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The College of Saint Rose
432 Western Avenue
Albany New York 12203
1-800-637-8556

The Writing Center

Academic Support Center

2nd floor, St. Joseph Hall

454-5299

The Writing Center provides free tutoring for all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the college. Tutors and students work collaboratively to develop strategies to help each student refine his/her writing skills and develop a better understanding of the writing process. The Writing Center staff emphasizes that writing is a skill that takes time to develop and thus cannot be totally “fixed” in just one session. Writing Center tutors stress the importance of visiting the Writing Center multiple times with the same assignment, in order to address all aspects of writing at various stages in the writing process.

The Writing Center is staffed by three graduate assistants who are capable of assisting students with any writing concerns for various types of writing:

Understanding an Assignment
Brainstorming
Thesis clarification
Organization
Development
Style and Clarity
Grammar and Punctuation
MLA, APA, and Chicago Style

Students may call 454-5299 with any questions or to schedule an appointment.

FAQs

Tips for Students

Tips for Faculty

Writing Across the Curriculum

(discipline-specific writing resources for students and teaching resources for faculty)

Saint Rose's Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I have to make an appointment?
Yes, please call 454-5299 or stop by the front desk of the Academic Support Center on the 2nd floor of St. Joseph Hall. It is reccomended that you call or stop by one week in advance to make your appointment.
How long does a session last?
You may sign up for 30 minutes or for a one-hour session, with a maximum of three hours total per week. At the end of the semester, all tutoring sessions are reduced to 30 minutes or 45 minutes.
What should I bring with me to my appointment?
Bring a pen or pencil, your assignment, any notes you may have, secondary sources, and whatever writing you may have at this point—whether it’s an outline, an introduction, a few paragraphs, or a complete draft of your paper (please bring two copies!). Please note that tutors are not permitted to give students copies of the paper that they write on--these copies will be immediately shredded following the tutoring session.
What if I have to cancel an appointment?
Call us at 454-5299 if you are going to be late or are unable to keep your appointment. If you do not show up for your appointment three times or more without calling during a semester, you will not be allowed to make another appointment until the following semester.
Can I just drop my paper off so it can be corrected?
No. Our goal is to help you become a better writer and that includes working with you one-on-one in a tutorial session. We are not a drop-off proofreading or editing service!
Will the tutor proofread my paper for me?
No. Part of helping you become a better writer includes teaching you how to recognize your own mistakes and how to correct them. We are not allowed to write on your paper, nor will we simply fix all of your errors without explanation. Please note that tutors are not permitted to give students copies of the paper that they write on--these copies will be immediately shredded following the tutoring session.
Is the Writing Center only for English majors?
No. The tutors can help you with all types of writing for all of your classes, whether it’s for History or Communication Disorders. As long as you are an enrolled undergraduate or graduate student, come see us!
Is the Writing Center free?
Yes! The Writing Center is part of the Academic Support Center which provides free tutoring to all students who attend The College of Saint Rose.
My professor told me to go to the Writing Center. I went, and now he/she wants proof. Can the tutor sign my paper to prove I was there?
No. Tutors cannot sign any slip to prove you attended a session. If your professor wants to know if you had an appointment at the Writing Center, he/she can call and confirm with Jaclyn Amoroso, Coordinator of the Writing Center, at 458-5483.
My paper topic is very personal, and I'm afraid that the tutor might share information about me.
Whatever happens in a session is generally confidential. Tutors are not permitted at any time to discuss you or your paper with anyone. However, professors do have the right to inquire whether or not a student attended a tutoring session. Depending on the situation, some general information about what was worked on during the session may be shared with the professor. However, any personal information the student shares with the tutor will not be shared with anyone.

Student Tips

Plan ahead and make appointments in advance (Call 454-5299 or stop by at the Academic Support Center on the 2nd floor of Saint Joseph Hall).
Book a 30 minutes session for short papers and brainstorming; book an hour for longer projects.
Come prepared to work—no matter what stage of the writing process you’re in.
Bring 2 typed copies of your paper, a pen or pencil, and any additional materials you’re working with such as outside sources, etc. Please note that the tutor cannot give you the copy of your paper she uses during the session. This copy will be shredded following your session.
Know your student identification number, course number, and professor’s name.

Faculty Tips (click here for more information--PDF)

Send assignments, model examples, or evaluation rubrics to the Writing Center ahead of time when possible. These can be really useful in helping the tutors help your students.
Alert the Writing Center ahead of time if you’re requiring a visit for students and provide ample time in the semester for students to make appointments. As a general rule, we don’t recommend using the Writing Center for extra credit.
Contact Jaclyn Amoroso, Coordinator of the Writing Center, for a report from the Writing Center database if you require proof of a student session. Tutors are not allowed to sign off on papers or sign forms to verify student attendance.

Invite the tutors to visit your classroom and introduce the Writing Center to your students! Tutors are also available to present MLA and APA workshops.