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UWC Consulting Roadmap (updated 3.17.2020)

UWC Online Consulting Roadmap (still very useful in Spring 2021) 

UWC Contract Addendum (addresses professional behavior and responsibilities)

Spring 2021 calendar:

  • The UWC will open on 1/25/21 (only faculty and GAs on the schedule). 
  • The opening all-staff meeting will be 1/29/21 at 2:30 p.m. 
  • Peer consultants will start consultations 2/1/21.
  • We'll convene for professional development in Spring 2021 in small groups for three separate hour-long meetings spread over the weeks before our closing all-staff meeting. Plan to work with your group coordinator--Jared, Lucy, Rudy, or Kevin--to set up a first meeting and get the two later dates on your schedule. Don't forget to include each small-group professional development hour you participate in on your timesheet, especially if your group's meeting falls close to a timesheet submission deadline.
  • Our closing all-staff meeting will be on 4/23/21 at 2:30 p.m.
  • Our last date of operations for spring will be 5/6 for faculty and grad students, with peer consultants stopping 4/29.

UWC Volunteer Opportunities

UWC Email Archive: Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019 and Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016

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UWC Consulting Roadmap

Refer to or share the UWC Consulting Roadmap handout as a quick reference guide regarding the James Madison University Writing Center's Mission, Vision, and Values; marks of consulting excellence; and essential components of consulting practice.

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UWC Volunteer Opportunities: The Next Step

You consult in a university writing center. You help students in academic disciplines across the university to become better writers. You took a semester-long course in UWC theory and practice before you were hired. Since then, you've attended and participated in all UWC all-staff and small-group professional development meetings.

Good! Great, even! What's the second paragraph in your personal statement, or the deeper talking point in your job or grad school interview? What's the story you want tell about your UWC experience twenty years from now?

You don't need to plan that far ahead. Just take a little step: if you're interested in digging a bit deeper into a particular aspect of the UWC experience, or if you want to start building a bigger-picture view of what we're doing in the UWC, simply express your interest in one of the UWC's volunteer opportunities (starting with the list below). And/or express your interest in exploring a connection between your UWC expertise and a local writing community. As you consider taking this first small step, know that your UWC colleagues will notice, encourage, and celebrate your engagement.

  • Write for the UWC News. Immerse yourself even more deeply in UWC events, people, and achievements...and share them with a wider audience. Gain valuable writing experience, get clips, and share what you do as a UWC consultant. We may put out calls for writers with specific story ideas, but we're also open to proposals. If you want to write for the UWC, or if you want to propose or draft or even submit a specific story (on your own or as part of a team), good. Contact Jared or Kevin.
  • Promote the UWC’s awesomeness to your fellow JMU students. Let Lucy (malenklb@jmu.edu) know if you're interested. She will train you to give our 15-minute UWC intro presentation and schedule you to visit classes that request this presentation.

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UWC Email Archive: Spring 2021

Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 12:41 PM: 336 Observation Phase

Dear UWC,

I wanted to make sure everyone understood how to handle observations from the 336 students. Many of you have been observed in the online context, but some have not. While the observers will have audio and video off during the session, you should be ready to check in with them after the client leaves the session (and perhaps before via chat).  Please read over the following guidelines I sent to the 336 students, so that your expectations are the same as theirs. If you have any questions, please let me know.

"336:

  1. Log into the UWC scheduler to see which consultant shifts overlap with your availability. You can also read about consultants on the Meet the Team page.  Use the email list I sent out to contact a consultant you'd like to observe. 
  2. Rudy Barrett (UWC faculty) has given each of you access to the scheduler, so that you can click on the appointment you are planning to observe and access the session. Turn your mic and camera off unless you are talking to the consultant before the client arrives or after the client leaves. You should plan to get to the session a few minutes early and stay for a few minutes afterward. After the session, you can ask the consultant any questions you'd like. This is a great opportunity to get clarification and learn from them. 
  3. Your observed sessions should be a mix of 30 min and 60 min sessions. Keep in mind that some students book two 30 min sessions in a row instead of booking 60 min. If the student books two 30 min sessions in a row, that counts as a 60 min session for the purposes of the apprenticeship. This also means that if you are planning to observe a 30 min session at 2:30, you should make sure that the student did not book two back-to-back 30 min sessions starting at 2 (because then you would be jumping into the middle of an hour session).  

