus said.
