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Faculty Frequently Asked Questions

How can I help the Writing Center assist my student better?

  • Promote reasonable expectations about the service provided by the University Writing Center. Consultants do not edit papers; they teach proof-reading strategies and help students understand and revise the grammatical errors they make the most. Please do not expect students to turn in error-free papers because they spent fifty minutes with a consultant. Students who use our services on a regular basis almost always show noticeable improvement over time.
  • Send copies, via campus mail, of material relating to writing assignments: the assignment, any criteria sheets or grading checklists, handouts on style and format (including the style sheet required for documentation), and so on. You can also send these materials or links to them (if materials are on the web) by e-mail to the director at np-baird@wiu.edu. We will keep these on file to help your students.
  • Attend a staff meeting to present your assignments, what you value in writing, and the specific concerns you have about a particular assignment. If we know what you value in writing and your concerns about an assignment, we can more effectively honor them.
  • Comment on students' drafts and provide specific areas on which students should work. Consultants can best help students understand how to achieve the results you are looking for when they have this information from you.
  • Contact the Writing Center via phone at 309-298-2138 or email mwcenter@wiu.edu to set up a class or a visit to the Writing Center.

How can I get my students to go to the Writing Center?

  • Include information about the University Writing Center on your syllabus, and mention it in class several times before papers are due.
  • Call us at 309-298-2815 to schedule a time to meet your class in the Malpass writing center for a short presentation. Students who have actually been to the facility are more likely to use the service.
  • Invite a representative of the University Writing Center to visit your class for a brief (five to ten minute) presentation.
  • Ask for promotional bookmarks to distribute to your class. These bookmarks contain information about our locations, hours of operation, and how to contact us.
  • Ask students who have used the University Writing Center if they would tell other class members about their experience.
  • Encourage individual students who you think would benefit from talking about their writing to contact us for an appointment.