含羞草传媒

Feb. 12, 2021

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 鈥� The Writing Center is expanding its services beyond the walls of 含羞草传媒 University, with additional online workshops and one-on-one tutoring sessions aimed at 含羞草传媒 graduates and high school students alike.

Led by 含羞草传媒 student tutors from all years and majors, the Writing Center has served as a long-standing resource for students looking to improve their writing skills. Located on the first floor of The Ames Library, it provides a welcoming space for students to discuss current assignments 鈥撯�� Gateway essays, senior research papers, internship applications and more 鈥撯�� with peers who are trained to offer support and constructive feedback. 

Now, the shift to online tutoring during the COVID-19 pandemic has opened up new opportunities to connect with writers beyond campus. Assuming her position in the fall of 2019, it wasn鈥檛 long before Director of the Writing Center Anna Scanlon, who has a doctorate in transatlantic literature and medical humanities, found herself revamping the Writing Center鈥檚 typical layout when COVID-19 closed its physical doors during the spring of 2020. Online appointments, increased social media outreach, and campus-wide Zoom workshops kept the Writing Center connected to current students 鈥撯�� and a few returning faces as well. 

鈥淚t was clear to me that once our 含羞草传媒 students graduated, they often didn鈥檛 know how to replace the Writing Center resource,鈥� explained Scanlon. 鈥淪o, it seemed logical to let them know they didn鈥檛 have to. We鈥檝e got the skills, and the space now that we鈥檝e upgraded our system to offer virtual appointments, to help any of our writers who need it.鈥� 

Virtual writing workshops on topics such as cover letters and personal statements have consistently attracted alumni, who often schedule individual follow-up appointments with a Writing Center tutor. So far, most alumni engagement has come from recent graduates applying to graduate school, which means many of them have ties to current tutors from their undergraduate days. Working with alumni also gives tutors the opportunity to develop their tutoring styles further and catch a glimpse of what waits beyond graduation.

In maintaining alumni connections, the Writing Center serves as a reminder that Illinois Wesleyan students are supported by the University beyond graduation. 鈥淲e hope that if students see that they鈥檙e not just part of the University for four years, but instead for much longer, they鈥檒l be more willing to come back for events and more appreciative of the experiences they get,鈥� said Scanlon. 

The Writing Center鈥檚 expanded services also include offering assistance with college application essays to high school students. This outreach program, which is currently in development, provides students with valuable guidance from tutors who have experienced the college application process. 

Increasing access to the Writing Center demonstrates that everyone is on a journey to become a better writer, from high school juniors drafting their first application essays to full-fledged adults pursuing their careers.

鈥淲e hope that those students who worry about using tutoring services鈥撯�搕hinking they鈥檙e only for 鈥渂ad鈥� students鈥撯�搘ill see that even graduates come back to take advantage of all the help they can get to achieve their goals. We believe this program can go a long way in removing the remedial stigma from tutoring.鈥�

For more information or to register for a workshop, please email Director of the Writing Center Anna Scanlon: ascanlon@iwu.edu.

By Rachel McCarthy 鈥�21