An Evaluation Report of WVC’s Write Lab and Tutor Center

Version 1.1
15 June 2018
By: Andrea Velazquez-Gutierrez
Introduction
The purpose of this report was to evaluate Wenatchee Valley College’s Write
Lab and Tutor Center at the Wenatchee campus. The areas assessed include
services provided, hours and location, and available tutors.

Write Lab
Services
The Write Lab provides enrolled students aid with writing assignments. The tutors can
assist with organizing and developing ideas, the rules of grammar and punctuation,
and documentation/citations (Write Lab, 2017)

For tutors to review papers the student must have a complete draft printed–this includes
having a grammar and spell check ran on the document (Write Lab, 2017). The student
must also be present while the tutor reviews the assignment; they are not allowed to
drop off their assignments and leave the write lab. Once the tutor finishes the review
process they attach The Write Lab Student/Tutor Review Session sheet and speak with
the student on what they have found and give suggestions.

The Write Lab also has 22 computers available to access the internet, print, and work on
other class assignments as well.

Location & Hours

The Write Lab is in the Sexton Hall room 6004. The busy hours range from 8 a.m. to 12
p.m. and during finals week (personal communication, June 4, 2018).

Open Hours
Quarter Monday-Thursday Friday

Spring 7:30a.m. - 9:00p.m. 7:30a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Monday-Wednesday Thursday
Summer*
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 7:30a.m. - 3:00p.m.

Fall 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. 7:30a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Winter 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. 7:30a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Table 1 Write Lab Hours
*Summer Hours change. Friday the Write Lab is closed due to no face-to-face classes being held.
Available Tutors
According to Amy Shank, the Write Lab director, there are currently nine tutors on staff;
at any given time, there are two tutors present in the lab (personal communication,
May 29, 2018).

Majority of the tutors are part-time employees; though there are some that are
traditional full-time students (personal communication, May 29, 2018).

Student tutors gain the position through references from professors, must have passed
English 101 with an A and if enrolled in an English 200 and up have an A or B grade
(personal communication, June 4, 2018).

Tutor Center
Services
The Tutor Center provides enrolled students aid in multiple subjects. Depending on the
skill of the tutor(s) on shift is what determines which subjects’ students can be helped
with.

MATH 090-140 and CHEM 121 are usually available most hours (Tutoring Services, 2017).

Other subjects available include:

 Accounting
 Anatomy and Physiology
 Biology
 Calculus
 Chemistry
 Economics
 Mathematics
 Microbiology
 Physics
 Spanish and Japanese
 Statistics
(Tutoring Services, 2017)
Again, this depends on the skill of the tutor(s) present.

The Tutor Center also offers:

 solution manuals
 space for group work
 four computer stations1
(Tutoring Services, 2017)

1 Computer stations are for online math classes

Location & Hours
The Tutor Center is located upstairs in the John A. Brown Library. The busiest hours for the
center are between 10a.m. to 1p.m. and on midterm and final weeks (personal
communication, May 29, 2018).

Open Hours

Quarter Monday-Thursday Friday

Spring 8:00a.m. - 6:00p.m 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Monday-Wednesday Thursday
Summer*
8:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.

Fall 8:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.

Winter 8:00a.m. – 6:00p.m 8:00a.m.- 5:00p.m

Table 2 Tutor Center Hours

*Summer hours change. Due to no face-to-face classes the Tutor Center is closed on Fridays.

Available Tutors
According Mistie Larch, the Tutor Center director, there are 16 tutors on staff for the
Tutor Center. During the 8 a.m. hour there is at least two tutors on shift and for the rest of
the day the number of tutor ranges between four and six (personal communication,
June 4, 2018).

Few of the tutors are part-time employees with degrees in engineering, environmental
studies and law. There are also full-time students working as tutors (Running Start
students cannot apply to become tutors) (personal communication June 4, 2018).

Student tutors must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, submit a transcript and class schedule
(personal communication, June 4, 2018).

It is preferred for tutors to have a math and science background, be bilingual (to
increase the number of students being helped), have a recommendation (optional),
be approachable, friendly, versatile and professional (personal communication, June 4,
2018).
Summary
The Write Lab only offers tutoring for written assignments due to that fact the Write Lab
staff only consist of nine tutors with two usually on shift. The computer stations available
in the Write Lab can be used for other purposes besides working on papers; this allows
students to work on other assignments while their work is being reviewed or offer a
quiter space to work. The Tutor Center has 16 tutors on staff, due to the many subjects
being covered, with two to six tutors on shift. The hours for both the Write Lab and Tutor
Center are consistent all year round except for the summer quarter when there are no
classes on Fridays. Majority of tutors are part-time employees with backgrounds in
respective subjects, and student tutors must have satisfactory GPAs.
References
Tutoring Services. (2017). Retrieved from Wenatchee Valley College:
https://www.wvc.edu/students/support/tutoring/index.html

Write Lab. (2017). Retrieved from Wenatchee Valley College:

https://www.wvc.edu/students/support/tutoring/writelab.html