Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I contact the Writing Center?

  • Given that our team members are working remotely during COVID-19, the most reliable way to reach us is by email at writingcenter@sjsu.edu. Please include full details about your query, and allow 1-3 working days for a response.

• Can I contact or email tutors directly?

  • No, please do not contact our tutors directly. They are students with busy schedules, and they are not always working—clients must respect their time and privacy. If you need assistance, please send an email to our general address at writingcenter@sjsu.edu.

• Can I call the Writing Center, or can someone from the Writing Center call me about my query?

  • During remote working, the Writing Center team is unable to return phone calls for messages left on the campus numbers. You are welcome to leave a voice message at (408) 924-2308; however, this number is only checked twice a week, and there may be a delay in responding to your query.

• How can I keep up-to-date with what’s happening at the Writing Center? Is there a dedicated mailing list for students? Will you be posting social media updates?

  • Yes, we have a student mailing list, and all SJSU students are encouraged to sign up. If you use the following link, we will add you to the group within a few working days. Once you are a member of the group, you will receive regular updates on our hours of operation, changes to service, announcements, etc. Click here to sign up now: http://bit.ly/writingcenterlistserv.
    
    We are also active with both announcements and writing tips via social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

• If I am a graduate or AEC student, can I get additional tutoring time?

  • Yes! For online appointments during this period, all sessions are the same length: 45 minutes. Within our online scheduling system, students can set up two 45-minute sessions per week. If you are a graduate student working on a large project or are an AEC student who needs the accommodation of extra tutoring time, please complete this form by following the instructions carefully: https://forms.gle/DWszK14bu75ZtXSCA.
    
    We can schedule one additional (third) tutoring session for you each week. However, this is dependent on our availability in WCOnline; we are unable to schedule an additional session if there is no availability showing in that week.

• I sent a request for an additional tutoring session, but I haven’t heard anything. What’s happening?

  • This depends on when the request was submitted. We do our best to action every request as quickly as possible; however, there is no guarantee it can be scheduled when a request is received outside of normal operational hours (e.g., on the weekend or late at night).

• Are both Writing Center physical locations closed (in Clark Hall and the MLK Library) during the COVID-19 pandemic?

  • Yes, both our physical locations are currently closed. As SJSU has moved in-person classes to an online environment due to COVID-19 concerns, Writing Center operations have also moved online.

• When will you return to offering regular services (drop-ins, in-person appointments, in-person workshops, special events, etc.)?

  • We will return to our regular schedule once SJSU has fully reopened for in-person classes and services. Due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot say exactly when that will occur, but we currently expect to offer some in-person tutoring again in spring 2022.

• Will there be any drop-ins offered?

  • Yes, we have partnered with the MLK Library to offer our new “Ask a Tutor” live chat service. Using SSO, students can log in and ask our tutors live chat questions at scheduled times when we have tutors available—no appointment necessary. Our website provides more information, and the direct link to our chat system is https://library.sjsu.edu/writingcenter-chat. Note that this service can only be used for brief questions—generally concerns that tutors can address within 10-15 minutes. If you need more intensive help, please schedule a full-length online tutoring appointment.

• What is online tutoring, and how can I find out more about it before I register with the Writing Center?

  • We are available to assist you virtually through online tutoring sessions, conducted through the Zoom web conferencing platform. Our online tutoring page provides all the details about online sessions; it also includes an informational video about online tutoring.

• How do I schedule an appointment for an online tutoring session?

  • The first thing you will need to do is create an account in WCOnline. View our video walk-through on how to register for an account, and then view our video about how to schedule an appointment.

    Once you are registered and logged into the system, the next steps would be to

    - select the "Online Tutoring" schedule from the drop-down options at the top of the page;
    - scroll/go to the next date that has white slots that are available. (If you do not see any white slots available, this is because all appointments are currently full.);
    - click on the white slot you would like to book;
    - complete the form and create your appointment.

• What happens after I’ve scheduled my appointment?

  • To join your online tutoring session, take the following steps.

