Student Work and the Writing Center

Lisa Schultz of the Notre Dame Observer writes of the efficacy of student work on campus and how students snap up any open position: "'As soon as we post a new position [on the board], it's gone,' [Joyce Yates, the assistant student employment coordinator for the Office of Student Employment] said" (link 2). Rather than attributing the rush for jobs to endemic student poverty, Schultz sides with the optomists and ascribes it to students' desire for work:
Students at Notre Dame are known for their hard work and dedication in the classroom. However, the University also recognizes them as hard workers outside of class - in on-campus jobs ranging from secretary to sandwich artist. (1)

Writing Center tutor Curtis Leighton states that
"I have one of the best jobs on campus.... Flexible hours, human interaction and good pay' are all positives for working at the Writing Center..." (17).
As a person who worked in a writing center as a student, and as a Writing Center Director I would tend to agree with Leighton. While working in the Writing Center as a student I found myself actively engaged in the job not only as a tutor, but as a learner. I come to look on those days as a crucial time in my life when I decided really what I wanted to do. I kept that writing center job as long as I could (and you might say since I have always directed a writing center that I never really left it.) As a director I have seen student peer tutors/consultants do the same thing. Writing center work seems to keep people around. I think the shortest period that someone worked for a writing center I have been involved with was 2 weeks and that was simply because the person had to move out of state. Most of the folks stick around for at least two years (I am at a community college) if not for three or four.

Comments

  1. I am a Peer Counselor at OCTech in South Carolina. I just began working in our Writing and Professional Skills Studio, and hope to keep working here for the remainder of my time on this campus (another three years). While I am an Allied Health student, I have always loved English, and reading (when I have the time) is one of my favorite past times. I am enjoying sharing my limited knowledge with my fellow students and am learning much through my position. My director (Tamara Miles) asked me to create a blog to let the list know what was going on in my corner of the studio, and I have just finished the first draft. It can be accessed at www.aconspiracyofcartographers.blogger.com. Any comments or concerns would be greatly appreciated. Advice, too!

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  2. Hi Susan,

    I can't get your blog to load from that URL.

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  3. So sorry, dude! Very new to this blogging thing! The correct URL, which I think you found because you left me a comment, is http://aconspiracyofcartographers.blogspot.com/. I posted a comment in response to your comment on my blog, but as I said, this is all new to me and I cannot seem to figure out how to write you directly! I am very interested in guest blogging, but would like to wait until the end of the semester when I have more time to dedicate. I also inquired about the possibility of creating my own template for my blog. Is that even possible, or am I asking for way too much (not that unusual!)? Thanks for the welcome! It was nice to find a comment on my blog! Have an excellent time breathing!

    Susan

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  11. Anonymous7:30 PM

    The Writing Centre implements a unique policy in which students not only get trained but also get recruitment for various on-campus jobs by its student employment office. It provides them with the experience required to shoulder bigger job responsibilities later with dedication and hard work.

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  12. Anonymous7:44 PM

    Many of the Writing Center’s ex students usually talk of their glorious past in this institute and owe the credit of their established career to its organized on-campus working experience.

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  13. Anonymous10:37 PM

    There are very few institutions like Notre Dame that promote student training and on-campus student recruitment simultaneously in an efficient manner.

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