Building Community through Writing Center Craft and Activity Stations

Over the past year, our main writing center location has been home to a variety of craft and activity stations designed to promote self-care among WC staff and students. Read about the intentions behind these community-building efforts and peek into Katie’s journey to present a guide for folks looking to develop stations of their own.

Continue ReadingBuilding Community through Writing Center Craft and Activity Stations

Writing Center Ecologies: Drawing Insights from Environmental Systems to Shape Professional Development

Learn more about Michigan State University's Writing Center Professional Development (PD) Series focused on the intersections of writing centers and ecology! Drawing inspiration from ecological systems and environmental justice, our PD workshops this year have integrated experiential learning in environmental settings to foster reflection on power dynamics, decision-making, and social factors within writing center ecosystems.

Continue ReadingWriting Center Ecologies: Drawing Insights from Environmental Systems to Shape Professional Development

MiWCA 2023: A chill conference perfect for first-time presenters

Monique Yolder, one of our Graduate Coordinators and Writing Consultants, got the opportunity to present “Be curious! Writing center research curiosities” at the Michigan Writing Centers Association (MiWCA) annual conference, which took place at Grand Valley State University on October 28, 2023. This was their first time presenting at a writing center conference.

Continue ReadingMiWCA 2023: A chill conference perfect for first-time presenters

MSU WC Consultants Share Their Experiences from MiWCA 2023

The Michigan Writing Centers Association (MiWCA) annual conference took place at Grand Valley State University on October 28, 2023. This was the first time since pre-COVID-19 pandemic where writing centers from around the state could get together to exchange ideas, renew relationships, and welcome newcomers at an in-person conference. A few MSU Writing Center consultants were themselves newcomers to this conference. Monique Yoder asked them to share what the conference was like and what their main takeaways were.

Continue ReadingMSU WC Consultants Share Their Experiences from MiWCA 2023

Application Materials – A Tricky Genre To Master

Ceili is one of our writing consultants and has been at the MSU Writing Center for several years. During their time, they have developed an easy set of guidelines for application materials that center the client’s narrative in the formulaic style of writing application materials. In this blog post, they will walk through the top three pieces of advice they usually tell clients as they work through application materials. The advice can be applied to any sort of application; jobs, scholarships, study abroad, Broad business, medical school/residency statements, etc.

Continue ReadingApplication Materials – A Tricky Genre To Master

The Writing Center’s Partnership in Uganda Launch Talk

Embarking on a journey that spans across continents and dreams, follow Professor Trixie Smith's remarkable tale as she recounts her involvement with Makerere University's transformative Writing Center. Discover the collaborative efforts with visionary minds, the pursuit of complementary expertise, and the power of writing to bridge gaps and forge connections. Join her in celebrating the launch of a project poised to impact East Africa and beyond, a testament to innovation, partnership, and the global importance of the written word.

Continue ReadingThe Writing Center’s Partnership in Uganda Launch Talk