    1. Login to your WCOnline account before the start of your session, and click on your yellow appointment box.
    2. Click the yellow highlighted Zoom meeting link in the tutor bio section of your scheduled appointment.
    3. If you’re signed into Zoom using your SJSU account, your session will start immediately. If you’re prompted to authorize yourself, please click “Sign In to Join” and authenticate yourself by following on-screen instructions.
    4. You will be in the waiting room for your session. Your tutor will admit you at the scheduled start time.
       
       

    Having trouble joining your session? Check out our helpful guide.

• If I have tech problems, will my online appointment be marked as a “no show”?

  • If you virtually arrive at your session on time but then experience some tech issues (e.g., inability to share your document), then the tutor will give you some time to remedy the problem. If you cannot fix the issue, then the appointment will end; however, it will not be marked as a “no show” since you did show up for the appointment. However, if you simply do not come to your appointment, it will be marked as a “no show.” If you are experiencing problems that aren’t allowing you to begin the Zoom session, please cancel the session through our online appointment reservation system or send us an email at writingcenter@sjsu.edu.

• I joined the online tutoring session, but I’ve received an email saying that I missed the session.

  • The WCOnline system automatically generates an email notification when a student joins the session more than five minutes after the start time. The session is also marked as missed/no-show. In the future, if you are experiencing problems that aren’t allowing you to begin the Zoom session, please cancel the session through your WCOnline account or send us an email at writingcenter@sjsu.edu. If you miss two appointments without cancelling in advance, you will be blocked from the online scheduling system, so please remember to cancel in advance if you are unable to join on time. We want to help ensure that this doesn't happen! 

• There are no white slots available. Can you book an appointment for me?

  • During peak periods each semester, there is high demand for writing support, which is why you may see limited or no (white) available slots in the schedule. We are unable to book appointments on behalf of students.

    However, we do recommend students to check the WCOnline system every evening at 9:00 PM (standard time, from November to March) or 10:00 PM (daylight savings time, from March to November), or early morning if possible. Our schedule is released a day at a time, up to five working days ahead. For example, on Thursday at 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM (depending on standard or daylight savings time), you will be able to see next Thursday's schedule and availability.

• Do you offer any other online resources for writing support?
  • We have plenty of online resources that you can use on your own for self-study. We have 100+ Homegrown Handouts posted on our website, and we also offer instructional video tutorials about different aspects of the writing process. Our blog is updated frequently, and its articles present plenty of tips and advice about writing. Our Grad Writer Toolbox presents curated resources about writing specifically intended for graduate students. We create these resources for students, so please use them in addition to online tutoring!

• Does the Writing Center offer any online workshops?
  • Yes. Visit our Workshops Calendar page to view the current schedule of workshops. The full list of workshop topics is available at the link, as well as how to register (through WCOnline) and our workshop policies. Our workshops are conducted through Zoom, with the iCal invitation link sent to your SJSU email address either the night before or morning of the workshop.
    
    Workshop spaces are limited; therefore, please only sign up if you are confident you will be able to attend.
• Can I get proof of my attendance at a workshop?
  • Yes. Provided you attended the full duration of the workshop (and did not leave early), any attendee who requires proof of attendance should complete the form link here http://bit.ly/wcworkshopconfirm. The request will be actioned within 1-3 working days.

• What safety measures has the Writing Center put in place in terms of COVID-19?
  • Since March 2020, the Writing Center has carefully adhered to the institutional (SJSU), county (Santa Clara), and state guidelines for making sure we keep our students and team as safe as possible. These measures have included a significant move to offering remote writing support, which we have achieved through online tutoring (via Zoom) and live chat services. We have withdrawn all campus-based, in-person operations until further notice, including our workshop series which is now offered synchronously through Zoom. Our online resources are continuously being developed to provide writing video tutorials, downloadable guides, and much more. In regard to our team, all Writing Center members are telecommuting and providing writing services from home. We understand the need for online writing support and are working diligently to provide as much help as possible at this time to the SJSU population.