Writing Center
The Writing Center is located in the Humanities Building, Room 140.
Meet with a Peer Writing Tutor
Run by the Department of English, the Writing Center is a place to discuss all types of writing, at any level. We serve all UAlbany undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of their program of study.
Our approach is individualized and process-based, with every one-on-one session focusing on whatever you bring to the physical or virtual table. Peer tutors can help all writing projects and concerns, including:
- Academic writing, such as essays, research papers, lab reports and honors theses
- Career and professional writing, such as personal statements, resumes and grant proposals
- Business, institutional and technical writing, such as statements for court or arbitration, business proposals, action plans and partnership requests
- Creative and personal writing, such as poems, novels, anniversary speeches and eulogies
Our tutors range from undergraduate to doctoral level students and have diverse academic, professional and personal experiences to draw on as they engage with you as a writer. Several of our tutors are multilingual, with fluencies in Spanish, Bangle, Mandarin and Korean.
Appointments & Walk-ins
The Writing Center is open during the fall and spring semesters when classes are in session.
We offer virtual appointments on Zoom and in-person appointments inside Room 140 in the Humanities Building on the Uptown Campus.
We also accept walk-ins from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. However, we strongly recommend making an appointment if you want to work with the same tutor or have a specific deadline.
How do I make or cancel a Writing Center appointment?
Current UAlbany students can schedule hour-long, one-on-one sessions with peer tutors.
To check for available sessions and make an appointment:
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Click on the “Make an Appointment” button in the top right corner.
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In the first drop-down menu, select “Tutoring.”
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In the second drop-down menu, select “Writing Center Tutoring.”
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Choose the day you’d like to schedule a session.
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Optional: To see only in-person options or only virtual options, select your preference from the “How would you like to meet?” drop-down menu.
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Click “Find Available Time.”
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Select a session date and time.
To cancel a session, please also use EAB Navigate.
What should I expect during a Writing Center Session?
During the session, you and your peer tutor will discuss your project, your goals for writing fluency, your writing strengths and challenges, and especially how you see yourself as a writer in relation to your project or assignment.
Your tutor will also ask you what you want to work on and help you build an agenda for the session.
Writing Center tutors are trained to assist with academic writing assignments; however, they aren’t necessarily familiar with your major or your professors. You should expect your tutor to treat you like the subject matter expert and to ask you questions about the course and course content.
Peer tutors can’t correct your errors or proofread papers for you. Instead, your tutor will engage you as a peer and a writer — discussing your writing process, sharing reactions and responses, and sharing tips, tricks and resources.
What should I bring to a Writing Center session?
Whether you’re brainstorming or completing a final review, we’re here to help.
If you’re in the early stages or just want to share something you’ve written, you can simply bring in your ideas, a prompt or even a first draft, if you have one.
If you’re working on a specific assignment or project, it’s helpful if you bring in your current draft, as well as a copy of the assignment, the course syllabus and any other relevant handouts. If you’ve already received feedback from a professor or teaching assistant, please also bring copies of their comments and/or a marked-up draft.
These will help the tutor understand the context and academic expectations for your writing and focus your session effectively.
If you’re working on a resume or personal statement, it’s helpful if you’ve already assembled your personal data and collected some basic information about the program or position for which you’re applying.
For additional help with professional documents, please visit the Career & Professional Development website.
Additional Resources
Grammar & Style Guides