RE: Writing Center Research

[Jeri Gillin <jgg@alpha.rwu.edu>]

Hello Everyone!

I have a bit of a favor to ask.  In hope of expanding our 
writing center, I am
participating in a research project which will compare Texas 
Woman's
University's Writing Lab to the writing centers of other 
campuses.  In hopes of
gathering cutting-edge data from the writing center pros, I 
have attached an
interview, which I hope you will take the time to complete and 
return to me. 
If you are interested in the outcome of collected data, let me 
know, and I'll
share.

Thanks,
Camille Langston
TWU Writing Lab Coordinating Assistant
g_langston@venus.twu.edu
________________________________________________________________
_______________

Name of university:	Roger Williams University
Approximate # of university students:2200	

Name of writing center: "The Writing Center"

Name and title of writing center director: Dr. Jeri Gillin, 
Director

How is your writing center funded? The Writing Center is the 
baby of the Academic Resources Center.  We've been operating on 
a shoestring-- allocating part of the overall funds from the 
Academic Resources Center; not the best situation!  I am 
officially the Director of the ARC, and since we have SUCH a 
need for writing assistance, and since my background is in 
literacy, I started the Writing Center about a year ago.  If 
possible, I use workstudy students as peer tutors, but there 
aren't many who are qualified.  So, generally, I tap our peer 
tutoring budget...I have a meeting this week to try to get 
additional funding.

Who staffs your writing center?  How many staff people?  We 
have 20 hours of faculty tutoring available and about 60 hours 
of peer tutoring.

Do you have a workshop/seminar/class to train your tutors?  
What does it
involve?  We teach our tutors about writing process and also 
about responding to student writing.  We also try to anticipate 
"bad" situations ( cryers, arguers, tutor abusers, etc.) and 
role play how to handle such problems.

Is your writing center operated through the English dept.?  We 
work closely with the English Dept.  For example, all of our 
faculty tutors are also adjuncts teaching in the Verbal Skills 
(our composition program) Dept.  The coordinator of the verbal 
skills program takes part in the tutor training with me.

What are your writing center operating hours? 8AM - 9PM, Monday 
through Thursday, 8AM to 12PM on Fridays.  We're hoping that by 
next year we will be able to have the WC staffed on weekends as 
well.

How many students use your writing center per semester? 206 
last semester.

Do you use computer-assisted instruction in your writing 
center?  How?I wish!!  Unfortunately, we don't have computers 
in the WC.  The computer lab for the University, however, is 
located directly upstairs from us.

How many computers are in your writing center?  What types of 
hardware and 
software do you use?

Do you have a grammar hotline? No

Do you have an OWL or any other electronic services? No

What major changes have occurred in your writing center during 
the past 5
years?  We're slowly but surely infiltrating the campus!!!!

Have I forgotten anything?  How about salaries?  Our peer 
tutors receive $5 per hour whether or not anyone shows up.  My 
salary?  Laugh, Laugh.  

If you have any brochures or other information pertaining to 
your writing
center (policies, etc.), I would love to see them.  You can 
snail mail them to: 
Camille Langston, Texas Woman's University, Dept. Freshman 
English, PO Box
23972, Denton, TX 76204-1972


Thanks for your help!




-------------------------------------
Name: Jeri Gillin, Ed.D.
      Director, Academic Resources Center
      Roger Williams University
      Bristol, RI 02809
      (401) 254-3219
E-mail: Jeri Gillin <jgg@alpha.rwu.edu>
Date: 02/05/96
Time: 10:31:45

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