Join the Writing Center Team!
Thank you for your interest in joining the Writing Center team!
"Writing centers are often a college's best-kept secret. Those who attend regularly benefit through better grades, higher self-confidence, lower drop-out rates, and deeper community embeddedness" (Giaimo, 2024). We'd also like to say those who work here are the best writers, communicators, and employees we produce at the university through rigorous training and meaningful work. The peer writing consultants at the Writing Center, including undergraduate and graduate consultants, provide an important resource for the university and local community. In the simplest terms, we aid writers in all stages of the writing process, from drafting to revising to adding finishing touches and citing sources. Our goal is to develop stronger writers and create an active culture of writing on campus. In addition to serving the campus, working at the Writing Center is a great opportunity for social interaction and professional development.
Workplace Expectations:
The Writing Center is open and collaborative space with friendly and knowledgable employees. Writing center consultants must first be writers themselves: students who understand writing to learn, writing to discover, and writing to share idears are their fundamental educational experiences; they share a concern for writing as the process of thinking; they must be listeners who care about the clients’ and their writing experiences. The consultants understand the modern meaning of writing practices and mulitliteracies; they must be immersed in the writing process as theory and practicum; they should know strategies to help at every stage of the writing process; and they should continue to write and engage in various literacy practices while they work in the Writing Center.
A writing consultant can expect to do in-person or online consultations, work on writing-related projects and presentations, contribute to social and outreach events, and generate a strong culture of writing on campus.
Job Description
- The Peer Writing Consultant supports the Writing Center’s mission and assists in creating an active culture of writing and literacy in the CLU communities.
- Provide one-to-one writing consultations and reader’s feedback
- Facilitate writing workshops and class visits
- Engage in regular, ongoing staff training
- Engage/Assist in approved, supervised projects and research
- Present research outcomes at the SoCal WCA Tutor Conference and at the Festival of Scholars
Are you interested in becoming a consultant? We accept applications on a rolling basis, but most openings are available in spring semester. Please see below the application requirements.
Reviwng of applications for 24-25 AY starts on April 5; selected applicants start training on April 15.
Contact the director, Dr. Scott Chiu, at scottchiu@CalLutheran.edu if there are any questions.
How to Apply:
For new undergraduate writing consultants:
- All undergraduate consultants must be completing ENGL-111 by the time of hiring.
- Applicants must submit a résumé and a cover letter to Dr. Scott Chiu at scottchiu@CalLutheran.edu.
- The cover letter must include 1) your statement of intent and 2) your understanding of and approach to peer writing support.
- A list of two professional references with names and email addresses, preferably CLU faculty. One of the references must be their ENGL110/111 (or HIS/HNR) instructor. The Writing Center will directly solicit letters from the individuals listed by applicants.
- A writing sample of at least 5 pages.
- Preferred cumulative GPA: 3.0 and above.
- New hires must be available to participate in weekly staff meeting and training on Tuesdays 11:25am -12:15pm. (New hires are encouraged to enroll an internship credit in spring semester if possible.)
Requirements for all graduate applicants:
- Applicants must be enrolled as a CLU graduate student.
- Applicants must have experience with and sensitivity to diverse cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, ability, and academic backgrounds
- Applicants must be able to work independently as well as thrive in an environment instilled in teamwork, positivity, and ongoing development.
- Applicants must have enthusiasm for writing and peer collaboration and familiarity with the APA documentation style.
- Applicants must submit a résumé and a cover letter. (to Dr. Scott Chiu at scottchiu@CalLutheran.edu.)
- A list of two professional references with names and email addresses, preferrably CLU faculty. The Writing Center will directly solicit letters from the individuals listed by applicants.
For returning consultants:
- Returning consultants will be on project-based appointments.
- Returning consultants must re-apply to the positions with a résumé and a cover letter.
- Returning consultants' applications must also include a 250-word project proposal.
The proposed project should fall under the following areas:
- Writing Center services areas (e.g., campus engagement, programs/student outreach)
- Writing Center marketing publication (e.g., newsletter, podcast, blog)
- Graduate Writing support (e.g., writing group, graduate writing community)
- Community literacy project (e.g., memoir writing, literacy camp, language education)
- Others upon approval