The Writing Center

Welcome to the RMU Writing Center!  

We provide free, professional tutoring for RMU students, faculty, and staff who have questions about class assignments/ speeches/ oral presentations, graduate school/ grant/ scholarship applications, artist's statements or other written work.  Our tutors have experience in Writing Centers at a variety of institutions, as well as experience in teaching writing at the college and university level. For the fall 2024 term, we will continue to offer virtual tutoring appointments to all students using Google Meets.  For the fall 2024 term, virtual tutoring will begin on Monday, August 26, 2024.

How it Works

The Writing Center offers tutoring in a variety of areas: brainstorming ideas, developing a research plan or outline, editing a draft, reviewing citation-style formatting, or proofreading a final paper.

Appointments are 30 minutes per tutor per week.  An individual can see any combination of tutors in the Writing Center for a maximum of up to 1.5 hours per week (this is so we can accommodate as many students as possible). Those who do not attend appointments promptly may lose their slots. Tutors cannot continue working with individuals after their posted shift ends or see clients outside of posted hours.

Those seeking tutoring are responsible for cancelling any appointments that they cannot attend using the online system or sending an email to the tutor. Those failing to show up for a scheduled appointment may lose the ability to schedule future tutoring appointments.

Individuals seeking tutoring are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance with a tutor:

The fall 2024 virtual hours of the RMU Writing Center are as follows (use the links above to book appointments): 

  • Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Professor Beno-Young)
  • Monday: 11:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Dr. Ruzich)
  • Tuesday: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. (Professor Beno-Young)
  • Wednesday: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. (Professor Beno-Young)
  • Wednesday: 3:00 -- 6:00 p.m. (Professor Wandel)
  • Thursday: 11:00 p.m.– 12:00 p.m. (Dr. Ruzich)
  • Friday: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. (Professor Beno-Young)
  • Friday:  3:00 -- 6:00 p.m. (Professor Wandel)
  • Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Professor Wandel)

After you have scheduled an appointment:

  • 24 – 48 hours before your scheduled appointment, you will receive an email that contains the link and information for your Google Meets session. Be sure to accept the appointment and read the email carefully.
  • Please prepare for your virtual tutoring session by emailing your tutor with a draft of your writing (and the class assignment, if you have one) so that the tutor has received it for the start of your online tutoring session. It’s also a good idea to have grading rubric (if there is one) ready for your meeting, as well as any other relevant materials (such as an important reading or textbook).
  • At the start of your session, you will be asked to complete a brief online form about your request for writing assistance. 

What Doesn't Work

We aim to help you learn to become a better writer.  We will work WITH you, not write papers FOR you: we are here to help you improve your writing skills. Due to scheduling constraints, the Writing Center discourages instructors from assigning mandatory visits.

Tips

  • Bring the class assignment, application instructions or writing prompt.
  • Have specific questions you would like the tutor to address.
  • Bring your draft, notes, or outline.
  • Bring the grading rubric, if there is one.
  • If using an important textbook or important reading, bring it.

 

Robert Morris University fosters safe and respectful environments that protect students, faculty, and staff from incidents of sex-based discrimination and sexual harassment. For more information, see titleix.rmu.edu.