By Ladiyah Beachum
The University Writing Center (WC) at NJCU, located in the Karnoutsos Building, Room 115, lacks full time staffing due to a budget crisis.
Peer, professional and interning tutors can only work part-time because of financial problems. Students consider the Writing Center as an excellent resource and extremely helpful during final exams.
“One of the problems I’ll say at NJCU right now is we have a budget crisis. The number of appointments in the Writing Center is based on a budget,” said Ann Wallace, Writing Center Coordinator/Assistant Chair for Composition in the English Department.
The WC budget is $64,000 a year which includes money used during the fall semester, spring semester, and both summer sessions.
“I can only have so many tutors. I started working here in 2008 and the budget has still yet to be increased. We have no receptionist and no administrative assistant; we just have tutors,” said Wallace.
The WC employed eight interns who are enrolled in English 400, a training course that enables future employment opportunities. Peer tutors work three hours a week making $8 an hour.
“After students finish the internship course, they may be invited back and given a modest (50 cent) raise—we have six such tutors. Depending on how long they have worked in the Writing Center, their hourly rate varies,” said Wallace.
The WC has a total of two professional tutors who are also adjuncts in the English Department. They were hired as Assistant Coordinators. Due to the low budget, these professional tutors cut their 33 hour weeks in order for peer tutors to obtain rightful hours. This leads to limited time used for students who need academic assistance.
“With my first experience at the Writing Center, it has not been a good one because I have emailed them over three times and til’ this day I have not gotten any response back,” said Victoria Codner, 20, biology major from Union City. “Plus it is very difficult to make appointments because nothing is ever available for the schedule I have.”
NJCU students enjoy their services received from the WC, but students agree there should be more available tutors on Saturday and Sunday for those who are unavailable during the week.
Graduate student James Collins, 49, mental health counselor from Woodridge said, “The tutors are very helpful, but there is a greater need for them. The only time that I can get tutored is on Saturdays. I think there should be a call to the English Department to provide more qualified tutors.”
Other students think that the WC’s hourly tutorial sessions are suitable.
“Making appointments for me is easy and the staff members are professional and helpful. It’s very convenient for me. I come two to three times a week at the end of the semester,” said Madai Licin, 40, nursing major from Orange County.
The WC tutors would like longer work hours with an increased pay rate. Because of low pay rates, many professional tutors are forced to work an additional job.
NJCU Writing Center Tutor, Veronica Reed, from Jersey City said, “As a tutor, I work as many hours as I can work. There aren’t enough hours to go around here.”
The main reason why tutors are unable to work a substantial amount of hours is because of the school’s budget.
“Our biggest liability is the budget. We are very aware of the writing challenges. We desire to help more NJCU students, we just don’t have the resources to do it,” said Lara Kattekola, Assistant Coordinator of the Writing Center.
Reed said, “Everyone is part- time which is the biggest issue for tutors. We have some of the best tutors, but they work a few hours a week because they have other jobs.”
The WC’s purpose is to educate writers and help them enhance their writing skills for present and future courses while preparing students for their future careers.
According to a Writing Center brochure, the WC’s purpose “involves active collaboration between tutors and students in examining students’ writing processes. Tutors help students reflect on their writing goals and offer them viable strategies for becoming confident, skilled writers.”
Countless NJCU students are unaware of the services provided by the WC. Those who are aware either schedule tutoring sessions or go to do homework during their free time.
Jazmin Johnson, 24, English major from Jersey City said, “I usually come here to do homework. All of the students aren’t aware of the Writing Center. It’s better than going to the Professional Studies Building, because there is never a free computer. You always have to walk around three or four times or wait for someone to get up so you can actually type.”
Alternative tutoring options include: the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) and Center for Student Success (CSS). The OSP, located in Vodra Hall, Room 211, strengthens students’ academic skills through a six week pre-semester process while CSS, in the Gilligan Student Union, Room 216, provides tutoring sessions during the semester.
“The Center for Student Success was also created a couple of years after the WC opened, and it receives, from what I understand, substantially better funding,” said Wallace.
Peaches • Dec 21, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Budget crisis? Is that what we’re calling the mismanagement of taxpayer money by decision makers at NJCU. Only a few years ago the university renovated GSUB for millions, and did such a sloppy job that it’s pouring millions more to fix it. There’s plenty of cash, it’s just not going where it’s suppose to go, to services like tutoring and daycare for students with children, for example. An independent audit and a purging of complacency inside Hepburn Hall, would do our school a lot of good. BTW, good article Ladiyah, by point out shortcomings your work is bound to make a difference.