I’ve worked as a Writing Center Graduate Assistant (GA) for the past two years. My roles include being a tutor, a Writing Fellow, a mentor, and the Student Leader for the Workshops Team. I’ve had some amazing opportunities at the Writing Center, so I decided to make this resource for future GAs to learn what to expect from working here.
While all GAs are writing tutors, they also have the option to take on additional leadership roles and projects. GAs can work as Student Leaders, Writing Fellows, mentors, receptionists, and more. I interviewed four current GAs about why they decided to work at the Writing Center, and what they enjoy about their work. Read on to learn about their experiences and their advice for future GAs:
What does your GA role look like? What projects do you work on?
Tyler P: I am the Outreach Events and Marketing Student Leader, so my main tasks are leading the Outreach team, planning events, and completing a marketing report to help the Writing Center define a marketing strategy. Every quarter, I plan open houses and at least one other event–this usually includes determining day/time/location, ordering goodies from Amazon, and event promotion (flyers, social media, tabling, etc.). There are also several recurring leadership tasks such as determining our sub-teams, having check-in meetings with team members, making meeting agendas, and co-leading the outreach team meeting.
Shane Z: I work 20 hrs per week at the Writing Center, including 5-10 hours as the Mentoring Student Leader for the Workshops team.
Leo S: My GA role is split into 10 hours for the WRD (Writing, Rhetoric & Discourse) department and 10 hours for the Writing Center. In the Writing Center, I work as the Logistics Student Leader on the Workshops team, where I am responsible for scheduling members’ work time and booking rooms. I also collaborate with other tutors on a Professional Development Workshop (PDW), where I create materials and facilitate a Writing-Center-wide training for other tutors.
Grace T: I am the Student Leader for DePaul’s Writing Center blog, UCWbLing, and I’m the editor for our online literary magazine The Orange Couch. For UCWbLing, I solicit blog posts from tutors (such as this one!), help with any issues they’re having (writing or technical) then edit and prepare to publish on our blog. For The Orange Couch, I put together a team of readers and promote the call for submissions so we can publish creative work by the end of spring quarter!
What made you want to work at the Writing Center?
Leo S: As someone still figuring out what I want to do with my degree, the option to work in both the WRD department and Writing Center was appealing to me, as it offers differing experience and helps me build my skills in a variety of areas. I wanted to work in the Writing Center specifically because of my experience working there while I got my undergrad degree here at DePaul; I knew I liked the people, the atmosphere, and the work.
Grace T: I was happy to be working in the Writing Center because I was a writing tutor at my undergrad college. I figured it would be a great way to improve my tutoring skills, but in a new environment.
What do you enjoy about working at the Writing Center?
Tyler P: The variety of tasks I get to do and the people I work with! The administration is very supportive of tutors having professional development opportunities, so I feel like my time at the Writing Center has been just as beneficial as my coursework for my master’s program in Literature & Publishing. My outreach work has also given me opportunities to be more involved on campus, attend various events, and meet several new people–all things I would have missed out on if I was solely a graduate student who only came to campus in the evenings for class.
Grace T: Our writing center is very good at dedicating time to professional development, training, and linguistic justice & diversity. Because of our writing center’s commitment to helping tutors grow and improve, I really feel like I’ve become a smarter and kinder tutor.
Shane Z: The tutoring structure, the theories that support our approach (e.g. process vs. product; scaffolding; linguistic justice), and the other tutors! It’s a fun place to work. The atmosphere is both genuinely friendly and professional. I feel fortunate to have landed here without knowing that it’s be so cool.
What have you accomplished at the Writing Center?
Shane Z: I’ve become good at quickly assessing a written piece, the writer’s needs, and addressing them.
Leo S: I facilitated a Professional Development Workshop for the Writing Center staff on the power laden in style guides. It has been a lot of hard work, but I used my knowledge and subject expertise to teach other people something I’m passionate about.
Tyler P: I’ve been a part of multiple first-time events that are now recurring so that’s exciting! I’m also really excited to finish my marketing report–this report should help to define a marketing strategy and better streamline a lot of outreach promotional tasks for the future.
What advice do you have for future Writing Center GAs?
Grace T: Get to know your fellow GAs! It gives you more of a community! Sometimes grad students can be a little separate from the rest of the school, but having fellow writing tutor GAs made me feel welcomed and involved.
Tyler P: Definitely apply for a student leader position! Being a student leader is optional, but my Outreach position has been the most valuable aspect of my work here.
Shane Z: Take the Writing Center Theory & Pedagogy class seriously; it’s a great primer. Talk to other tutors and get advice from them.
Leo S: I think anybody can succeed here, regardless of their experience. The course you take the first quarter of working in the Writing Center, the scaffolded learning experiences, and the mentorship program sets each employee up to do their best.
Finally, how has the Writing Center prepared you for your future plans?
Grace T: Learning WordPress! It’s a great “hard skill” to put on my resume and I’ve definitely talked about it in job interviews. Also, being a receptionist and communicating with faculty, staff, and students are skills I can take with me to future jobs.
Tyler P: I’ve gained leadership, communication, collaboration, and event planning skills among many others. I’ve gotten to explore an interest of mine–marketing–which I otherwise had no experience in. Also, the various workshops and trainings we have had have taught me a lot as well. And I’ve gained an excellent network of colleagues and mentors who are happy to support me in my future career.
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As a Writing Center GA, you’ll join a supportive community of tutors and administrators who want to help you succeed during and after your time at DePaul!