Students
at Azusa Pacific University’s Writing Center secured a series
of win-win victories since its January opening. Strong writers emerged
as stronger writers. Challenged writers became better writers. And
the student consultants who advised them sharpened their editing
and tutoring skills.
Whether they be students with learning disabilities,
international students still mastering the English language, future
nurses doing research, graduate students, or simply poets, the center’s
clients have benefited from the free services.
“One of the biggest problems we have found
is that students have trouble developing a clear focus of what to
say and how to communicate [their thoughts] clearly and in an organized
fashion,” said Adrien Lowery, Ph.D., director of the Writing
Center. “Clear communication in writing and speaking is important
across the curriculum. Students will use that in all their classes
and in life; they will be representing what we do here as an institution.”
Located in the William V. Marshburn Memorial
Library, the Writing Center provides one-on-one consulting services,
student-led discussion groups, workshops for research papers, and
resources for publishing. Lowery and her staff also invite professors
to submit details of their writing assignments so consultants can
further assist students.
“It’s a safe place where students
can bring their papers and learn how to communicate in their own
voice, in written form,” said writing consultant Ryan Ikeda
’02, a business major. “We help them to understand their
assignments and encourage people to write.”
They also teach them to find and fix the weaker
areas in their projects.
“The Writing Center gives students the
opportunity to excel with their God-given abilities to write. When
they do get published, they will be recognized not only in the Christian
community, but also throughout the world,” said Ikeda who
has written for two literary publications at APU and the school’s
newspaper, The Clause. After graduation, he plans to help establish
a media production company in the Middle East.
Center consultants take part in weekly training
sessions and must complete weekly reading assignments designed to
increase their tutoring and editing skills. The eight part-time
consultants and two special project consultants have access to nearly
200 reference texts – many from Lowery’s personal library
– covering all aspects of writing and teaching.
“The center has roots in the mandate to
love God with your whole heart and mind,” said Ikeda. “It
allows people to integrate what’s in their hearts by challenging
their minds to communicate in the most effective way.”
Efforts to establish the Writing Center began
two years ago and were headed by Department of English chair and
professor James Hedges, Ph.D., and professor Diana Glyer, Ph.D.
Their goal was to further academic excellence by supporting students
and providing professors with personnel to help students understand
and accomplish writing assignments.
Josh Long ’03 has used the services at
the Writing Center a few times a month to get feedback on personal
creative writing projects. “When you are interacting with
writers, your own writing improves,” said Long, who is the
editor of the APU literary publication West Wind and is considering
teaching and magazine writing after graduation.
“Students hear a positive buzz and get
excited when they hear about the center from their friends,”
said Lowery, who has 12 years of experience working at five writing
centers, six of which were spent in administration. “ESL students
are the most enthusiastic. They get so excited about having a writing
consultant who is a peer and can give them some non-threatening
feedback.”
Despite a positive following, Lowery acknowledges
that obstacles standing in the way of the center’s success
still exist.
“Students sometimes put a negative connotation
on being sent to the Writing Center,” she said, referring
to the stigma that often surrounds a search for outside help. “[But
when] they find out how much help they get, they come back voluntarily.”
In the future, Lowery plans to add more free
services, including additional workshops, a website that provides
support for students on campus and off, additional student-led writing
groups, and associations with other Christian and secular learning
institutions and resources. |
