Refer a Student
To provide timely assistance for students who need it most, the Writing Center has created a writing referral system.
The process ensures that students get targeted guidance appropriate for the current time and context of their course. We help students understand course materials, improve their organization when writing, correct their writing mechanics, learn how to better manage their time and more.
It all begins with the Writing Referral Form.
Act Early
Faculty members are encouraged to identify, as early in the semester as possible, any student who appears to have significant problems with writing.
We ask the faculty member to meet with the student to discuss the areas of writing with which the student needs assistance. The referral form described below should be completed at this meeting.
How to Make a Referral
The Writing Referral form is designed to facilitate discussion between the student and the faculty member by listing possible areas of concern. The form also provides space to describe concerns specific to a particular course or assignment.
You can download the PDF version of the Writing Referral Form here:
After the faculty member and student complete the form together, the student should:
- Bring the form to Carnegie 114 during daytime business hours.
- 8:30 a.m.–noon and 1–4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
- Give the form to Writing Center Coordinator Jo Reish.
- Request an appointment with a member of the Writing Center professional staff. (The student should not make an appointment with a peer writing consultant for this initial meeting.)
The student should bring to this appointment any associated written work, assignment instructions, handouts, etc. In this initial meeting, the student and the staff member will formulate a plan for addressing writing issues and assignments of concern, most likely in regular sessions with Writing Center professional and/or peer writing consultants.
Follow Up
We strongly encourage the faculty member to monitor the situation during the remainder of the semester, remaining in communication with both the student and the Writing Center.