UMKC Academic Centers and Institutes, Service Organizations and Special Projects

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Writing Center 5201 Rockhill Road 2nd Floor KC, MO, 64110 Phone: 816-235-1146 Fax: 816-235-5561 Email: umkcwritingcenter@umkc.edu Website: http://cas.umkc.edu/writingcenter/index.htm Foundational to the Writing Center’s mission is the belief that collaboration represents the most productive process towards affecting change—be it in writing or knowledge in general. The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences Writing Center is to provide UMKC’s writing community an accessible, comfortable, inclusive, inspirational space where writers from all disciplines and of all levels of ability can compose, revise, and share writing.   The Writing Center’s mission is also informed by the understanding that writing can change people’s lives in both positive and negative ways, create opportunities and obstacles, and facilitate discourse and learning. Consequently, the Writing Center’s mission and work move fluidly between the University’s three emphasis areas: teaching, research, and service.   The primary goal of the Writing Center is to offer one-to-one consultations with writing consultants trained to provide individualized feedback that will assist writers in developing their ideas, rhetorical strategies, and writing processes. The Writing Center also provides a variety of other services to support writers, such as workshops, readings, creative writing events, handouts, a resource library, writing groups, a computer lab, and work space.   The professional development of its staff represents another important objective of the Writing Center. Writing consultants participate in a vigorous continuing education program certified by the College Reading and Learning Association. Consultants study a variety of topics related to tutoring/teaching, learning, and writing. Additionally, through the Writing Center’s institutional memberships, writing consultants are members of the International Writing Centers Association and the Midwest Writing Centers Association, which provides them access to newsletters, journals, and conferences. The Writing Center’s teaching staff is expected to maintain an active research program, whether it be through self-study, reading, or data collection.   While much of the Writing Center’s staff’s efforts can be regarded as Department, College, or University service, the Writing Center also views its service role as extending beyond the campus. Frequent interaction with writing centers of area universities, a sustained partnership with the 49/63 Neighborhood Coalition, collaboration with the Urban League and Hickman Mills High School, and staffing of the Writers Hotline represent just a few of the Writing Center’s community partnerships. Similar to the way that the Writing Center approaches collaboration with individual writers, the Writing Center strives to be an engaged community partner that is cognizant of the importance of balancing community needs and University resources.   In short, the Writing Center is not only a gathering place for writers but is also a site for creativity, cognition, conversation, and collaboration.