Our approach emphasizes the use of thoughtful, intelligent dialogue to help students explore and develop their ideas. Peer consultants ask questions, share strategies, and help students assess their own work with skill and confidence. Consultants and students consider how changes in organization, style and mechanics can strengthen their work.
Face-to-face Conferences
Face-to-face conferences are 25-minutes long, and students may sign up for two consecutive conferences for a total of 50 minutes. Students can sign up for a maximum of two conferences per day.
Online Conferences
Students who are unable to visit us in person or who are more comfortable contacting us online can use our online conference service. Since the online service doesn’t allow for the rich conversation that our in person and phone conferences allow, the learning experience may be more limited in scope. Therefore, we recommend that students supplement their online conferencing with in person or phone conferences. We strive to respond to online submissions within 48 hours (not including weekends), but the exact timeframe depends on the volume of submissions we receive.
Phone Conferences
We provide this service for students who cannot visit us but want some "real-time" interaction. To make an appointment, please use our online schedule and write "Phone Appointment" and your phone number in the text box. Then, email your paper to wacc@uwb.edu at least 30 minutes before your appointment. We will have your paper available when we call you, though we will not have the opportunity to read it before your scheduled appointment. Your consultant will call you at your scheduled time.
Group Writing Conferences
Because of the power of group work to help students develop their ideas, UW Bothell faculty members frequently assign group projects. Consultants are available to meet with groups to address writing and communication issues—as well as some of the issues unique to collaborative work (e.g., editing multi-authored texts to create a coherent voice).