Mary Ann Judge understands the importance of feedback on student’s work — the core mission of the University of Idaho Writing Center.
Located on the Third Floor of the Idaho Commons, the Writing Center houses more than 20 tutors who can help students with projects or essays.
“Writing is difficult, and it helps to have someone support you as you plan your project and get feedback on your writing,” said Judge, director of the Writing Center.
Judge has been involved with the organization since 1992 and has seen many changes over the years.
Included in these recent changes are the addition of a graduate writing consultant and an associate director.
Mary Ann Judge | Courtesy
Graduate writing consultant, Stacey Miller, helps only graduate students with whatever they need. In any given week, she works with five to 10 students — many of which she sees multiple times a semester to work on their theses and dissertations.
“One of the things I love about the Writing Center and this position is that we often feel like a space of support for students who don’t know where else to find it,” Miller said.
Despite these changes, the goal of the Writing Center has not changed — they will always help students no matter what, Judge said.
“The people here really want to help students,” Judge said. “Everyone who works here is committed to helping students. The feedback we get in the online surveys often mentions tutors’ patience, kindness, willingness to listen and to talk, however necessary.”
Those qualities in tutors are what students benefit the most from during their appointments at the Writing Center. These meetings are usually 30 minutes, but hour appointments are possible. For students who can’t make it into the Writing Center, they can schedule an online meeting with an editor.
“It’s important to help students who may be studying from a distance or can’t make it in to the Writing Center to use our services,” said Jamaica Ritcher, associate director of the Writing Center.
Ritcher said each tutoring experience is catered to the student’s individual needs and concerns about their writing.
“It’s very individualized, the concerns or questions that you have about your writing could be completely different from another student,” Ritcher said.
“The really special thing about the Writing Center is that tutors will work with anyone that comes in and will talk about anything they’re concerned about.”
Jamaica Ritcher | Courtesy
Chris Bishop has worked with the Writing Center for two years. He began as an intern, taking the internship in tutoring writing class, staying on once the course finished.
“In general, my experience here has been positive,” Bishop said. “We’re supposed to be a guiding person in writing skills and to be that observer, and tutor(ing) is a good way for me to look back at my own writing and understand that I should implement what I’m teaching in my own work.”
Like Bishop, Colin Tate said he believes in what the Writing Center does.
“It’s a really good feeling to help someone and seeing that moment when it clicks is a really good moment,” said Tate, also a tutor.
With the school year winding down, the Writing Center will close soon. The last day to make appointments is May 3.
Since this is their busiest time of year, it’s important to make an appointment. Drop-ins are not typical, but tutors will help students when they’re not busy. If they can’t get to students that day, they recommend making an appointment.
No matter the problem or what the stage the project is in, the Writing Center is there to help students.
The main center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, while the satellite location is available on the UI Library’s Second Floor 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
“We don’t want students to feel any obstacles to them coming in to ask any questions — they can just come by,” Ritcher said.
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected]