All WCU students are expected to comply with University Policies and the Code of Student Conduct. Additionally, to ensure orderly and effective services for our students, we expect all participants to familiarize themselves with the following WaLC policies. Non compliance with any of these may result in dismissal from a tutoring session and/or loss of tutoring privileges.
Policy Enforcement
The WaLC’s attendance and cancelation policies are handled through TutorTrac, and students will be notified by email of their missed appointments. Violations of the active participation, appointment scheduling, disruptive behavior, cell phone use, and facilities and materials policies will result in a direct verbal warning from either the tutor or another member of the WaLC staff. Subsequent violations of the same kind could result in loss of privileges, but serious disruptions or obstructions of learning may result in immediate dismissal from the center and referral to the Department of Student Community Ethics.
Active participation:
We expect students to be active participants in the learning process. The WaLC’s services
are intended to supplement class instruction but not to replace missed class content.
Tutors will not write your papers for you, complete your homework assignments, or
re-lecture material that you missed because of absences from class. Students who participate
in tutoring to earn extra credit for a class also are required to comply with this
policy. Students are not allowed to log in to TutorTrac unless they are actively engaged
in a tutoring session, and students may not drop-off papers and expect them to be
assessed without a corresponding in-person appointment.
What to bring to your course tutoring sessions:
- Class notes, textbook, supplemental readings, assignments, and a copy of the course syllabus
- A list of topics you would like to review with the tutor and/or a list of questions you have about the material
What to bring to your writing appointment:
- Assignment sheet or the requirements for your paper
- One printed copy and the instructions for the assignment.
- A list of issues you would like to address in the session. Visit our Evaluating Academic Assignments page to help you determine what you’d like to work on during your session.
Appointment Scheduling:
Writing Appointments:
- Making an appointment will guarantee you a collaborative session with a writing tutor.
- Once your appointment is made, you will receive a confirmation email. If your paper is longer than five pages, you will be instructed to upload your paper to TutorTrac at least 12 hours in advance. Please note we cannot guarantee tutors will have enough time to read every uploaded paper, but they will make every effort to do so.
- Bring at least one hard copy of your paper to your appointment, and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to revise your paper after your appointment. Your tutor can make a recommendation about revision plans.
- Students are strongly advised to make appointments in advance. Drop-ins are granted on a case-by-case basis, based on tutor availability and other factors.
- Distance students are eligible to use Smarthinking, an online tutoring center.
- Students may make a writing appointment online using TutorTrac or they may call 828-227-2274. Our office personnel will ask you a series of questions that will allow us to schedule your appointment for an appropriate amount of time and with a tutor who can address your needs.
Course Tutoring Appointments and Academic Skills Consultations:
- With the exception of drop-in course tutoring, students are required to make an appointment with a tutor or academic skills consultant.
- Log in to TutorTrac or call 828-227-2274 to schedule appointments.
- If a classmate invites you to participate in a tutoring session that he/she has scheduled, check with the office assistant first to make sure seats are available.
- Students who have appointments scheduled will take precedence, and course tutors may elect not to allow extra students to join a session if all of the seats for that session have been filled.
Appointment Attendance:
WaLC tutors are students, too, and they have busy schedules! Please respect their
time: keep your appointments; show up on time; and come prepared with all necessary
materials (see Active Participation policy above). Students who repeatedly miss or
arrive late for appointments may lose their tutoring privileges (see Appointment Cancelation
Policy below for more information).
Appointment Cancelations:
- Please provide 12 hours advance notice if you must cancel a tutoring appointment or academic skills consultation.
- To cancel a tutoring session or academic skills consultation, call 828-227-2274 or long into TutorTrac and click the X next to the upcoming appointment on your main menu.
- If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment and you do not cancel the appointment in advance, your appointment will be labeled “missed.” After three “missed” appointments, you will not be allowed to schedule future appointments until you have visited the WaLC to speak with the Director.
Disruptive Behavior:
Any behavior that disrupts or obstructs the learning process will not be tolerated.
Possible examples of disruptive behavior include but are not limited to: excessive
complaints about the class or professor, repeated interruptions, and inappropriate
use of computers or other electronic devices.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco use (chewing or smoking) is not permitted in the Writing and Learning Commons.
Any person found using tobacco in the WaLC will be asked to dispose of and refrain
from using the product.
Cell Phone Use:
Cell phone use is prohibited in the WaLC. If you are expecting an important call,
please communicate with your tutor before your session begins; then, set your phone
to vibrate and excuse yourself from the center before you answer a call.
Use of WaLC Facility and Materials:
Unless prior arrangements are made with the Director, WaLC tutors are required to
conduct their tutoring sessions in the WaLC (207 Belk) during standard hours of operation.
Students who schedule appointments during the last hour of the day are expected to
conclude their business, log out of TutorTrac, and exit the Center at closing time.
Students and tutors will receive a ten-minute warning before the center closes. Tutoring
sessions that take place outside of the WaLC without prior approval by the Director
will not be logged in TutorTrac and will not be counted as WaLC-sanctioned tutoring
sessions.
Course textbooks, computers, and other materials housed in the WaLC are intended for tutors’ use and may not be removed from the center. Students are permitted to use these materials only if they are engaged in a session with a tutor who determines that these materials are necessary for the session.