Am I eligible to be a Writing Fellow?
Writing fellows are organized, self-motivated, kind, intelligent, and flexible. Fellows also tend to have excellent writing skills and an interest in helping others, and we prefer that students commit to the program for at least one full academic year. Do you sacrifice sleep to help your friends revise their papers before a big deadline? Do you find yourself grumbling about typos in the newspaper? If so, you should probably apply.
Do I have to be an expert in a specific subject? Do I have to be a perfect writer?
Writing fellows are NOT perfect writers—there is no such thing. Fellows are good writers who want to improve their skills and encourage their peers. Part of being a successful writing fellow is knowing what a challenge it is to write in a new genre and sympathizing with students who are still learning the process.
What do Writing Fellows do?
Writing fellows are carefully selected and trained peer tutors who provide support for styles of writing that challenge students new to the field. Examples of genres writing fellows can be selected for include lab reports, screenplays, treatment plans, SOAP notes, technical writing, and program notes.
Students from any class and at any point in their writing process may make 30-minute to one-hour appointments with writing fellows. Faculty who assign writing in a genre covered by these fellows are encouraged to communicate with the tutors and send assignments and examples to help the tutors make good use of their time in sessions.
Additional duties include classroom visits, staff meetings, and regular meetings with faculty members. Fellows collaborate with the Writing and Learning Commons' director, associate director, faculty, and other fellows.
New fellows are required to take USI 202 during their first semester; this is a one-credit training course that help fellows learn how to improve their own writing skills and give positive, helpful feedback to students.
How and when should I apply?
New fellows begin work in the fall and the spring, so you should apply no later than the week before classes start for either semester. Here is the application.
How many hours do I work? How much does it pay?
Your work hours are set up very much like WaLC course tutors’. You create availabilities in our scheduling system, and if a student makes an appointment, you come to work and get paid. You choose your own hours and set up as much availability as you want. You can create more business for yourself by marketing to professors and students.
Your hourly pay rate is contingent upon your experience and other factors.
Is this a work study job?
You do NOT need to be work study to be a Fellow, but work study is accepted if you have it.