Overview
Time zones in student and staff records are to ensure that the session reminder is sent with the correct time zone for staff and students in different time zones:- The start time of the session in the reminder will be in local time for the recipient.
Article Sections
For use with the #SESSIONLIST# macro in reminders.
Session Start Time
A session start time is set per the time zone of the TutorFirst Program in which it is created.
TutorFirst Programs will use the time zone of your database (default time zone) unless otherwise set in the Program.
LD05. Set Unique Time Zone for a Program
Database Time Zone
Admins may check the database time zone by going to Setup - Company - Config Settings - Database.
If all your programs, students and tutors are in the default time zone you don't need to set any time zones.
If your program is in the time zone of the database but you have online tutors and students* giving/receiving tutoring while outside this time zone, set the time zone in the relevant staff and student records.
*If you have Students in different time zones and the parent has a login to TutorFirst the session start time will look wrong. These students should be placed in a program with a time zone set the same as the student.
Examples
TutorFirst Location - Program
A database is set to Eastern Time
A program in Florida (FL - Excel Tutoring Tampa) would not need a timezone set.
A program in Texas (TX - Excel Tutoring Houston) would need to be set to Central.
Staff & Student Records
Sessions made in TutorFirst for the Florida Program with a start time of 2pm will be 2pm Eastern. Any students in this program who are in Eastern do not need a time zone set as the reminder will be in Eastern time.
Sessions made in TutorFirst for the Texas Program with a start time of 2pm will be 2pm Central. Any students in this program who are in Central do not need a time zone set as the time zone of the program will be used and all reminders will be in local time.
A student living outside of the program in which the session is created will need their time zone set.
The same applies for tutors unless they will be delivering tutoring to both programs, then they will need their time zone set.
Example Session Reminder
Session for online tutoring is made in the Florida Program at 2pm.
Tutor is in Los Angeles and student is in Chicago so both have a time zone set in their record as neither are in the time zone of the TutorFirst Program.
The session in TutorFirst is created at 2pm Eastern per the Program.
Tutor has Pacific set in record and their session reminder will say 11am start time converted by TutorFirst.
Student has Central set in record and their session reminder will say 1pm start time converted by TutorFirst.
Parent session reminders use the time zone of the student.
Tutors Scheduling
If tutors do their own scheduling please be sure to advise them to schedule per the Program time zone.