Center for Academic Success and Exploratory Majors FAQs
When is the center open, and do I need an appointment?
Desk hours are when tutors are available at the center desk: no appointment is needed.
Monday–Thursday: 7–9 p.m.
Fill out a Tutor Request Form 48 hours in advance if you want or need an appointment.
Is the center open during the summer?
Drop-in hours at our physical location in the lower level of Mund end by the last day of classes in the spring semester, but we have writing tutors to help students virtually! Please fill out a Tutor Request Form if you would like to receive feedback on a rough draft, brainstorm ideas, or any other writing-related request. Please give at least a 48-hour notice before you would like to meet with a writing tutor.
Is the center open during finals week?
The Writing Center operates on an adjusted and expanded schedule for Finals Week. This schedule will be sent to students towards the end of each semester and posted under MyLVC > MyInfo for Students.
What happens if LVC is closed or delayed due to weather?
As long as the Allan W. Mund College Center is open, desk hours generally operate as planned. However, please see communications from LVC related to the weather for confirmation and details.
If you make an individual appointment, please keep in mind that some of our tutors are commuters. Please contact your tutor directly to confirm the appointment in case of bad weather.
What is the center’s policy on proof-reading and editing papers?
The tutors will not write your paper for you. Their job is to help you improve your own writing skills by asking questions, being an audience, listening and asking you about what you want to say, and then guiding you to say it effectively through process writing. They will help you negotiate the several stages of writing, such as prewriting, organization, revising, and editing.
What are some tips that will help me to write effectively?
- Start papers early so that you aren’t trying to write a 15-page paper the night before it’s due. Not only is it stressful, but it limits the amount of help tutors can provide for you.
- Manage your time wisely when writing a paper. Dividing the writing process into several smaller steps will make writing it less stressful and easier to do. This way, if you do get stuck at a certain point, tutors will be able to help you one step at a time.
- Utilize prewriting to begin a paper and get your thoughts going. Use several different techniques until you find some you like the best. Brainstorming, free-writing, and clustering or mapping, cubing and dialoguing are just a few examples of invention strategies.
- Read your written paper out loud to others to check for errors and cohesiveness. Listening to the work separates what you thought you said from what you actually said.
- Utilize the resources you have at hand. Writing handbooks will often have answers to your questions about punctuation, grammar, citations, and several other things. Other answers to questions about correct usage, development of style, or grammar questions can be found online.
- Revise your paper from large issues to smaller ones. Don’t make punctuation or spelling a priority until you reflect on what you are saying and how you are saying it. Revision = re-seeing what you want the reader to hear and know.