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 12:15 PM: UWC Social Media Survey

Dear UWC,

As part of her GAship with the UWC, Lacie Knight is going to oversee our social media. In order to make our social media presence effective, she needs your input. Please read the following message from Lacie and fill our her survey ASAP. Thanks!

Hello all, 
I am Lacie Knight, one of the Graduate Assistants in the UWC. I am currently working on creating social media posts for the center and would love to begin with posts featuring our awesome consultants. 
To streamline contact, I have created the following form to obtain all of the information needed for the posts. Please fill out the form by this Friday 2/12/21. 
Please contact me by email (knightlj@jmu.edu), if you have any questions or concerns. 
Thank you and I look forward to learning more about you all! 
Best,
Lacie 

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Thursday, February 4, 2021, 8:01 PM: Pro Dev and Timesheets

Dear UWC,

As we near the end of our first full week of operations, I just wanted to check in and make sure everyone was clear on professional development responsibilities and timesheet procedures. 

Professional Development

  • Please sign up for a small group by the end of the day tomorrow. A few of you have yet to sign up: [Editor's note: for the link, check your February 4 email].
  • As I said during the opening all staff meeting,  you have two weeks from that meeting to complete the Anti-racism Module in the UWC Canvas page. That means you should have it complete by the end of the day Friday, 2/12. Remember to put three hours on your next timesheet to account for the work you did on the module. 
  • You'll have three required meetings with your small pro dev group over the semester. Your faculty facilitator will arrange these with you. Remember to put each of these on your timesheets.
  • We will have a closing all-staff meeting on April 23 at 2:30 p.m.

Timesheets

  • Most of you got these in on time. Several of you did not. You will get a reminder from Joan each pay period when timesheets are due. In that reminder, she will give a specific time that the timesheets are due to me. Please take note of that time/day, and submit your timesheet on time. Every late timesheet causes stress and adds work for me and the administrative team.
  • Please make sure the file you attach is a single Excel page for the correct pay period with all of the relevant information filled in. When I have to send them back to you, this delays the whole process. If you do have to resubmit for a correction, please retype your "I certify I worked..." statement in the email.
  • When I officially submit your timesheet, I am Ccing you on the message to the admins, so that you have confirmation.
  • If you are new, please take some time to read through the timesheet tutorial. In addition, please read through the UWC policies for missing shifts and other work-related situations: https://www.jmu.edu/uwc/tutor-resources/_consultant-field-manual.shtml If you have any questions, please reach out to me. I know this is a lot to keep track of.

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 9:22 AM: Timesheets and Pro Dev Signup

Dear UWC,

If you haven't submitted your timesheet, I need it right away. I am turning them in soon. 

Also, please sign up for a small professional development group. Once you get into a group, your faculty leader will help establish your meeting times. There is a max of 8 people per group. Please signup by the end of the day: [Editor's note: for the link, check your February 3 email].

Let me know if you have any questions. Hope you are enjoying your first week back on the job!

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication 

Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 9:43 AM: New Timesheet Instructions

UWC peer consultants:

In advance of our Friday meeting (2:30 p.m. this Friday), please review the instructions and training for using the new timesheets. This is important if you want to be paid on time. Here is additional information and the links from Joan Fahrney:

JMU has rolled out a new student time sheet for 2021 to be shared with the tutors as soon as possible. Below is the JMU link to the new time sheet itself as well as the link to Payroll’s new training PowerPoint on completing the new time sheet. They must submit the correct form to get paid – no exceptions per Payroll.  

Student and Wage Employee Timesheets (Calendar Year 2021) *NEW*
Timesheet Instructions

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication

[Editor's note: Joan sent the following addendum to the email above at 9:58 AM]

Note to all:

The instruction link from Payroll does not include how to submit electronically to your supervisor, only how to complete the form correctly to get paid.  You are welcome to ask Jared about this in training tomorrow if you need, but know that detailed instructions for you will be included in each Payroll announcement put out in Canvas and if you do have questions, I’m happy to address them.

