The next deadline to apply is March, 2025.
If hired, successful candidates must enroll in English 387: Composition Theory and Pedagogy as well as the attached in the following fall. Newly-hired consultants start working concurrently for a limited number of hours during the fall while they are enrolled in these courses.
Applying
A complete application to be a Writer's Workshop consultant includes:
- an application form (below)
- a response to a writing prompt (on the application form)
- a cover letter
- the contact information for two references (HC faculty or employers) willing to recommend you as a candidate
Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide an additional writing sample. Please contact centerforwriting@holycross.edu with any questions.
Who Are We Looking For?
We welcome applications from students in all disciplines who are enthusiastic about writing, and we especially invite applications from students in the natural and social sciences. Since some Writer's Workshop consultants provide support for writing in Spanish, we also invite applications from those who have strong Spanish writing skills. One of our core values is diversity, and in addition to having a staff with diverse language backgrounds and disciplinary affiliations, we seek applicants with experience or interest in working with diverse students. We are especially interested in candidates who demonstrate:
- experience writing for more than one discipline
- experience working with multiple media/technologies
- strong verbal and writing skills in English and other languages
- dedication to empowering students through writing
- a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- the ability to collaborate effectively with peers
- a strong work ethic and the capacity to balance work with other commitments
- the desire to approach writing as a reader or coach rather than as an editor
Responsibilities of Consultants
Consultants meet with students one-to-one in the Writer’s Workshop, consulting on their writing in 45-minute sessions with the goal of helping students improve their writing. After the session, consultants complete a report that includes a brief summary of the session and the writer's plans for revision. Consultants focus on the issues that research tells us can be improved in writing sessions (the writer’s process) rather than those they cannot control (the grade a student will receive). They look beyond just the assignment at hand to help students develop good writing habits and practices for their academic lives as writers. Consulting may occur at any step in the writing process, including brainstorming, planning, drafting, and revising for organization and clarity. Consultants are not copy-editors, though they may discuss grammar or style with students in some circumstances. Consultants do not do work for students; instead, they work with students.
About English 387
Taking English 387: Composition Theory and Pedagogy is part of the application process, and candidates will be evaluated for their readiness to work as consultants after they complete it. The course provides essential grounding in the research on what works when it comes to writing and teaching writing. The course is also strongly recommended for anyone wanting to work with the .
About CISS 388
CISS 388: Writer's Workshop Practicum provides both a basic overview of important scholarship in the field of writing center studies and also a space for new consultants to reflect on their practice. Paired with the content of English 387, the practicum is graded pass/fail and meets for just one hour per week. It does not count as a full course unit.