Becoming a Writing Center Tutor
The secret is out. Not only have students realized what a wonderful service the Writing Center tutors offer, they have also discovered that being a Writing Center tutor is the best job on campus.
Tutors gain valuable training and experience helping others with their writing and improve their own writing and communication skills along the way. The teaching and interpersonal skills tutors acquire are also highly valued by future employers and graduate schools.
In order to apply to become a Writing Center tutor, you must first be nominated by a professor who can attest to your writing and interpersonal skills. Once we receive a professor's nomination letter, we will keep your name on file and contact you during our next hiring session. We typically offer two information sessions in the middle of the spring semester and set an application deadline for shortly thereafter. We do not normally hire tutors to begin working during the spring semester.
Writing Center Tutor Application Process
Students nominated by a professor will receive an email detailing the next steps in the hiring process. Attached will be an information form that must be submitted with your other application materials. All nominated students will submit:
- The information form, providing basic data about your academic and extracurricular interests and commitments
- A brief (one page) letter of application explaining your qualifications for and interest in serving as a Writing Center tutor
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A prose writing sample that will give us an idea of your academic writing ability. The best samples are generally ones that present an argument of some kind rather than a summary. The sample should be 2–5 pages in length. You can send the introduction of a course paper, for example, instead of the entire paper.
From the applications we receive, we will only be able to select a small pool of applicants to interview with a panel of Writing Center tutors and administrators. Face-to-face interviews are an essential part of our process. If you are studying abroad, you should make arrangments to have an interview before you leave, when you return for a break, or by videoconference.
Based on nominations, application packages, and interviews, we will make offers at the end of the spring semester for students to join the staff the following fall.
Timeline for Spring 2012 Application Process
- March 5: Tutor nominations due from faculty
- March 27, 6:30–7:00 p.m., in the Writing Center: Writing Center information session
- March 28, 6:30–7:00 p.m., in the Writing Center: Writing Center information session
- April 10: Applications due
- April 26–May 2: Interviews
- May 4: Hiring offers made
Students who accept the position should be prepared to:
- Participate in a three-credit course in tutor training, Writing Center Theory and Practice, which requires research and writing on tutoring and composition. (This course is on an irregular schedule of nights and some days during the fall semester. If you are studying abroad in the fall, you will have to wait to apply at a time when you can take the fall course. We will accept students who take the course in the fall but are studying abroad that spring.)
- Participate in ongoing, full-staff training, typically four meetings per semester.
- Work roughly 4–10 hours per week in 1–3 hour blocks.
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Demonstrate engagement and growth in the position in order to maintain employment.
Please send application materials to Dr. Matthew Capdevielle (mcapdev1@nd.edu or 205 Coleman-Morse) by the spring deadline.
