UVM Writing Centers

Become a Tutor

Should You Become a Tutor?

The Benefits of Becoming a Tutor

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"Working as a writing tutor will be one your most important and rewarding experiences at UVM. As you learn to help others succeed as writers, your own writing will improve and you'll develop a cadre of highly transferable skills -- good listening, multitasking, adapting flexibly and creatively to new situations... to name just a few. You will also receive training on topics ranging from connections between various aspects of identity and literacy practices to the different kinds of writing with which your peers across the university are engaged. These aren't just things to put at the top of your resume -- they're awesome skills to have for all parts of your life. Most importantly, you'll meet people from all kinds of majors and backgrounds (even different countries), giving you a glimpse of things happening around campus and broadening your view of the world. On any given day, there's no telling what kinds of new stuff you will learn. Tutoring in the Writing Center is a classic win-win: you get to help others and expand your own skills and knowledge at the same time." -Wes Dunn, Class of 2019

Tutors Reflect on Their Experience

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Where are They Now? Alumni Tutor Profiles

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During the 2019/2020 academic year, Tutor Genevieve Winn asked eight Undergraduate Writing Center alumni who graduated between 1988 and 2018 to share what they are doing now, how tutoring impacted their lives, and advice for current tutors.

Requirements and What to Expect

In order to be considered, students must:

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  • have at least a 3.2 grade point average
  • be recommended by a professor
  • be interested in learning about diverse ways of thinking, learning, and communicating
  • be a good writer 

Class and Time Commitments

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As part of the tutoring experience, tutors take two courses:

  • English 2790 (fall semester) has a practical focus on building each tutor’s skill and confidence as a writing tutor.  We cover a series of topics central to tutoring writing, including the role of a writing tutor, how to negotiate an agenda, ways of approaching the writing process, ways of approaching the tutoring process, strategies that help at various points in the writing process, working with neurodivergent and multilingual students, and understanding the expectations for writing across the disciplines. 
  • English 2795 (spring semester) takes a more critical and theoretical look at tutoring writing. We examine how various aspects of identity shape writers and sessions, and how various constructions of writing centers impact what we do and how we view our work as tutors. By the end of the year, you should be not only more effective but also more self-aware and reflective as a tutor, with more options and strategies to use in individual sessions.

The time involved each semester (for the class and tutoring) is about the same as for a normal three-credit course in the humanities. Class-tutors meet during the Monday and Wednesday class periods, with about 2-3 hours of homework for each class. Instead of a Friday class period and homework, class-tutors tutor for 3 hours each week (not necessarily on Fridays -- we find 3 hours that fit into each tutor's weekly schedule).

New class-tutors begin tutoring during the fourth week of the fall semester, and then continue tutoring for 3 hours each week for the remainder of the two courses (excluding holidays and breaks).

Compensation

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Tutors receive course credit for tutoring during the two courses. Tutors who successfully complete ENGS (English) 2790 and ENGS (English) 2795 are eligible to work in the Writing Center as paid student employees. Paid tutors usually continue tutoring for about 3 hours each week. They can also participate in additional roles, such as serving as a writing in the disciplines mentor attached to a class, giving class presentations about the writing center, and participating in outreach or research.

How to Apply

Recommendation

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Students need to be recommended by a professor who is familiar with their writing. The recommendation does not need to be a traditional recommendation letter; a short email is sufficient. The recommendation can be sent to writing.center@uvm.edu.

Interview

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During an interview in early March, the Writing Center Director will ask a series of questions to learn more about the student, explain what's involved in being a tutor, and answer any questions they have. They do not need to bring anything to the interview.

Application and Writing Sample

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At the end of the interview, the student will receive a tutor application form. If they're interested in applying, they can submit the application form plus a sample of their writing. Tutors are selected in early April and given a registration override for English 2790, Tutoring Writing (3 credits).

Who staffs the Writing Center?

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The Undergraduate Writing Center is staffed by ~50 peer writing tutors, usually half are enrolled in service-learning coursework and half are returning tutors. Tutors come from different majors across the disciplines, and they range from sophomores to seniors.

Who comes to the Writing Center?

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Undergraduate UVM students visit the writing center from all of the colleges and schools and across all years, from first-years to seniors. They bring writing assignments for classes across the curriculum and can bring other writing projects, like applications and resumes, or personal writing.

Need More Information?

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Contact us if you have further questions.