Mission
Frequently Asked Questions
Personnel
Mission
Since its establishment in 1971 by Prof. Lorrie J. Bright, known then as the Composition Clinic, the IUP Writing Center has had a mission to help students succeed with writing assignments in their classes at IUP. To accomplish this, trained Writing Center tutors offer one-on-one tutoring and group workshops.
Because the Writing Center is based on a peer tutoring model of instruction, it is unable to remediate serious writing problems which need to be addressed by a composition specialist in a semester-long course. Rather, the trained tutors in the Writing Center are best able to help students who already possess the skills they need to earn passing grades.
Writing Center tutors also cannot undertake extended or multiple tutoring sessions on long papers, theses, or dissertations. In these cases, students may need to seek help elsewhere or consult with their advisors. Graduate students should work with graduate tutors. Students who have special instructional needs should convey their needs to their tutor. Tutors are not trained to work with students who have special needs.
The Writing Center director works with faculty members to ensure that the center supports and complements the curriculum. The director is also responsible for keeping the center technologically current and involved in research and professional organizations related to Writing Center work at the regional and national levels.
Other goals of the Writing Center include: (1) Developing the center’s website resources to help writers working online; (2) Helping students and faculty to use the center for research in composition; (3) Helping undergraduate and graduate tutors to develop professionally; (4) Providing help to students with various computer-based functions such as research on the Web, composing résumés and cover letters, and desktop publishing.
Assessing Goals
To achieve the primary goal of helping students with their writing, the Writing Center director hires, trains, and supervises undergraduate and graduate students to be tutors and workshop leaders. To assess this goal, the director collects feedback directly from all students who visit the center, from their instructors, and from the tutors.
The Writing Center is supported by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and is open to all university students. It is directed by a faculty member in the English Department.
Dr. Ben Rafoth, Director
Frequently Asked Questions
The IUP Writing Center provides one-on-one tutoring and word processing at no charge. The Writing Center is open to all students, faculty, and staff for assistance with writing. It is a quiet, comfortable place for writers to work.
What kind of help can I get?
A trained undergraduate or graduate student tutor will work with you on a one-to-one basis at any point in your writing assignment—finding ideas, drafting, revising, or documenting sources.
Can I use a computer at the Writing Center?
Yes. And if you need help getting started, a tutor will assist you. We have IBM-compatible computers which run MS Word and the full MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Internet Explorer). You may also print out your papers at the center using your I-Card for four cents per page. We also have a small library of reference books, including current editions of the MLA Handbook, APA Manual, dictionaries, grammar books, and thesaurus.
Will a tutor correct my paper for me?
No, but a tutor will help you to correct or proofread your paper. We think it’s important to first get the ideas and organization the way you want them and to leave the proofreading and correcting for another session. But your tutor will try to help you in whatever way you most need it. And while a lot of progress can be made in thirty to forty minutes, you should not expect to leave here with a perfect paper. Instead, you should expect to leave with some good ideas for revision.
What should I bring?
It’s a good idea to bring a copy of the assignment or course syllabus, as well as any notes, outlines, or rough drafts you may have.
Do I need an appointment?
While we recommend making an appointment to meet with a tutor, we do not require it. Just walk in, and if there’s a waiting list, put your name on it. If you have to wait, you can work on a computer in the meantime.
I’d like my instructor to know that I came to the center for help. Will you let him or her know?
At your request, the tutor will send your instructor a form stating when you visited and what you worked on. That way, your instructor will know that you are making an effort to improve your writing by visiting the Writing Center.
When is the center open?
Hours during the semester are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To inquire about accessibility for the handicapped, please call us at 724-357-3029.
Personnel
Directors
Dr. Ben Rafoth, Director, brafoth@iup.edu
Lindsay Sabatino, Assistant Director, l.sabatino@iup.edu
Tutors
Jocelyn, Undergraduate, Spanish
Meredith, Undergraduate, Asian Studies and History
Wan-Li, Graduate, Literature, Ph.D.
Aaron, Undergraduate, English
Stephen, Undergraduate, Biochemistry
Eliszabeth, Undergraduate, English
Melissa, Undergraduate, English
Valerie, Undergraduate, English
Megan, Undergraduate, English Education
Sara, Undergraduate, English
Richard, Undergraduate, Social Studies and History
Amerila, Undergraduate, Mathematics
Richard, Graduate, Studio Art, M.A.
Volunteers
Brian, Graduate, Composition and TESOL, Ph.D.
Tom, Graduate, Composition and TESOL, Ph.D.
Kelli, Faculty Member
