We are a vibrant community of peer and professional educators and researchers. All peer writing tutors receive paid training and are welcomed into a mentorship-focused learning community. 

 

Become a Peer Writing Tutor

Because of the professional and scholarly nature of writing center tutoring work, we strongly encourage all students who are interested in becoming peer writing tutors to take WRPR 0212: Issues and Methods in Tutoring Writing (offered spring 2024). Many of our NEASC peer institutions also have similar courses. Check out students’ experiences in the course (below) or request a sample syllabus from Dr. Giaimo at ggiaimo@middlebury.edu 

Students who successfully complete WRPR 0212 are given priority in the application process. The Writing Center also hires a limited number of tutors through an application process each spring. Applications require a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and Middlebury faculty/staff/peer tutor reference. 

Access the Writing Center tutor application for the 2024-2025 academic year here.

Timeline: The deadline to apply is April 22nd 2024 with interviews occurring on a rolling basis.

Training: All students invited to become peer writing tutors will be asked to do 10 hours of (paid) training starting at the end of spring 2024 as well as via Zoom and asynchronously over the summer. 

About

The Writing Center is a pedagogical and scholarly hub on campus. Peer writing tutors work with individual writers via our drop-in and online tutoring sites, or as course-embedded tutors. They also take on leadership roles at the center including mentoring new tutors, running peer tutor trainings and workshops, and creating writing programming like the mindfulness writing challenge, conversation circles, writing groups, and pandemic processing space. Several tutors on our staff also engage in educational and writing studies research under the mentorship of Dr. Giaimo. These projects have resulted in conference presentations, publications, and several other kinds of positive and long-term outcomes, such as fellowship awards and graduate school acceptances.

 

Why take WRPR 0212?

  • To develop critical and transferable research skills such as qualitative and quantitative methodologies. 
  • To hone your tutoring practices and give you an excellent foundation for future educational work.
  • To increase your confidence in your own writing and research.
  • To expand your understanding of Writing Centers and value in higher education.
  • To gain mentors, knowledge, and experience in a new (or old!) corner of campus.
  • To join a community of like-minded peer educators and researchers passionate about writing studies and making a different on campus. 
WRPR 0212 Student Testimony: 

Taking Dr. Giaimo’s WRPR 212 class in my first year at Middlebury was a decision I am so thankful I made. Our small class allowed for a tight knit group, frequent collaboration, and countless opportunities to get advice and guidance from Dr. Giaimo. When I registered, I was merely hoping to try something new during my first year, so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized this class also gave me a CW credit. One year later, that decision afforded me an incredibly fulfilling job on campus, ongoing research experience, and tons of future possibilities. As an Embedded Course tutor and an incoming Head Tutor, I’ve learned lessons and gained unique experiences quite early on in college. A thought-provoking and slightly unconventional class, I would recommend WRPR 212 to any type of Middlebury student, regardless of experience, major, or background.

Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research
Davis Family Library, Suite 225
Middlebury, VT 05753