In the midst of renovations taking place in Lee Hall, the Mississippi State University Writing Center has a new local at 94 President’s Circle.
In a news release from University Relations, Head of the English Department Rich Raymond said the Writing Center has been a tool for students working on writing assignments for several years.
“Since the fall semester of 2005, the writing staff has helped student writers work through issues at every stage of the writing process, from brainstorming through the recursive business of drafting, revising and editing,” he said.
The new space, located in a cream -colored house across the street from Allen Hall, previously housed the Center for Math, Science and Technology Outreach.
Sarah Sneed, MSU Writing Center interim director, said she thought the space suited the center well.
The space is equipped with two tutoring rooms and computers located in the lobby. The house also features graduate student and faculty offices.
Brad Campbell, an English Instructor who assists at the Writing Center, said the center is hosting an open house Nov. 1 from 3-5 p.m. to advertise their new location on President’s Circle and will coincide with Academic Integrity Week.
Despite its new location, the Writing Center is still available to help all MSU students with their writing needs.
“A common misconception is that students think they have to be enrolled in a kind of English class to come to the writing center, but that is not the case,” Sneed said.
She also said the center is there to help all undergraduate or graduate level students in any of the MSU’s colleges.
Although appointments are not necessary at the center, making one ahead of time is beneficial for students.
“At the start of the year we can usually accommodate walk-in traffic, but later in the semester we are pretty much booked, and I do not want students to have to wait,” Sneed said.
Appointments and additional information for the President Circle location for writing services can be found at: writingcenter.msstate.edu/. The Writing Center is open to students Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A beneficial aid for students who do not need a full 30 minute tutoring session is the Mobile Writing Center in the Colvard Student Union.
The Mobile Writing Station can be found in the eating area of the Union, directly across from the Dawg House.
Chelsea Henshaw, English department lecturer, assists with the Union-based mobile Writing Center. The unique aspect to the mobile Writing Center is that there are no appointments necessary.
“It is meant to be kind of a stop by session where you have one specific question, and then you could also go through and have a real session if you need to,” Henshaw said. “We are there as long as you need us, but it is kind of a come and go session.”
The Mobile Writing Center is available to MSU students Monday to Thursday from 4-6 p.m.
An additional service is available to distance learning students and students who cannot make it to the Writing Center locations during tutoring hours. The online Writing Service is available to students by appointment Sunday through Thursday 6-8p.m.
In many ways, the online component is similar to the Writing Center’s conventional locations.
“Online Writing Center is just like the Templeton and President Circle locations. To schedule an appointment you use the same scheduler. Once you set up an appointment, you have to click on your appointment, and click join online consultation,” Campbell said,.”It is a collaborative environment, with a chat feature and a whiteboard feature, so that students can log in and chat with us synchronously. It is just like a face-to-face appointment, except it is virtual.”
Campbell also said this method allows the student and tutor to view the document simultaneously and make comments and edits together.
Campbell went on to say the online Writing Center does not currently have the capabilities for face-to-face online tutoring, but they are hoping to add it in the future.