In Focus
From the Winter 2024 issue of Merze Tate College's News and Notes, this "In Focus" features The WMU Writing Center. We sat down with Claire Robbins, director of the writing center to learn more about the center's mission, vision, values and goals related to student success.
In one sentence, what's the most impactful way the WMU Writing Center supports student success?
The WMU Writing Center works with students of all levels and abilities to become stronger, more confident writers who bring that writing confidence into their classes and careers.
Can you describe the mission and core values of the WMU Writing Center and how those translate into supporting your students?
The mission of the WMU Writing Center is to build a campus culture that values writing and writers while empowering individual writers to make their own effective writing choices. We strive to value each writer’s autonomy and voice in writing, and we seek to be culturally competent when working with students from diverse backgrounds. Writers often trust us with their personal stories and academic journeys, and we want to foster an environment of respect and encouragement so that all students can feel comfortable with their own writing choices.
How do you help students beyond grammar and mechanics?
We help students with every stage of the writing process, including brainstorming, research and source citation, drafting, and editing. We can help students understand writing prompts or difficult texts, and we also work as developmental editors who give writers feedback on audience, purpose, and message. Many students come to us with questions about the research process, and all of our consultants can assist in navigating research writing and ethical source citation.
We help students with every stage of the writing process, including brainstorming, research and source citation, drafting, and editing. We can help students understand writing prompts or difficult texts, and we also work as developmental editors who give writers feedback on audience, purpose, and message. Many students come to us with questions about the research process, and all of our consultants can assist in navigating research writing and ethical source citation.
If a student seeking guidance walked into your office right now, what's the one piece of advice you'd give them?
First, I would acknowledge that writing anxiety is very common, and most people feel anxious about writing at some point in their academic careers, especially when the stakes are high. Then, I would commend them for seeking help and encourage them to use the resources available to combat their writing anxiety. Strategies like time management and scheduling writing center appointments well in advance of deadlines can go a long way to alleviate potential difficulties.
First, I would acknowledge that writing anxiety is very common, and most people feel anxious about writing at some point in their academic careers, especially when the stakes are high. Then, I would commend them for seeking help and encourage them to use the resources available to combat their writing anxiety. Strategies like time management and scheduling writing center appointments well in advance of deadlines can go a long way to alleviate potential difficulties.
What advice would you give to incoming students who might be unsure how to utilize your resources?
Students can schedule fifty-minute appointments to meet one-on-one with writing center consultants. These appointments are often most effective when students bring in assignments or rubrics so that the consultant can understand the context for writing. I would encourage students to make multiple appointments ahead of due dates, if possible, especially for longer papers. Students can also walk in for a 25-minute drop-in appointment, but these appointments are better for shorter writing assignments or quick questions.
Students can schedule fifty-minute appointments to meet one-on-one with writing center consultants. These appointments are often most effective when students bring in assignments or rubrics so that the consultant can understand the context for writing. I would encourage students to make multiple appointments ahead of due dates, if possible, especially for longer papers. Students can also walk in for a 25-minute drop-in appointment, but these appointments are better for shorter writing assignments or quick questions.
Can you share a recent example of how you helped a student overcome a challenge or achieve a personal goal?
This week we had two students who just started their semester in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's program. They had questions about using Elearning and WebEx for their courses and were probably feeling a little uncertain about starting a new program at a new school. We were able to explore their Elearning pages for their classes, show them how to access WebEx, give them some advice about writing expectations for discussion posts, and reassure them that they can use the Writing Center as a resource for any of their writing assignments. The students left the Writing Center knowing that they had a place where they could bring writing-related questions and they felt listened to and supported in their academic goals.
This week we had two students who just started their semester in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's program. They had questions about using Elearning and WebEx for their courses and were probably feeling a little uncertain about starting a new program at a new school. We were able to explore their Elearning pages for their classes, show them how to access WebEx, give them some advice about writing expectations for discussion posts, and reassure them that they can use the Writing Center as a resource for any of their writing assignments. The students left the Writing Center knowing that they had a place where they could bring writing-related questions and they felt listened to and supported in their academic goals.
