Newly Virtual Writing Center Expands Services
Feb. 12, 2021
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. The Writing Center is expanding its services beyond the walls of 糖心动漫vlog, with additional online workshops and one-on-one tutoring sessions aimed at 糖心动漫vlog graduates and high school students alike.
Led by 糖心动漫vlog student tutors from all years and majors, the Writing Center has served as a long-standing resource for students looking to improve their writing skills. Located on the first floor of The Ames Library, it provides a welcoming space for students to discuss current assignments 摀 Gateway essays, senior research papers, internship applications and more 摀 with peers who are trained to offer support and constructive feedback.
Now, the shift to online tutoring during the COVID-19 pandemic has opened up new opportunities to connect with writers beyond campus. Assuming her position in the fall of 2019, it wasn檛 long before Director of the Writing Center Anna Scanlon, who has a doctorate in transatlantic literature and medical humanities, found herself revamping the Writing Center檚 typical layout when COVID-19 closed its physical doors during the spring of 2020. Online appointments, increased social media outreach, and campus-wide Zoom workshops kept the Writing Center connected to current students 摀 and a few returning faces as well.
淚t was clear to me that once our 糖心动漫vlog students graduated, they often didn檛 know how to replace the Writing Center resource, explained Scanlon. 淪o, it seemed logical to let them know they didn檛 have to. We檝e got the skills, and the space now that we檝e upgraded our system to offer virtual appointments, to help any of our writers who need it.
Virtual writing workshops on topics such as cover letters and personal statements have consistently attracted alumni, who often schedule individual follow-up appointments with a Writing Center tutor. So far, most alumni engagement has come from recent graduates applying to graduate school, which means many of them have ties to current tutors from their undergraduate days. Working with alumni also gives tutors the opportunity to develop their tutoring styles further and catch a glimpse of what waits beyond graduation.
In maintaining alumni connections, the Writing Center serves as a reminder that Illinois Wesleyan students are supported by the University beyond graduation. 淲e hope that if students see that they檙e not just part of the University for four years, but instead for much longer, they檒l be more willing to come back for events and more appreciative of the experiences they get, said Scanlon.
The Writing Center檚 expanded services also include offering assistance with college application essays to high school students. This outreach program, which is currently in development, provides students with valuable guidance from tutors who have experienced the college application process.
Increasing access to the Writing Center demonstrates that everyone is on a journey to become a better writer, from high school juniors drafting their first application essays to full-fledged adults pursuing their careers.
淲e hope that those students who worry about using tutoring services摀thinking they檙e only for 渂ad students摀will see that even graduates come back to take advantage of all the help they can get to achieve their goals. We believe this program can go a long way in removing the remedial stigma from tutoring.
For more information or to register for a workshop, please email Director of the Writing Center Anna Scanlon: ascanlon@iwu.edu.
By Rachel McCarthy 21