Want to Become a Writing Center Tutor?
Each semester, we look for a few great writers to become new peer tutors in the
Writing Center. Join a wonderful group of tutors, help your peers to become better
writers, and improve your own writing skills. You’ll earn a professional/academic
reference after two semesters of tutoring and gain valuable multicultural teaching
experience, as well as practicum credits that look great on your résumé, c.v., or
grad school application. And if you come back for a second semester, we will pay
you!
Our tutors have gone on to graduate Binghamton University with honors and
become Fulbright Scholars, attend law school, and gain admission to graduate
programs at Columbia, NYU, Carnegie Mellon, and Hofstra, to name a few of their
accomplishments. Students from all disciplines—sciences, the arts, engineering,
humanities, business, and health—are encouraged to apply.
WRIT 491 can count toward the Writing Studies minor. For further information on
the minor, contact Dr. Sarah Bull, director of the Writing Studies minor.
Qualifications
By the time they begin tutoring—not when they apply—applicants must have
acquired 57 credits and have at least second-semester sophomore standing, carry a
minimum 3.0 GPA, be strong academic writers with a clear understanding of writing
strategies and conventions, enjoy working with people, and be able to commit to a
regular weekly tutoring schedule.
A Few Details
New tutors enroll for 2.0 or 4.0 credit hours in WRIT 491, a two-part pass-fail
practicum in college teaching: tutoring. You may choose practicum credits or
remuneration for your second or subsequent semester of tutoring, but tutors are
not paid during their first semester, while taking WRIT 491.
Part I: New tutors attend WRIT 491 Practicum in College Teaching, a weekly 90-
minute class dedicated to the theory and practice of Writing Center pedagogies.
Activities include weekly readings, discussion of the tutoring experience, the
development of a tutoring philosophy or a weekly reflective teaching journal,
leading and participating in discussion of pedagogical texts, and Writing Center
projects as assigned. The day and time of the class meeting are determined by
the schedules of those accepted into WRIT 491 and therefore will not be set until
the
start of the semester. Note: because admission is competitive, students cannot
register themselves for WRIT 491. If you’re accepted, our secretary will enroll you.
Part II: After the first few weeks of classes, tutors complete four to eight 45-minute
tutoring shifts each week, depending on the number of registered practicum credit
hours, and work on Writing Center projects. Tutors receive their weekly tutoring
schedule after the first few weeks of classes. Tutors agree to abide by the
expectations outlined in the application and in WRIT 491. All tutors must
successfully complete designated orientation hours and training (during regular
WRIT 491 class meetings) before becoming Writing Center tutors. Please do not
apply if you are unable to commit to the full course of orientation and training.
The Application Process
Complete the Writing Center Tutor Application to become a tutor and email it to Writing Center Director Wendy Stewart with any questions. Tutor candidates will be
selected competitively according to Writing Center needs, but all applicants will
be
contacted. Thank you for your interest—Happy Writing!
