Writing Fellows Program
Farnham Writers’ Center
Supporting writers since 1984
Writing Fellows Program
You can request a writing fellow for spring 2025 here.
In 2008, the Farnham Writers’ Center established the Writing Fellows Program, which matches tutors with specific courses to assist faculty members with writing aspects of their courses and to provide specialized and individualized writing support to students in those classes. Although the role of our tutors is to provide peer writing support rather than subject/content tutoring, we do try to match writing fellows to courses in terms of majors and previous experience in academic fields. On average, we have between 15-20 writing fellows supporting courses across disciplines a semester. If you are interested in exploring the Writing Fellows Program, please contact Ghada Gherwash, Director of the Farnham Writers’ Center, or Stacey Sheriff, Chair of the Colby Writing Department. We are happy to meet with you!
A Guide for Faculty
Writing fellows typically discuss writing assignment goals with the professor and meet with students to review their drafts and writing progress. As paid student employees, writing fellows may work up to six hours a week. Responsibilities of writing fellows may include:
• Holding office hours to review drafts and discuss writing-related matters with students;
• Leading in-class review sessions on: grammar, style, citation, and documentation
practices or other writing-related topics;
• Assisting the professor with in-class peer review workshops;
• Attending labs to work with students on reports and provide feedback;
• Advising students on group writing projects or proposals;
• Supervising brainstorming or pre-writing sessions, in or outside of class;
• Reading relevant course materials (up to one hr/week);
• In W1 courses, writing fellows can expect to provide more significant support on the writing process and academic
writing conventions than in other classes.
• Introducing the writing fellow and explaining their role in the course on the first day of classes;
• Identifying the writing fellow and providing their contact information on the course syllabus, Moodle page, and/or website; Familiarizing students with Writers’ Center practices (e.g., our focus on improving clarity, organization, and argumentation rather than grammar and style);
• Emphasizing that students of all class levels, backgrounds, and identities can use the Writers’ Center;
• Discussing a writing assignment’s key concepts and learning objectives with the writing fellow prior to assigning it;
• Encouraging students to meet with the writing fellow with each new assignment;
• If appropriate, requiring students to meet at least once with the writing fellow.
Before the first day of class:
• Share all course materials with your writing fellow
• Add the writing fellow to the course’s Moodle page/course website
• Meet to discuss your syllabus, assignments, writing expectations, and key dates
During the first week of classes:
• Invite the writing fellow to visit your class to meet the students and discuss their responsibilities
After major assignments and midway through the semester:
• Listen to your writing fellow’s report on student’s recurring questions and/or confusion
• Provide your writing fellow with feedback on their work;
Continually:
• Encourage your writing fellow to hold weekly/biweekly office hours
• Communicate expectations for your writing fellow
A Guide for Writing Fellows
Writing fellows are veteran tutors assigned by the Farnham Writers’ Center to assist faculty members with writing aspects of their courses and to provide specialized and individualized writing support to students in those classes.
Writing fellows typically discuss writing assignment goals with the professor and meet with students to review their drafts and writing progress. As paid student employees, writing fellows may work up to six hours a week, including one paid reading hour per week. Thus, responsibilities of writing fellows may include:
• Holding office hours to review drafts and discuss writing-related matters;
• Leading in-class review sessions on: grammar, style, citation, documentation, summary, paraphrasing, or other writing- related topics;
• Assisting the professor with in-class peer review workshops;
• Attending labs to work with students on reports and provide feedback;
• Advising students on group writing projects or proposals;
• Supervising brainstorming or pre-writing sessions, in or outside of class;
• In W1 courses, writing fellows can expect to provide more significant support on the writing process and academic writing conventions than in other classes.
Communicate to faculty and students the FWC’s methodology, pedagogy, and that it is an inclusive space used by students of all class levels, backgrounds, and identities;
• Become familiar with the syllabus, Moodle page, and course website;
• Meet with faculty to discuss syllabus, assignments, writing expectations, and key dates;
• Discuss a writing assignment’s concepts, goals, and objectives with faculty before it is being assigned;
• Announce availability frequently; establish google calendar scheduling system, list hours on Moodle, provide in-class announcements;
• Provide regular reports to faculty regarding student’s questions, confusion, and progress (especially after major assignments and mid-semester);
• Hold weekly/biweekly office hours.
Before the first day of class:
• Review all course materials shared by your professor
• Meet to discuss the course syllabus, assignments, writing expectations, and key dates
First week of classes:
• Attend class to meet the students and introduce the services you’ll provide as a writing fellow
After major assignments (peer review, group presentations, writing assignments) and midway through the semester:
• Report students’ common questions and confusion to the professor
• Discuss feedback given by the professor
Continually:
• Hold weekly/biweekly office hours
• Communicate with the professor to ensure expectations are being met
Writing fellows are not expected to:
• Work more than six hours a week, including one paid reading hour per week;
• Carry out grading or formal assessment of student work;
• Complete coursework – including reading that exceeds the allotted one hour per week;
• Meet regularly with every student in the class;
• Provide any kind of “substitute” instruction in the faculty’s absence.
A Guide for Students
Writing fellows are veteran tutors assigned by the Farnham Writers’ Center to assist with a course’s writing aspects by providing one-on-one, course-specific support.
• Holding office hours to review drafts and discuss writing-related matters;
• Answering questions during in-class review sessions, workshops, or labs;
• Providing feedback on group writing projects or proposals;
• Assisting with brainstorming or pre-writing sessions, in or outside of class;
• Leading in-class review sessions on grammar, citation, documentation, and other writing-related topics;
• In W1 courses, writing fellows provide especially useful support on the writing process and academic writing conventions.
• Familiarize students with FWC methodology, pedagogy, and use by students of all class levels, backgrounds, and identities;
• Contextualize writing support with specific knowledge of the course;
• Increase accessibility of writing services to all students;
• Improve visibility of peer collaboration as an extension of the FWC.