In your experience, what are the most significant ways the WMU Writing Center impacts student success academically, professionally, or personally?
The Writing Center plays an important role in student success by working to build students’ confidence as writers. The students who use the writing center bring that confidence into their assignments, classes, and careers. Sometimes we see students when they are at a low point, feeling overwhelmed with a writing task or with classwork, but through building relationships with these students, we hope to show them that they can succeed and build strong writing skills and habits.
The Writing Center plays an important role in student success by working to build students’ confidence as writers. The students who use the writing center bring that confidence into their assignments, classes, and careers. Sometimes we see students when they are at a low point, feeling overwhelmed with a writing task or with classwork, but through building relationships with these students, we hope to show them that they can succeed and build strong writing skills and habits.
How does the Writing Center collaborate with other departments to create a supportive ecosystem for students?
In Fall 2023, the Writing Center started tracking student appointments at the writing center using the Student Success Hub, which will allow advisors and other student support professionals to see which students are using the Writing Center. The Writing Center also hopes to continue developing relationships with other departments to better support student success.
What are the Writing Center’s most unique or underutilized resources that students should know about?
In Fall 2023, the Writing Center started tracking student appointments at the writing center using the Student Success Hub, which will allow advisors and other student support professionals to see which students are using the Writing Center. The Writing Center also hopes to continue developing relationships with other departments to better support student success.
What are the Writing Center’s most unique or underutilized resources that students should know about?
Many students may not know that we can help them with resumes, cover letters, and applications for scholarships or graduate programs. We can also help students navigate college-level research and citation, which may feel difficult or overwhelming to many students. Many students may not know that we can help English Language Learners navigate assignments and instructor expectations while acknowledging the language expertise they possess. We can help graduate students with dissertation writing; because of the length of these projects, it’s often best to schedule weekly appointments.
Can you share a story about a student who inspires you and how your department/unit played a role in their journey?
Many students we work with are inspiring, because of their backgrounds or their writing journeys, but one student who particularly stands out is currently working as an undergraduate writing consultant for the Writing Center. This student is going into secondary education and specifically took courses to apply for a writing consultant job. They have been eager to learn more about consulting, and in their first week of training, they regularly came in with lists of questions about how best to work with students and with different writing genres. Now, they have been consulting independently for a few months, and recently some of the students they’ve worked with have told us how helpful their feedback was. Watching this student employee’s persistence and growth has been inspiring!
Many students we work with are inspiring, because of their backgrounds or their writing journeys, but one student who particularly stands out is currently working as an undergraduate writing consultant for the Writing Center. This student is going into secondary education and specifically took courses to apply for a writing consultant job. They have been eager to learn more about consulting, and in their first week of training, they regularly came in with lists of questions about how best to work with students and with different writing genres. Now, they have been consulting independently for a few months, and recently some of the students they’ve worked with have told us how helpful their feedback was. Watching this student employee’s persistence and growth has been inspiring!
How can students best connect with staff in your department/unit to ask questions or seek guidance?
Students are welcome to come into the Writing Center, 1343 Ellsworth Hall, to talk with staff during our open hours, Monday-Tuesday 10 am-8 pm and Wednesday-Friday 10 am- 5 pm. We have drop-in appointments in 1343 Ellsworth Hall on a first-come, first-served basis Monday-Friday at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm, as well as Sundays 5-8 pm on the first floor of Waldo Library. Students can also make a 50-minute appointment using our online scheduler: Western Michigan University Writing Center (mywconline.com). Students can call us at (269) 387 4615 or email at @email.
Students are welcome to come into the Writing Center, 1343 Ellsworth Hall, to talk with staff during our open hours, Monday-Tuesday 10 am-8 pm and Wednesday-Friday 10 am- 5 pm. We have drop-in appointments in 1343 Ellsworth Hall on a first-come, first-served basis Monday-Friday at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm, as well as Sundays 5-8 pm on the first floor of Waldo Library. Students can also make a 50-minute appointment using our online scheduler: Western Michigan University Writing Center (mywconline.com). Students can call us at (269) 387 4615 or email at @email.