Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

This study will explore different factors that influence take-up of tutoring services at a small liberal arts college, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of the tutoring center itself. We conducted a randomized controlled trial that targeted the entirety of the student body, approximately 1,400 students. The experimental treatment randomly distributed a series of three postcards that offer informational messages about the tutoring center or vouchers that incentivize the take-up of tutoring services. By randomizing postcard treatments amongst consenting students and measuring take-up response, we evaluate the effectiveness of each message across a variety of baseline characteristics. We examine the impact of tutoring take-up by comparing academic outcomes between treatment groups. We also explore heterogeneity of effects by prior GPA, major, year and academic standing.