Writing Center: Apply to Be a Tutor

General Overview of Position

Tutors at The Writing Center (TWC) will work a minimum of 3 hours per week with a diverse body of university students. Tutors will approach writing as a process and help writers work on the cognitive issues of focus, tone, organization, outlining, and development before addressing other writing issues such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. 

Minimum Requirements

At minimum, those applying for a Writing Center Coach position should possess the following qualifications:

• A referral from a WRIT instructor or an instructor in a writing-intensive course (ex., MGMT 100). The instructor should provide feedback on the student’s writing ability, academic commitment, and interpersonal skills. Students will not be interviewed without an initial referral from an instructor.
• Ability to assess student writing and provide appropriate feedback, both verbal and written.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with students and staff by establishing rapport and maintaining a friendly, helpful, and patient demeanor
• Basic understanding of English rhetoric, grammar, and usage (document formats, sentence structures, MLA/APA citation formats, etc.)
• Ability to work as a team member with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in MS Word, in particular, the track changes and comments function.
• Willingness to work on a regular, weekly schedule, barring illness and school-related activities. A tutor’s schedule will be negotiated between TWC director and him/her at the beginning of the semester.
• Valid documentation to work in the United States.
• Ability to attend all-day, paid professional development training on the first Saturday of the semester.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Fulfillment of WRIT 113 requirement (either through class, placement, or transfer) with a grade of B+ or higher.

Desired Qualifications

In addition to the minimum qualifications noted above, ideal applicants will also possess the following:

• Fulfillment of WRIT 113 requirement (either through class, placement, or transfer) with a grade of A.
• Completion of WRIT 313 with a grade of A.
• Special interest in writing and/or tutoring as a profession.

Job Description

The following is a description of a tutor’s duties and responsibilities. These duties will be performed either in-person or virtually, based on supervisor's requirements and current campus COVID safety protocol. 

• Maintains a regular, weekly schedule, barring illness and school-related activities. A tutor’s schedule will be negotiated with their supervisor at the beginning of the semester.
• Works with students individually or in small groups to develop their basic writing abilities. Tutors may be asked to 1) conduct in-person tutorials (following safety guidelines during a pandemic), 2) conduct virtual tutorials using RingCentral (synchronous tutorials), and/or 3) provide online feedback on written work (asynchronous tutorials).
• Attends all-day, paid professional development training on the first Saturday of the semester.
• Completes professional development projects(s) during work hours, which may include conference attendance (virtual in event of pandemic).
• Follows tutoring pedagogy and protocol established by supervisor.
• Uses TWC technology to accurately complete Client Report forms for online and in-person tutorials.
• Keeps appointments on time, stays alert, and minimizes any distractions during tutoring.
• Participates in (paid) campus events and activities that promote TWC. These may include—and are not limited to—serving refreshments, hosting student games, and posting flyers around campus. (Note that alternate virtual activities will take place during a pandemic.)
• Participates in presentations to students and faculty about TWC services.
• Accurately tracks hours worked through online Ultipro system.
• Is willing to perform simple office tasks related to TWC, when necessary, per supervisor’s request.
• Follows direction and guidance provided by supervisor regarding tutorials and all TWC-related matters.
• Stays in regular communication with supervisor and other tutors when appropriate through text and email.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should contact either a WRIT instructor or instructor in a writing-intensive class and ask him/her for a referral. The instructor should send the referral to Laurel DiGangi, Director of the Writing Center (laurel.digangi@woodbury.edu).  Once Laurel received the referral, she will contact the student for the following:

• Current resume
• Cover letter addressing the minimum/desirable qualifications
• Current writing sample, preferably a research paper in APA style
• After the director receives the above material, she will send the prospective tutor a sample student paper to provide feedback on using the comments and track changes functions in Word.

The final step in the hiring process is an in-person interview.

Tutors will be hired based on a combination of factors, including an ability to fulfill the qualifications listed above, writing skills, interpersonal skills, and ability to assess and provide appropriate feedback on student writing.