Blog 22: Writing Center Philosophy

Writing is a form of communication. We all want others to understand us, our perspective, our insights, and writing is a medium we often use to foster this understanding. However, sometimes we all need help generating or expressing our ideas. This is where the writing center can help. The writing center is a resource for all writers (undergrads and grad students from all disciplines, university staff, and even professors) who wish to grow as writers.

Our writing center seeks to support students in their efforts to become better writers. We believe we can offer the best support by creating an atmosphere that foster intellectual rigor, respect for all learners, and a sense of community.

Intellectual Rigor

The writing center is primarily a place for students to engage in rigorous intellectual work, with the support of knowledgeable peer tutors and staff. To foster this, the writing center:

-encourages students to come prepared for the session. Having a copy of your assignment, the course syllabus, and other relevant material will help tutors in their effort to meet your needs.

- maintains an updated library (including computers, software, and internet access) of resource material to help foster students' and tutors' research skills and knowledge.

- requires on-going tutor training, so that tutors will have a vast and deep knowledge of writing and tutoring theory and practices.

- trains tutors to listen to, respect, and respond to individual students' needs and goals during the writing session.

- has an on-sight professionally trained tutor supervisor, who aids students and tutors when necessary.

-encourages faculty to supply the writing center with up-to date syllabi and other material relevant to their courses

-supports faculty in their efforts to help students grow as writers by advertising our services through in-class visits, our website, flyers, campus radio, open-houses.

Respect for Diversity

The writing center is a place where all writers, no matter writing proficiency, cultural/lingustic background, or learning style can find support and attention. To support this aim, the writing center

- encourages all students to seek help from the writing center

- hires peer tutors from a variety of language/cultural backgrounds and who study various majors

- requires on-going tutor training in matters of tutoring people with differing abilities, different levels of English language proficiency, and differing learning styles

- maintains a library of resources for students with differing abilities

- employees a faculty member from the ESL, special services, and EOF departments to act as a liason between writing center staff and various departments

Sense of Community

The writing center is also a place that seeks to foster a sense of community. To meet this end, the writing center:

- encourages students to get to know the writing center staff

-encourages staff and tutors to be open, friendly, and courteous

- requires tutors to work in teams to share and discuss triumphs, issues, and concerns

-sponsors "writing centered" events, such as guest lectures and open mics, every semester so that students, writing center staff, and faculty can mingle and share ideas in a relaxed atmosphere

- uses e-mail, message boards, suggestion boxes, and open meetings to foster dialogue between the writing center staff and the student body and the writing center staff and university faculty

- employs a member of the faculty to serve as a liason between the faculty and writing center staff