Writing Center - Writing Consultant

Job Title: Writing Consultant

Department: Writing Center

Supervisor: Dr. Justin Cook

Starting Rate of Pay: $10/ hr.

Length of Time: Eligible for rehire on a semester basis

Department Description

Writing Center consultants are kind, careful, and responsive readers for all High Point University writers (student, faculty, or staff) at any stage of the writing process. We help with everything from assignment comprehension to drafting to revising. However, we do not write or edit papers for clients. Instead, we work alongside them to develop strategies for improving their writing regarding their respective assignments, expectations, and writing needs/ styles. We see writing as both an individual process of learning and a life skill in need of cultivating and refining. We are trained student mentors who lead campus workshops and participate in professional conversations about writing all the while promoting critical thinking, self-sufficiency, and problem-solving in writing.

The Writing Center has locations all over campus:

• Qubein School of Communication (2nd floor tables)
• Smith Library, first floor (basement)
• R.G. Wanek Center Learning Commons (third floor, glass room)
• Cottrell (second floor, above Starbucks)
• Virtual (synchronous)

Writing Center consultants will learn basic skills for successful writing assistance as well as grammar skills that can turn into one-hour workshops to be presented around campus. The Writing Center views this opportunity as experiential learning for consultants who wish to go into education, professional wring consulting, or editing/publishing.

Job Description

Writing center consultants work one-on-one with writers for 30-60 minutes at a time to help them improve their writing. Students hired as consultants are trained to work with both native and non-native speakers of English as well as with students with learning disabilities.

Job Location/ Hours Required

The candidate will perform most/all job duties in one of a variety of locations on campus. Hours may vary depending on the job requirements; however, the total number of hours a student employee may work per week is 20 hours. This position requires at least 5 but no more than 20 hours per week. Please also note that students who wish to be a Resident Assistant (RA) cannot hold additional jobs beyond that.

Responsibilities:

Consultants may be asked to do any of the following:

• Provide writing assistance for writers at any level of study.
• During the summer, optionally provide writing assistance in an online, synchronous, video-chat format, as funding allows.
• Attend and participate in professional development as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

Students must have successfully completed, be in the process of completing, or be scheduled to complete ENG 3100: Writing Center Theory to be eligible to be a writing consultant. Optionally, consultants may also take ENG 3114 or 4114 when it is offered as “Business of Editing” or ENG 4135: The Business of Editing as a replacement for ENG 3100 and to replace the training requirement.

Desired Skills:

• Must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA
• Strong writing and grammar skills
• Strong interpersonal skills