University of the Pacific has expanded its academic support services to include 24/7 virtual tutoring, in addition to in-person peer tutoring, writing support and research consultations. 

The online service launched in fall 2025. 

“Brainfuse is a platform where you can go online and use an on-demand service. You can literally log in anytime 24/7 and get help. Even if a student is working on homework at four in the morning, they can get help for any subject that we have here at Pacific,” April Hayden, assistant director of student academic support services, said. “The service uses professional tutors, based everywhere.”

While Brainfuse provides round-the-clock online assistance, students also have access to in-person tutoring at the Student Academic Support Services Hub.

Located on the second floor of the William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center on the Stockton Campus, the hub provides in-person peer tutoring in either 30 minutes or hour-long, one-on-one sessions with no limits on the number of sessions students can take. 

The tutoring center had more than 1400 appointments in spring 2026, up nearly 25% from last year. 

“Students are learning a lot of skills in terms of how to work with different types of students,” Hayden said. “There are different types of learners, so they're learning to work with students and form relationships. In fact a lot of friendships start here in the center.”

“Students are coming in, they're vulnerable, and they're usually scared the first time. Having that person be a mentor usually fosters relationships outside of the tutoring center, which is really rewarding to see,” she said.

The benefits go beyond course material. For some students, learning study strategies and what to expect from their professors can make a dramatic difference.

In-person sessions are tailored to a student’s course. Tutors must have completed the course they are tutoring with at least a B+ or faculty recommendation. Drop-in hours also are available for math and biology due to higher demand for those subjects.

“I hear a lot from our tutors that it reinforces their own knowledge of the concepts,” said Hayden. In the tutoring center, we have students that are pre-dent, pre-pharm, want to go to medical school, or want to go to a professional school of some sort. For them, coming in and helping other students understand the basic concepts reinforces those concepts for themselves.”

Ethan Fung ’28, a pharmacy student who has been tutoring since 2024, said that he enjoys meeting students from different backgrounds and contributing to their success. 

“A benefit to tutoring others is making a positive impact on the community and having them take your teachings and apply it to their daily lives. While it is important to do well academically, it is just as important to support others to make them better. Through tutoring others, I can serve as a mentor and set an example of what it means to be a caring teacher,” Fung said. 

The tutoring center is open by appointment Sundays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students can make appointments online through Canvas or the Student Academic Support Services Hub.

“There’s a lot of unnecessary fear and stigma with getting help. Students can feel scared or feel like they're not good enough, or they feel like they're unable to perform because they have to get support,” Hayden said. “But students should come in even if they’re doing great! There’s a huge benefit to working with a tutor to really reinforce your knowledge, it pays off as you progress through college and rely on those foundational concepts to succeed.”

Explore the services the Academic Student Support Services hub has to offer.