ARC Writing Center expands

With the renovations underway for Cushing, all of the campus organizations that were once there found new homes. The Academic Resource Center (ARC) now resides in the modular units outside of Holy Cross Hall, and even though there was a slight lull during the transition period of moving, it is up and running as an active study space and as busy as ever.

The ARC is known for its peer-tutoring program, but one portion of that is the Writing Center that has been reconfigured this year. After Sr. Irene Ricard from the Congregation of the Holy Cross retired last year, Professor Ann-Maria Contarino took over as coordinator and is very excited about the changes to the program.

One of the most significant changes to the Writing Assistant Program is the installation of satellite tutoring: students are now being tutored in residence halls in addition to the ARC. Mostly in the freshman dorms, as it is still in its pilot period, writing assistants can be found in common rooms working with students to edit their papers.

Professor Contarino says that having writing assistants in the dorms draws awareness to the program and encourages students to ask for help who would not typically go to the ARC. A nice feature of this program is that one does not need to live in the dorm to have an appointment with the writing assistant on duty, which means someone living in Streets is allowed to walk into Dominic Hall to get help. Also, the Writing Assistants in the dorms are in addition to the Writing Assistants located in the ARC.

The Writing Center helps students to celebrate what their writing can accomplish, and anyone is welcome to stop by.  The ARC has multiple resources to make sure your paper is the best it can be. In addition, writing assistants are also honing their skills in other ways around campus; Professor Contarino wants to make sure everyone keeps their eyes open for new and exciting ways to learn about the writing center.

The Writing Center is integrating itself into campus life, volunteering with APO to read stories to kids, to working with Access Academy in their after school programs and college essay writing. The hope is that this volunteering can be expanded in the upcoming years.

As the semester comes to a close, you’re bound to have an essay or two due, so make sure to get in touch with a writing assistant to make sure your essay is the best it can be.