Adapting To Our New Reality

Hey there, Writing Center family! I’m Annie Marks, your new blog editor, and I’m so excited to write for you this year! During my time as editor, I’ll be providing you with information about the Writing Center under the section “Fast Facts About The Writing Center” and writing tips and resources under the section “Quick Tips From The Writing Center.”

To begin our “Fast Facts About The Writing Center” series, I’ll explain the Writing Center’s operating plan for the Fall semester! All of us at the Writing Center are so excited to welcome you back, which I’m sure you can tell from our big smiles in our staff group photo. Although this semester is certainly different from previous semesters, we are still here to help you.

The Writing Center directors worked with health experts on campus throughout the summer to ensure the center can operate this fall. They created a safe, effective plan for us moving forward. We believe this plan keeps the Writing Center community safe while also allowing us to interact as we typically do.

Our plan is to continue offering two types of online tutoring sessions as well as face-to-face tutoring sessions with some modifications. For online sessions, you can schedule an online chat appointment where you will meet with tutors in a virtual setting. You can also schedule an online correspondence appointment where you will upload your written paper and receive written feedback from tutors within 24 business hours.

For face-to-face tutoring sessions, you can work with a tutor in the Writing Center. We have implemented the following safety measures for these sessions to keep us all safe:

• We are requiring everyone, including writers, tutors, and receptionists, to wear face coverings at all times in the Writing Center, unless eating or drinking.

• We have placed protective plexiglass shields between writers, tutors, and receptionists and implemented strict disinfection procedures.

• We are encouraging writers to bring two copies of their essays, or share essays virtually through email or google docs.

• We have limited the capacity of the Writing Center to 11 people, but we are still welcoming and encouraging walk-in appointments.

The Writing Center has new hours that will accommodate both the online and face-to-face sessions. We will offer face-to-face and online sessions on Mondays - Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We will also offer online sessions on Mondays - Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. If necessary, we can switch our sessions and hours to fully online.

To schedule a face-to-face or online session appointment, you can visit the Writing Center website, call (601) 925-3268, or ask our receptionist in-person. You can also check out our “Welcome Back to the Writing Center” YouTube video if you want to know more about our changes (I inserted a preview of the video below)!

I know the Writing Center feels a little different this fall, but our purpose is still the same. As you can tell from our mission statement displayed beneath this paragraph, we are committed to helping you grow as a writer and succeed academically. We will continue to help you by welcoming you in, developing your writing skills, cultivating ideas with you, and building your confidence as a writer. Things may be different, but we are still here for you no matter what the semester brings!