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Since its opening in mid-October, the Howe Writing Center in King Library has conducted over 600 student writing consultations-and that's only the beginning.
Kate Francis, manager of daily operations at the Howe Writing Center, said the center is doing extremely well, exceeding expectations set when the center opened Oct. 15, 2007.
According to Francis, the center provided more than 400 writing consultations from Oct. 15 to the end of the fall 2007 semester and has already provided more than 200 student consultations as of the seventh week of the spring 2008 semester.
"We see an increase every week in the number of student consultations from the previous week," Francis said. "We have been extremely busy, especially in the last few weeks."
Francis said the writing center has also seen an increase in international students who use the center's resources.
With a 100 percent increase in international student applications to Miami for the class of 2012, Francis anticipates significant growth in the amount of international students the center will see in the 2008-09 academic year.
Francis said that since many international students are not native English speakers, it is challenging to write papers in English.
To accommodate the increase in student consultations, the center has hired 12 additional consultants this semester for a total of 24 consultants. Consultants come from a wide variety of majors, and are required to take a course to prepare them for their responsibilities, Francis said.
Sophomore Jaclyn Kamman, a student consultant, has worked at the writing center since it opened. She said she has really enjoyed her job and feels that she has been able to help many students improve their writing.
"It is beneficial for both parties involved," Kamman said. "I help students with their writing, and, in turn, I have become a better writer and am better prepared to assist students with many types of writing."
Francis said she has received many inquiries regarding employment and recruitment, since hiring for next year will begin soon.
Francis said the writing center has received a lot of positive feedback from students, but there are still some issues the writing center is working on.
"A lot of students still don't know that we exist, or see us as a place to come only if you are a bad writer," Francis said. "Our goal is to help students become better writers by helping them gain a deeper understanding of their own writing processes. In the working world, good writing skills are the edge. Students must learn how to effectively work with language."
According to Francis, the writing center has seen students seeking assistance on many different types of writing, both personal and academic.
"At the beginning of the semester, we saw many students seeking assistance on resumes, cover letters, personal statements and graduate school writing," Francis said. "Students see (the center) exactly how we had hoped-a place where they could bring both personal and academic writing."
Junior Annette Davisson said her first experience at the writing center, when she received assistance with her cover letter and resume, was helpful.
"It was very beneficial to have a fresh pair of eyes looking at my writing," Davisson said.
However, Davisson said that her consultation at the Howe Writing Center could have been more helpful if the writing consultant had more experience working with cover letters and resumes.
Meg Bickerstaff, assistant director of the Howe Writing Center, said that one of the most common suggestions students provide is that the center needs more advertisement in order to increase awareness of its services.
Bickerstaff said many students also suggested that the writing center needs to be open longer hours. To accommodate students, the center now opens at 11 a.m. through the week, two hours earlier than last semester, and closes at 9 p.m.
Francis said that the writing center is working on a new online feature where students can register for appointments with consultants that specialize in the particular type of writing style on which they are working.
To set up an appointment, students should call the Howe Writing Center at 529-6100 or stop by the welcome desk located on the first floor of King Library. Drop-in appointments are also welcome.
