A Letter from the Director
Welcome to University Writing Center’s redesigned website. The new site has been created with two goals in mind. First, to offer UTEP students the opportunity to find resources and assistance on their own, from anywhere, at any time. Our Writing Help Online section provides answers to your most common questions and is continually updated with new information. Second, to offer live synchronous online writing consultations. Online writing consultations assist students from how to begin writing a paper to formatting and citation assistance. Consultants are available online to assist students with any writing needs at any stage of the process. Just as in our physical space, we offer all UTEP students, in any discipline, for any type of writing, an opportunity to collaborate with our talented team of consultants in refining their writing skills and offer resources for students.
Thank you for visiting our site and your continued support of UTEP’s University Writing Center.
-Lou Herman, Ph.D
Director – University Writing Center
Mission Statement
The University of Texas at El Paso’s University Writing Center (UWC) focuses on helping First Year to Ph.D students from all disciplines to better understand the rhetorical choices writers make in order to be effective communicators and writers. Moreover, the UWC works with faculty across campus to create and integrate effective multi-modal writing assignments into their classes and to use the UWC’s resources and tutors in enhancing students’ writing experiences. The UWC adapts pedagogies and methods to reflect professors’ course content and to highlight our collaborative approach to writing.
About
The UWC seats up to 50 students at a time. In a typical semester, this room services more than 4,000 students seeking assistance with their writing. The collaborative tables provide students the opportunity to work with a consultant one-on-one while the larger tables allow for group sessions and larger collaborative projects. The UWC offers an LCD projector and screen for large meetings and professional development seminars. There is a Mac computer lab for students to work on their papers while waiting for a consultant to become available during our busy times. This room is the heart of the UWC.
Amenities
The UWC offers several spaces, both physical and digital, open to all UTEP students.
The Writing Help Online (Who)
Our Writing Help Online (who.utep.edu) website serves as a portal for students to find resources to help with their writing. Developed as a wiki-style website, it is updated with suggestions from students by consultants in the writing center. It is a constantly evolving database for students seeking assistance with their writing questions. The WHO also offers online synchronous writing assistance to students looking to improve their writing skills. Online writing sessions take place during regular business hours as well as after hours. Students will get live help from a consultant working directly on the student’s computer using screen sharing software. If you would like to make an appointment for an online session please visit our scheduling site here.
The Creative Collaboratum
Created with the spirit of collaboration in mind our Creative Collaboratorium is open to any group on campus looking for a space to work on their collaborative projects. The Creative Collaboratorium is equipped with sofas, a big screen TV, a Mac mini-computer, and other open access connections. Student groups, faculty groups, or anyone looking for a private, technology friendly space, can reserve the Creative Collaboratorium during normal UWC hours.
Writing In The Disciplines Collaborations
Each semester the UWC collaborates with professors in different disciplines across the UTEP campus to integrate and improve writing skills and assignments. Our WID (Writing in the Disciplines) initiatives have met with great success by providing directed workshops for writing assignments, general workshops for writing skills, and UWC orientations to familiarize students with the UWC services. Currently, we work with professors in History – Dr. Brad Cartwright; Business – Professor Laird Smith; Biological Sciences – Dr. Kyle Johnson; Political Science – Professor Jesse Kapenga; Civil Engineering – Dr. Vivek Tandon; just to name a few.
If you are interested in working with the UWC on directed writing assistance for your class, please contact us at X7415 or email our Director, Lou Herman –laherman@utep.edu.
