Students at Francis Marion University (FMU) now have access to view and schedule all Writing Center appointments online.

Unlike previous years where students would walk into the center to physically sign up, students can schedule all appointments remotely or ask a center tutor on-location for assistance.

Dr. Jennifer Kunka, director of the Writing Center cited convenience as the main reason for the writing center adopting online services. Kunka also said she was aware of other universities who use the same scheduling software which helped with the decision to move services online.

Blake Terill, senior public relations and professional writing double major, is a student worker at the Writing Center. According to Terill, the best aspect of the online scheduling is, “the efficiency it creates in the Writing Center.”

Terill explained that in the past, students would walk into the Writing Center, pencil in their name for a time and tutor. If someone wanted to cancel an appointment, they would come in, erase their name and others would know there was an available appointment.

Since all students have constant access to view available appointments online, it has become easier to fill available spaces.

“Students have more control over their schedule,” Kunka said. “Students can cancel appointments just as easily as creating them.”

The Writing Center consultants were trained to work with the new software. Formerly, tutors wrote notes for the students concerning their essays and also to inform professors that a student had visited the Writing Center to receive help. With the new software, tutors send notes electronically.

Katie Mitchell, junior English- secondary education major commented that since scheduling is now done online, the center uses less paper.

Another feature of the center’s online services is online tutorials. This allows for students to upload their paper and receive guidance virtually. The tutorials work best when students use headphones and microphones to communicate with the tutors. This option is convenient for both campus residents and commuter students. Students are however, still able to receive an in-person consultation for which will schedule online.

Kunka wants the Writing Center to continue being a source for students to assist them with their writing.

“We want to continue to offer writers resources for whatever they are writing at FMU,”

Kunka said.

To create to create account, log on to  www.fmarion.edu/academics /wcenter. Students should note that the white spaces on the schedule are for available appointments while the light blue boxes are the appointments that are already booked. Students will be able to view the center’s hours of operation once they have created an account.