The mission of the Writing Center is to meet not only the needs of students, but those of all writers across the university. In order to attract a strong community of faculty/staff writers, we offer a number of services for use in their classrooms and with their own writing.

Click the link to view our Scholarly Writing Initiatives for Faculty & Staff flier. This will provide more details on ways in which the Writing Center aims to support Faculty/Staff writers at GVSU. Feel free to print a copy for your office, a colleague, or save it to your computer for future reference. 

Faculty/Staff Fridays

Join your colleagues for quiet writing time most Friday afternoons. These events integrate all aspects of our faculty/staff writing support, giving you an opportunity to work in peer writing groups, work one-to-one with a professional consultant, or write in a quiet space. 

This scheduled, free-from-distraction writing time helps you to make steady progress on a writing project and benefit from the focus and support that comes from writing among your colleagues

Scroll down the page for up-coming dates and locations. 

Faculty/Staff Writing Retreats

Structured as writing time with opportunities for individualized feedback, these 5-day retreats are an opportunity for faculty and staff to make extraordinary progress on a long writing project -- or several shorter ones. Writing center representatives will facilitate the retreats and be available to provide feedback to participants. 

We'll provide a work station, light snacks, and plenty of coffee and tea; you bring the materials you'll need to be productive on your writing project and your own laptop. 
Patrick Johnson, Director of the Writing Center, and/or Lindsey Ellis, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, will be on hand to provide feedback if you'd like a personal consultation about your project.

Scroll down the page for up-coming dates and locations.

Requested Peer Support

Faculty/Staff Writing Groups:

Meet with a small group of your colleagues from across campus to share drafts of your writing for feedback. For more information, feel free to contact us with your questions and/or requests. 

Click here to view our Scholarly Writing Initiatives for Faculty & Staff flier for details. 

Faculty/Staff One-to-One Consultations:

Meet with a peer writing consultant online or in person to receive constructive feedback on your writing. For more information, feel free to contact us with your questions and/or requests. 

What to Know:

Q: What happens at the writing center on Faculty/Staff Fridays?
A: A whole lot of writing! The idea behind the event is that by setting aside time to write away from the interruptions of your home or office, and in a space conducive to writing, you will actually get some writing done. The silent support of hard working colleague-writers around you is motivating. And the writing center has what you need--style guides, books about writing, a faculty/staff writing consultant, food, and beverages--to keep you productive and comfortable.

Q. Can I come late or leave early?
A. Absolutely!

Q. Do I need to make a reservation?
A. Nope! Just show up ready to write.

Q. I can't fit Fridays into my schedule this year. Will you do this next academic year?
A. So far, signs point to "yes," but watch this page for more info. You might also be interested in participating in one of our week-long writing retreats, which are held in May and August each year. 

Registration Information:
Please submit your registration form by April 14 (for summer retreats). Please note that while faculty working on dissertations will be given first priority in registering for the retreat, there will likely be plenty of room available to faculty and staff working on other projects.

Details:
Patrick Johnson, Director of the Fred Meijer Center for Writing, & Lindsay Ellis, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, will facilitate the retreat, which runs from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

The Center will provide a laptop computer for your use, as well as writing resources and goal-setting activities to keep you focused.

The Center will ensure you're well nourished and alert by providing snacks and drinks throughout the day and lunch at noon.

Participants are expected to spend at least seven hours per day on writing or writing-related activities and join other participants for lunch each day.

Writing Retreat Materials

Inventory

Form to be filled out ahead of the retreat to help participants gather their ideas and materials and show up ready to write. Daily Reflection Form

Form filled out by participants at the end of each day to keep track of what they accomplished and where to pick back up in the morning. Resources and Reminders

Guides participants to online and bookshelf resources, as well as other writing support. Retreat Evaluation Form

Participants tell us what they think of the retreat.

Scholarship & Helpful Links

And here are some links to great pieces about writing as a faculty member:

• Inside Higher Education's "Writing for Academe" series
• "Retreating Into the Center: Supporting Faculty and Staff as Writers," by Ellen Schendel, published in Writing Lab Newsletter.
• "Writing Group as Sanctuary," by Lisa Botshon and Eve Raimon, published in Chronicle of Higher Education.
• More Helpful Links

Have other questions? Stop in and visit! Or call us at 331-2922.