News from SUNY Cortland

For more information contact: Jennifer Wilson, 607-753-2232

Popular Writing Fellows Program Introduced at SUNY Cortland

CORTLAND, NY (05/20/2008; 1055)(readMedia)-- SUNY Cortland’s new Writing Fellows Program offers a stipend to selected undergraduate and graduate students who work to help their peers strengthen writing abilities in many different academic disciplines.

This past semester, the College piloted the program that originated at Brown University in the early 1980s and is now practiced at colleges across the country, including Tufts University, Duke University, George Mason University and Pennsylvania State University.

At SUNY Cortland, the program is sponsored by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Office, College Writing Committee, Learning Commons Writing Center, English Department, Professional Writing Program and Academic Support and Achievement Program (ASAP).

“A writing fellow performs some of the duties of a tutor, but also helps communicate the instructor's intent to the student,” explained Kathy Lattimore, an English Department faculty member who co-directs the SUNY Cortland program with Distinguished Teaching Professor of English Mary Lynch Kennedy. “A writing fellow works closely with both student and instructor, unlike a tutor. Also, the writing fellow reviews the papers before meeting with the student one on one, unlike the tutor who is usually unable to review student work beforehand.”

Each writing fellow receives $800 a semester from a $5,000 budget managed by the provost. Four students, all possessing outstanding writing skills, were picked to be the program’s inaugural writing fellows. They and their faculty supervisors were:

• Benjamin Kimble, a sophomore adolescence education: English major from Greene, N.Y., working with Linda Lavine, associate professor of psychology;

• Danielle Moran, a junior childhood education major from Scotia, N.Y., assisting Rachel Reinhard, assistant professor of history;

• Caitlin Hoffman, a junior speech pathology and audiology major from Victor, N.Y., helping Janet Ford, assistant professor of speech pathology and audiology; and,

• Adam Berenstain, a junior professional writing major from Ithaca, N.Y., assisting Sarah Beshers, assistant professor of health.

“The students we worked with ranged from sophomores to seniors and some nontraditional students,” said Moran, one of the four writing fellows. “There were some who really needed the help and others who just liked to have someone read over their paper and make small critiques and improvements that could help further enhance their writing.”

“The students were very receptive to our help, and I think they incorporated our suggestions well,” said Hoffman, another writing fellow. “This process helped me to improve my skills as well by providing me with examples of common errors in writing.”

“To be a writing fellow, a student must be nominated by a faculty member and must have a ‘B’ or better average in his or her writing classes,” Lattimore explained. “The student must submit writing samples and recommendations from two faculty members. The writing fellow also must agree to attend a training course and ideally must have at least two semesters, preferably more, left at SUNY Cortland.”

The objectives of the program are to demonstrate that all faculty and students share responsibility for writing; to encourage students to practice good writing habits, including revision; to explore ways in which writing and learning are connected; and to make writing an integral part of the curriculum, as opposed to a feature of isolated courses.

In addition to performing valuable community service, the writing fellows have the opportunity to develop their own writing and interpersonal communication skills as a result of completing the training and tutoring other students. Other benefits are working closely with a faculty member who may be willing to write a letter of recommendation.

Most of the surveys Lattimore administered among the students, professors and writing fellows to determine the success of the program have been returned, she noted.

“A clear majority of the students felt this program was helpful,” Lattimore said. “Seventy-five percent of students indicated the writing fellow was able to clarify their assignment and 81 percent of students said the writing fellow was very helpful in improving the organization of their paper. Faculty responding to the survey indicated the grades were much better than usual. The writing fellows all felt it was a good experience and want to continue in the fall.”

All four writing fellows will serve again. Lattimore is currently lining up the faculty and courses.

For more information about the Writing Fellows Program, contact Kennedy at (607) 753-2086 or at kennedym@cortland.edu or Lattimore at (607) 753-2083 or at lattimore@cortland.edu.

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