The ICWA-NCPTW conference, "Safe Harbors or Open Seas? Navigating Currents in Writing Center Work," will take place in Baltimore, Nov. 4-6, 2010.
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The 2011 MWCA Fall Ideas Exchange will be held at Saginaw Valley State University.

The Michigan Writing Centers Association Newsletter is now available on the web.

Has your contact information changed? Please visit the Membership link to view your current contact information. Use the Contact Us link or send a message to ebdewey@delta.edu to inform us on any changes. Changes to the membership directory will be posted once, annually, around the time of our fall Ideas Exchange.

If you have an announcement about an upcoming event or an accomplishment within your writing center that you would like included in this space, please submit it via the Contact Us link in the red column. We welcome your contributions.

Profile: The Writing Center, Lansing Community College

The Writing Center at Lansing Community College opened in fall 1998 and occupies approximately 1,600 sq. ft. of space in a highly-visible location adjacent to the cafeteria in the main classroom building. Although the Writing Center has been located in this space since its inception, it underwent a major renovation in the summer of 2003, during which time it was gutted and re-worked. Some features now include a staff office, a conference room, warm colors, curved ceiling soffits and front counter, and a glass-block wall separating a computer area from the main room. The Writing Center is staffed by one half-time Coordinator, three Lead Writing Assistants (LWAs), eight Peer Writing Assistants (PWAs), and a part-time Writing Across the Curriculum Coordinator. LWAs are part-time staff who generally work 10-12 hours per week. They must have past experience as peer tutors in writing, and they are responsible for running the front desk, greeting students, making appointments, assisting PWAs in their daily work, and aiding in the on-going training of PWAs. PWAs are part-time employees who generally work 10-12 hours per week aiding students directly with their writing. Some PWAs work part of their hours assisting students on-line, while others are “attached” to faculty in various discipline areas, assisting with writing in a classroom setting through our Writing Across the Curriculum program. PWAs begin as student-staff, earning minimum wage, but after completing a 30-hour summer training program, may apply to be reclassified as part-time staff after eight weeks working with students and a successful evaluation by an LWA or the Writing Center Coordinator. Once reclassified as staff, PWAs earn a higher wage, receive an eight-credit per semester tuition waiver, and are eligible for other benefits, including free parking in faculty/staff lots. Staff PWAs may also continue to work in the LCC Writing Center once they are no longer students.

The Writing Center is open 48 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters and 30 hours/week during the summer. Open hours are spread across mornings, afternoons, evenings, and Saturdays to accommodate a variety of schedules. A yearly operating budget for the Writing Center (not including salaries for the Writing Center Coordinator and Writing Across the Curriculum Coordinator) is approximately $67,000.00. The Writing Center is a separate entity within the Liberal Studies Division, although its budget center, human resource assistance, office supplies, and some support staff needs are provided by the Communication Department for convenience and cost savings. The Center serves the entire college, though the majority of students who visit come from writing classes.

More Photos and Floor Plan