The writing center is open for all UW-Stout Students. Stout’s writing center was established in 2006 and supports students to write better academic materials such as papers, reports, resumes, and personal statements. People looking for help with speech and communication are also welcome to drop by! All programs address students’ individual concerns or needs, so each program has opportunities to meet with personalized consultants. Anyone can participate for free, no matter the proficiency in writing or English.
There are various programs to participate in at UW-Stout’s writing center. First is the In-Person consultations program, where students are able to meet with a peer writing consultant in Harvey Hall, room 174. In this program, students can ask questions, share information, and receive one-on-one feedback. Consultants are happy to help with any assignment. All you need to do is set up an appointment time!
The second type of the program is E-Tutoring consultations. An E-Tutoring appointment is a virtual meeting with a peer writing consultant using Microsoft Teams.
Lastly, students are able to send in an email consultation, which is an asynchronous review from a peer writing consultant. It will address specific writing concerns submitted by students, providing comments and some feedback in the consultant’s reply. Emails should be answered within 48 hours during the business week. This will be useful for students who live off-campus, take online courses, or simply do not wish to meet face-to-face. For this type of appointment, it is important to upload as much information as possible about your concerns in order to get a consultant suitable for your needs. It is important to note that if an email consultation is sent after 2:00 p.m. on a Friday, your message will not be forwarded to consultants until the following Monday morning.
Consultants will not edit or proofread student writings, only help students to develop skills, strategies, and confidence. Nina Kitts, one of the writing center’s consultants spoke regarding her assistance strategy. “Some people know what they want to say and have ideas already, but they are confused about how to write it down properly. There is a dissonance between the contents and the expressions. I enjoy helping people figure out how to translate well of their countless ideas.”
In a 2024 survey, about 98% of students who have used the Writing Center said they have a better understanding of the writing concepts and how to apply them. Additionally, around 97% of students feel more confident about their assignments or writings as a result of their consultation.
One student who participated in this survey mentioned how their consultant was “Very positive and shows genuine care. Talked about changes that could be made and applied to the whole paper. Told me what I did well and suggested changes that I feel would impact my grade. The feedback and experience were positive.”
Reece Halda, another writing consultant this semester, said the benefits of the visit several times. “The most memorable moment is that some clients come in multiple times and keep talking about same topics over and over again, it’s truly helped the client to comprehend entirely. Even the client started to bring ideas to the table, it’s very honorable and rewarding.”
The co-director of the writing center Dr. Risley Kristin said, “We try to be a welcoming space. We are not a remedial center, so the writing center is for everyone who wants to develop their English communication or writing skills, not only for the weaker or multilingual writers. Come and enjoy our cozy writing center!”
There is a form to schedule appointments. Students can choose the types of programs they are looking for, then select the date and time. You may choose which consultant you wish to work with or select ‘anyone’ to be randomly assigned to an available consultant. After scheduling your appointment, you should be sent a confirmation email. If you need to cancel or reschedule, you should do so at least 2 hours prior to your appointment time.
The writing center is open Monday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Harvey Hall, room 174. Another option is to visit the first floor at the library for walk-in writing help, available Monday to Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. E-Tutoring consultations are offered Sunday to Wednesday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
If you want to contact the UW-Stout writing center, please call 715-232-5284.
