The Writing Center is a valuable campus resource that went virtual, like many other activities, during the rise of Covid. At the beginning of last year, however, Professor Ivan Davis was motivated to reestablish in-person services at the center for students, and hired a variety of student tutors to help their peers with all of their writing needs. The center is open for several hours throughout the school week and accepts both appointments, walk-ins, and online tutoring, and advertises itself as a writing resource for students of all skill levels. I talked to both Dr. Davis and some of the student tutors about their experience so far at the job and what they hope to achieve in the coming year, and it’s clear that everyone is excited to welcome new students into the Writing Center.
Who is like the writing center for and what are its aims?
Dr. Davis (English faculty): The Writing Center is for all Andrews University students, faculty and staff. And, I suppose, alumni. Primarily we serve students. We want to help with students' writing projects, whether they're for academic or personal purposes, and we want to help students become better, more effective writers. So not just helping with the projects that they're working on, but helping them develop skills and awareness that can travel with them to subsequent writing projects.
What are you hoping to achieve from this year's Writing Center?
Dr. Davis: Just more campus awareness that we exist. I would love to see us provide services for students in all kinds of classes where writing is done, not just in College Writing I and College Writing II. So, all majors across campus, graduate and undergraduate levels.
Lily Burke (senior, anthropology, English literature, and Spanish): I’m hoping to be able to encourage some students that they have the ability to become capable writers. I know that buckling down to write can be harder than the actual writing, so I’m ready to help coach students through that process.
Nate Miller (freshman, English, music, and French): I am hoping to really guide people to become better writers and perfect the craft of writing.
Jenae Rogers (senior, math education): I’m looking forward to getting to interact with clients and learning more about how to better help them with their writing.
What are you most excited for this year at the Writing Center?
Dr. Davis: I like the new group of tutors that we've hired. I like to see them develop and the strengths that they bring to meeting with students in the Writing Center. And like I said, I'm hoping to see it become more of a hive of activity when we're open. So, just to know that that's happening will be hugely meaningful because I know people are writing all around campus. We want to involve them in the Writing Center and to think of the Writing Center as a place where anyone, not just somebody who feels like they struggle with writing, can get valuable feedback. It'll be useful for them. So even people that think of themselves as expert writers should be able to get assistance at the writing center.
Lily: I’m most excited to learn more about different ways people approach writing, and how to help them through that entire process. I would love to see the Writing Center be a space of collaborative exchange, where we help each other grow as scholars and writers.
Nate: Later on in the year, when more and more people will be coming in, that will be fun. And I’m looking forward to being able to help other students through my tutoring when I also have a greater understanding of how to teach writing as I keep working.
Jenae: It’ll be fun to get to read a bunch of different people’s work and to learn from a variety of topics that are important to them.
The Writing Center is located in Nethery 134 and is open Monday through Thursday from 2-7 p.m. and from 12:30-3:00 pm on Friday. Book an appointment here!
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.