Become a Peer Consultant

The RIT Writing Center is committed to hiring and training a diverse peer student writing consultant staff.  In their role as writing consultants, students from a variety of programs and disciplines work with undergraduate and graduate students on a wide range of academic and professional genres at any stage of the writing process, from prewriting to final drafts. Peer writing consultants approach writing as a process and cultivate an approach to writing that positions cultural, learning, and language difference as an opportunity for making and presenting meaning.

Students interested in applying for a peer writing consultant position should show an enthusiasm for learning, determination to become better writers and critical thinkers, interest in supporting other students in their writing process, and a commitment to engaging with students from diverse backgrounds and communities.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Meet with students for one-on-one or small group consultations.
• Respond to written products and facilitate goal-oriented conversations about writing projects at any stage of the composing process to help writers improve their writing.
• Complete required session notes and report forms for scheduled, walk-in, and recurring appointments through WCOnline.
• Prepare for and participate in weekly one-hour professional development meetings with other peer consultants to develop expertise in writing consultation across disciplines and with a diversity of writers, including Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, students on the autism spectrum, and students speaking and writing in English as an additional language.
• Participate in peer observations to reflect on, develop, and refine consultation practices. 
• Complete additional duties as requested by the Writing Center Coordinator (e.g., promote the Writing Commons through social media and class visits). 

The Writing Center is always seeking to expand the diversity and expertise of our peer consultant staff. We are committed to recruiting,  hiring, and retaining peer student consultants from a wide range of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, arts, and STEM. We also actively welcome peer student consultants from historically underrepresented communities, including students of color, women in STEM disciplines, first-generation college students, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.

As part of our peer student writing consultant training, students are encouraged to enroll and complete the Writing-Intensive course, Writing Genre, Theory & Practice (UWRT 325). This course provides students opportunities to develop their own writing abilities and to learn how to become a successful reader, listener, and responder in peer-tutoring situations. UWRT325 is offered during fall and spring semesters and is a three-credit general education Writing-Intensive (WI) course. We encourage students interested in applying for peer writing consultant positions to complete UWRT 325 before applying, but it is not required.

Characteristics of a peer consultant:

• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills, including the ability to talk with a diverse population of students one-on-one.
• High proficiency in academic writing in any field. We recognize you are an emerging scholar in your discipline. Our goal is to support you in learning to become both a successful writer AND a successful writing consultant.
• Thoughtfulness about the writing process, including a commitment to reflect on your role as a peer writing consultant.
• Maturity, reliability, and professionalism.

Minimum Requirements:

• Currently matriculated, full-time student
• Successful completion of UWRT 150: Writing Seminar, equivalent course experience, and/or experience working as a literacy/writing tutor with student writers at the high school and/or college level
• Strong writing and interpersonal communication skills

Desired additional experience:

• Experience working with students from diverse cultural, linguistic, and/or educational backgrounds
• Experience with research-based writing and/or STEM disciplines

We typically hire in May, following the spring semester, for positions beginning in the fall. Interviews for qualified candidates will take place over Zoom.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• Letter of application that explains your interest in and qualifications for the position
• Current resume/CV
• Writing sample (from a First-Year Writing or Writing-Intensive course)

Faculty Recommendations

Do you know a student who would make an excellent peer writing consultant? We welcome faculty recommendations from all disciplines and programs. Email Ruth.Book@rit.edu.