Writing Center uses Web to help scheduling problems
Evening hours for the Writing Center Consultation Lab are now by appointment only. The change has been made to eliminate the long wait students without an appointment have been facing.
“So many students were trying to come at those hours and we couldn’t handle them all” said Writing Center director Charlene Hirschi.
Hirschi said some nights as many as 45 students were waiting to receive help, but the writing center can only handle 16.
“It was just causing disappointment for a lot of students,” she said.
Making appointments online will make it easier for students and consultants alike.
Michelle Leavitt, a sophomore majoring in biology said, “I made an appointment and it was really fast, I was out in about 20 minutes and I got help with what I needed.”
The Writing Center offers one-on-one tutoring services to improve writing skills. Typically English 1010 and 2010 students use the center.
Procrastination and students who don’t show up for appointments are part of the problem with the long waits at the writing center.
“When there are deadlines, students procrastinate,” said Valerie Plowman, a receptionist in the center.
She said on some nights there would only be two students and the next night there would be anywhere from 20 to 50. The appointments avoid overload of students who are all expecting to be helped.
“Now students who were waiting will have a guarantee, no disappointment,” Hirschi said.
The Writing Center will still allow walk-in students to see consultants, Hirschi said, but there is no guarantee if an appointment is not made.
“There is a possibility you can get help but as we near the end of the semester there is less of a chance,” Hirschi said.
Another option available to students is the online consultation.
Students submit their paper and a few days later meet online with a tutor. The online consultations are more convenient for some students.
Michelle Dodge, a junior majoring in music education, said, “The online writing center is faster and you don’t have to walk to campus, you can just stay in your underwear.”
Whether students choose to receive help online or face-to-face, appointments need to be made to assure a time for receiving help.
-gmblake@cc.usu.edu