All consultants engage in regular academic and professional development, including weekly team meetings; praxis discussions and piloted projects; disciplinary
and campus collaborations; conference proposals and presentations. Consultants represent a diverse spectrum of academic areas of study, including art, biochemistry, business, Catholic studies, communications, data science, mathematics, education, English, history, music, philosophy, political science, Spanish, and more.
Testimonials from Writing Center Alums
"Aquinas's Writing Center taught me more than anything else how to genuinely care
for people. The theory behind teaching writing is great. but actually getting into
the nitty-gritty of how to make writing do what you want it to do was what I practiced
most during my writing center experience."
Sarah Hamilton - WC Alum, '17
"In my personal life, I write ALL the time. Everytime I do, the Writing Center lessons
help shape my work as they have helped develop my voice."
Cayleigh Bucyk - WC Alum, '17
"I have become a social, process-based writer instead of someone who wrote one draft
and had a proofreader."
Regan Levitte - WC Alum, '15
"The skills I learned at AQWC helped me tremendously with graduate level paper requirements."
Zander Atwood - WC Alum, '14
"A lot of the skills I learned as a Writing Center consultant translate well to working
with patrons or other community members. Knowing how to have conversations that give
you a fuller understanding of the person's needs is a key skill in both. Empathetic
listening, knowing the limits of your skills and knowledge, and sensing when someone
has received all the information they can really act on at one time are also directly
relevant."
Jarrod Irwin - WC Alum, '13
"Working in the Writing Center helped me become a more confident student, a better
writer, and gave me skills that have helped me land literally every job I've had since.
It taught me the value in constructive feedback and creating a community where we
are all open to learning from one another. Working in the Writing Center was one of
the things I loved most in college, and I am thankful every day that I had the opportunity
to be a part of it."
Amanda Avella - WC Alum, '17
"As a Writing Center consultant, I learned a lot about asking questions based on the
person. For example, some people have great ideas they can verbalize, but they cannot
quite get down in a research paper. By having them just "talk it out" and asking them
questions based on the context of the paper, they unblock their brain and realize
how different people comunicate is crucial."
Alexis Worthington - WC Alum, '14
"I learned how to interact and effectively work with a wide variety of people across
disciplines. My time in the Writing Center helped me dialogue better so I can get
to know people and help them on a deeper level."
Tom Doetsch - WC Alum, '18
"Aquinas's Writing Center taught me more than anything else how to genuinely care
for people. The theory behind teaching writing is great. but actually getting into
the nitty-gritty of how to make writing do what you want it to do was what I practiced
most during my writing center experience."
Sarah Hamilton - WC Alum, '17
"In my personal life, I write ALL the time. Everytime I do, the Writing Center lessons
help shape my work as they have helped develop my voice."
Cayleigh Bucyk - WC Alum, '17
"I have become a social, process-based writer instead of someone who wrote one draft
and had a proofreader."
Regan Levitte - WC Alum, '15
"The skills I learned at AQWC helped me tremendously with graduate level paper requirements."
Zander Atwood - WC Alum, '14
"A lot of the skills I learned as a Writing Center consultant translate well to working
with patrons or other community members. Knowing how to have conversations that give
you a fuller understanding of the person's needs is a key skill in both. Empathetic
listening, knowing the limits of your skills and knowledge, and sensing when someone
has received all the information they can really act on at one time are also directly
relevant."
Jarrod Irwin - WC Alum, '13
"Working in the Writing Center helped me become a more confident student, a better
writer, and gave me skills that have helped me land literally every job I've had since.
It taught me the value in constructive feedback and creating a community where we
are all open to learning from one another. Working in the Writing Center was one of
the things I loved most in college, and I am thankful every day that I had the opportunity
to be a part of it."
Amanda Avella - WC Alum, '17
"As a Writing Center consultant, I learned a lot about asking questions based on the
person. For example, some people have great ideas they can verbalize, but they cannot
quite get down in a research paper. By having them just "talk it out" and asking them
questions based on the context of the paper, they unblock their brain and realize
how different people comunicate is crucial."
Alexis Worthington - WC Alum, '14
"I learned how to interact and effectively work with a wide variety of people across
disciplines. My time in the Writing Center helped me dialogue better so I can get
to know people and help them on a deeper level."
Tom Doetsch - WC Alum, '18
"Aquinas's Writing Center taught me more than anything else how to genuinely care
for people. The theory behind teaching writing is great. but actually getting into
the nitty-gritty of how to make writing do what you want it to do was what I practiced
most during my writing center experience."
Sarah Hamilton - WC Alum, '17
How to Become a Consultant
Aquinas College Writing Center consultants enroll in ENGL203: Writing Center Theory;
Practice. Offered every fall semester, this course will utilize writing theory and
technique to train students to be consultants for the Aquinas College Writing Center.
Specifically, the course will equip students to assist Writing Center visitors with
key elements of the writing process, including but not limited to: idea generation, thesis development/topic focus, organization, revision, editing, grammar correction (usage and punctuation), discipline-specific documentation, and formatting.
The Writing Center encourages students from all disciplines to apply for ENGL203! Students who successfully complete ENGL203 have the option to apply
for a position on our consulting team. In the first full semester of employment, students have the option to enroll in ENGL397.
Space in ENGL203 is limited and students must apply to be part of the course.
Current Saints!
ENGL203 Prerequisites & Expectations
1. CURRENTLY ENROLLED student at Aquinas College. (If you are a new or transfer student, look under the "Future Saints" tab).
2. Reference from an Aquinas College faculty member.
3. An overall cumulative 3.0 GPA.
4. Evidence of strong reading, writing, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.
5. A background check including, but not limited to, academic integrity.
6. A commitment to attending class regularly and contacting the instructor when absent.
7. A desire to become familiar with the mission, philosophy, and consulting guidelines
of the AQ Writing Center.
8. Please NOTE: the experiential learning component of ENGL203 includes a limited number of hours in the AQ Writing Center.
