Though the Maxine and Jack Lane Center For Academic Success has housed its new writing center for some months now, the Fall 2010 semester officially kicks-off the center's grand opening. The Kean University Writing Center is the product of a long-term ambition to provide tutoring services in an area with interdisciplinary importance and personal development. Writers from the Kean University student body, faculty, and staff are welcome to utilize the writing center's tutoring sessions and resources. With the center's ongoing training development and expanding ingenuity, traffic within the center is steadily building.The Kean University Writing Center is much more resourceful than most might assume. Writing in any stages is welcomed for discussion during the one-on-one sessions offered with peer writing coaches. Whether the writer is brainstorming or finalizing, organizing excessive content or trying to become "unstuck", or even fishing for strategies for their writing, they can find solace in working with the writing center. Subject matter, too, is open as to what can be discussed during the sessions. Lauren Pettit, a peer tutor within the center, has coached writers with a broad range of writing interest. Psychology, nursing, ecology, and social work are just some of the professional writing areas that surface in the writing center. Pettit, a senior biotechnology major, recognizes that not all writing has a Liberal Arts subject emphasis; it is many times geared towards statistical structuring, grant writing persuasion, and the alike.

The writing center wants to best utilize its hours for writing that is active, urgent, and of concern to its writers. Because the Center places a high priority on meaningful work with writing, they generally do not encourage students to come to the Center with writing that they do not intend to revise.

Writers can schedule an appointment via Kean's online scheduling program, 'tutorTrac'; the direct link is http://www.kean.edu/cas/tutortrac.html. Writers also have the option to make an appointment by phone at 908-737-0317, or by visiting in person during the writing center's hours of operation: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sessions last 50 minutes. To make the best use of their time, writers should bring any materials being used for the writing, an electronic or paper copy of any drafts completed, and a copy of the writing assignment, if applicable to the session.

When student writers schedule an appointment with the center, they may feel at ease that they are among familiar, relatable faces. The Kean University Writing Center's sessions are peer-coached - a system the center and its coaches feel is strategic when working with writing. Writing Center coach, Erin Krieg, a senior English writing major, confesses that there is a level of expectancy when student writers work with non-peer coaches. "We do not want our writers to fear to ask questions," remarks Krieg.

For the writing center, the peer-to-peer coaching sessions transcends the likelihood of neighboring age groups. One of Krieg's writers, Jodi Handler, is a post-baccalaureate student who sought assistance with a demanding research paper. Handler, a senior psychology major, is a returning student after a 30 year absence from education. Handler admitted that her biggest challenge was overcoming her 'paralysis by analysis' state; with help from Krieg, Handler tackled the paper with new confidence. Handler recalls the same confidence behind the encouraging words "we will make a writer out of you", a gesture given to Handler by the Director of the Kean University Writing Center, Dr. Sally Chandler. Like something of a success story, Handler now serves a writing coach within the center.

Angela Castillo, a student in the Master of Arts in English-Writing Studies, and a graduate assistant at the Center, notes that the benefits offered with the position are vast. Castillo's affiliation with the center has helped to align her with research opportunities as well as professional travel opportunities; Louisville, Kentucky and San Francisco, California are just two of the writing conference locations Castillo has participated in.

Timothy Longman, one of the center's newest coaches, appreciates the opportunity to work with peers who he can directly connect with. Longman, a senior English writing major, recognizes that there are few black male tutors; he hopes his desire to write will impact his peers. The center also offers other student job opportunities. Raul Salas, sophomore internal business major, works as the center's receptionist and data processing personnel and is referred to by his co-workers as "The Glue" of the writing center.

Writing coaches are trained before coaching sessions begin. As one track option for the training, Dr. Chandler currently offers an undergraduate and graduate integrated English course entitled Writing Center Theory and Practice. The other track option offered for those who do not take the course is to enter into a kind of apprenticeship within the writing center. Through theory lessons, journaling, and session observations, coaches taking this track will gradually step into working with peer writers. Students interested in working at the Writing Center are encouraged to apply; the opportunity holds both measurable and intrinsic value.