What makes a Writing Center Unique

Writing Centers operate on a peer-to-peer feedback model.

The UWC is staffed by undergraduate and graduate students from various majors on campus. Consultants hired do not know everything about all types of writing, but they are eager to learn from their peers. Student consultants have no power to give students grades, and they resist the role of experts. Student consultants and student writers work collaboratively to create an individualize learning experience.

Writing Centers emphasize conversation.

Writing Center sessions provide student writers an opportunity to practice talking about their writing. During a session, student writers are also given an opportunity to practice receiving feedback and integrating that feedback. Consultants, who are also students, do not serve as faculty or experts, so they rely on student writers’ active participation. Writing center sessions are also built around questions which provides student writers the opportunity to practice asking questions and guiding their own learning.

Writing Centers foster confidence in writing.

The majority of student writers that attend the writing center enter with the idea that they are “bad writers.” Writing center consultants work with each writer to dispel this identity and embrace confidence in their writing. To help build student confidence, the consultants use trust building strategies to help student writers make informed revisions with their writing.

Writing Centers believe everyone is a learner.

The UWC operates from the stance that no one is born speaking in the dialect of their field, and we all must learn how to navigate new genre conventions. By positioning everyone as a learner, writing centers help even the power dynamics between student consultants and student writers so that student writers are able to take control of their learning.

Writing Centers welcome all stories and bodies.

The writing center welcomes all students, faculty, and staff to sign up for writing center sessions. We understand that sharing writing can be intimidating and that hearing feedback from a stranger can be even more intimidating. We also understand that for some bodies, seeking writing support can be seen as a weakness. Consultants emphasize a non-judgmental stance in writing center sessions to help put individuals at ease.

Writing Centers provide leadership and professional development opportunities to student consultants.

Student consultants who work at the writing center engage in weekly professional development through meetings and readings. The professional development helps consultants learn about different kinds of writing, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, various pedagogies, and social and political issues within higher education. The professional development not only helps consultants within sessions, but also provides them with various transferable skills and knowledge to other fields post-graduation.