Friday, January 22, 2021, 2:07 PM: UWC Hours and Opening Meeting

Dear UWC,

I hope you are all having a good first week of class. If you haven't already, please log in to WC Online to check your assigned shifts. If there is an error, please email Rudy ASAP. Faculty and GAs will start 1/25. Peer consultant shifts begin Monday, 2/1.

Also, remember that our opening all-staff meeting is Friday, 1/29 2:30-3:30.We'll discuss pro dev plans, new timesheets, and best practices for online consulting. You'll find the Zoom meeting information below. Have a good weekend!

Jared Featherstone is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: UWC Opening All-Staff Meeting
Time: Jan 29, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting:
[Editor's note: check your January 22 emails for the Zoom address]

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Monday, January 11, 2021, 2:23 PM: Spring 2021 UWC Schedule

Dear UWC,

I hope you are all having a good first week of class. If you haven't already, please log in to WC Online to check your assigned shifts. If there is an error, please email Rudy ASAP. Faculty and GAs will start 1/25. Peer consultant shifts begin Monday, 2/1.

Also, remember that our opening all-staff meeting is Friday, 1/29 2:30-3:30. We'll discuss pro dev plans, new timesheets, and best practices for online consulting. You'll find the Zoom meeting information below. Have a good weekend!

Jared Featherstone is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: UWC Opening All-Staff Meeting Time: Jan 29, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting: [Editor's note: check your January 22 emails for the Zoom address]

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Thursday, January 7, 2021, 7:12 PM: Quick Surveys and Some Reminders

Dear UWC,

It's time to start getting organized for the spring semester. That means I need your scheduling information. Please fill out your preferred shift times ASAP: [redacted]

Also, if you haven't filled out the brief surveys I sent out last week (and I see that many of you have not), please do. I'm pasting them below for convenience:

Important dates:

  • The UWC will open on 1/25/21 (only faculty and GAs on the schedule). 
  • The opening all-staff meeting will be 1/29/21 at 2:30 p.m. 
  • Peer consultants will start consultations 2/1/21.
  • Last date of operations for spring will be 5/6 with peer consultants stopping 4/29.

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Monday, December 14, 2020, 10:42 AM: Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

Dear UWC:

Thank you for all of your hard work this semester. I know it has been difficult to say the least. At this point, I can't even remember what normal felt like, but we have found a way to continue our mission under these conditions, which is impressive. I appreciate your flexibility and dedication through all of this. It looks like we will finish out the semester with about 1200 appointments and very satisfied clients, according to surveys. Not bad, all things considered.

I also wanted to recognize Skylar and Amanda, two great consultants who are graduating this semester. We are sad to see you go, and I wish we could have done an in-person send-off.  On the flipside, please welcome our newly hired consultants: Sarah, Lauren, Ayana, Edana, and Bailey. Welcome to the UWC community!

Now, some important information and dates for the spring semester. As you probably guessed, the UWC will remain completely online.

  • The UWC will open on 1/25/21 (only faculty and GAs on the schedule). 
  • The opening all-staff meeting will be 1/29/21 at 2:30 p.m. 
  • Peer consultants will start consultations 2/1/21.
  • Last date of operations for spring will be 5/6 with peer consultants stopping 4/29.

Lastly, due to the reduced pro dev hours and being physically separated, it has been more difficult to gauge how things are going for you. I wanted to give you a chance to give us some feedback. I know you are busy, but if you could take a study break complete these two surveys before 12/18 (or shortly thereafter 😉). Your input really helps us make decisions about the UWC.

Hope you all have a restful and safe winter break!

Jared Jay Featherstone, MFA
Associate Director, University Writing Center
Associate Professor, School of Writing Rhetoric and Technical Communication

 

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University Writing Center
Student Success Center
738 S. Mason St.
Room 1st Floor
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
feathejj@jmu.edu
540/568-1759
Fax: 540/568-2926