Whether you are confident in your writing abilities, unsure about where to start, or just need a place to focus, we invite you to come to the Writing Center. During daily drop-in studio hours (1-4pm, all weekdays), students can stop by, work independently or in groups, and ask questions of professional consultants who are available on an as-needed basis. For more extensive support, you can schedule a 30-minute meeting with a writing consultant.
We hope you’ll drop by during studio hours, make an appointment through our scheduler, or email writingcenter@umontana.edu if there are other ways we can support your success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Drop-in studio hours and in-person appointments take place in the Mansfield Library, Room 322. Online appointments take place over Zoom. Weekly drop-in hours are also available at the Branch Center, the Payne Center, and at Missoula College.
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Daily studio hours (1-4pm, Monday through Friday) are designed to provide students with a supportive and communal place to work. You are welcome to drop by any time and to stay as long as you would like. Tutors are available as needed for brief consultations or questions and will periodically check in with students as they work. Students are welcome to work in groups or independently.
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During the fall and spring semesters, the Writing Center is typically open Sunday through Friday from 9am to 7pm.
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There is no limit to the number of times students can stop by during studio hours. For scheduled appointments, students are limited to two hours of appointment time per week. To request an exception to this limit, please talk to your consultant or email writingcenter@umontana.edu.
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Writing Center consultants (also called tutors) bring a variety of academic and professional backgrounds to the UM Writing Center. Many are published writers and/or experienced instructors; some are current graduate students. All bring a wealth of relevant experience and a passion for providing individualized support to writers across our community.
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If you are a first-time user you need to register for an account prior logging in to make an appointment. This account enables you to see our tutoring schedule and select a time, location, and tutor that works for you.
If you already have an account, you can log into the scheduler to select a time, location and tutor that works for you.
When you select an appointment slot, be sure to note where it is and if your appointment is online or in-person. If you have any questions or encounter any problems, please email writingcenter@umontana.edu.
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Expect a conversation about your writing! After introductions, your consultant will ask about what you are working on. From there, you and your tutor will decide how best to spend your time together to address your writing concerns.
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Students are welcome to stop by and work in the Writing Center any time our doors are open. However, if you want to meet with a consultant, you can either come to our daily studio hours (1-4pm Monday through Friday), stop by satellite drop-in hours, or make an appointment through our scheduler.
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All members of the University of Montana community can use the Writing Center. This includes undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
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Nope. You can come to the Writing Center at any stage in the writing process, from getting help understanding an assignment, to brain-storming ideas, to polishing up that final draft.
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Yes! Our professional tutors are equipped to help you with writing assignments across disciplines, from lab reports to lit reviews to literary analyses.
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We are happy to work with you as you make corrections on your paper but we do not provide editorial services. All of our work with students happens one-on-one during your appointment, with the objective of developing your own writing abilities. We do not handle student papers without the student’s presence.
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Yes! You can always select an appointment slot with the tutor of your choice. Your tutor can also help set up subsequent or recurring appointments if that is desired. Some students like to work with multiple different tutors; others work consistently with the same one. We encourage you to do what’s best for you!
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It’s up to you. You will receive a brief confirmation of your visit that you can forward to your instructor if you choose to. Your account with the Writing Center is entirely separate from your other University of Montana accounts, and your appointment records are not available to course instructors.
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No problem! Log into the scheduler, click on your appointment, and select “cancel appointment” at the bottom. Book a new appointment at a time that works for you. We ask that students cancel a day in advance if possible to open up appointments for other students.
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We understand that life happens, but encourage you to let us know when it does! If you are more than ten minutes late, your appointment will be marked as a no-show, and your appointment may be given to another student. If you miss three scheduled appointments, you will lose the right to make appointments for the remainder of the current semester. To make a case for reinstating your account email us at writingcenter@umontana.edu.
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We are happy to address whatever concerns you may have. Grammar is one of the many components of strong writing, but does not guarantee a good paper. Our consultants can help you improve the grammar in your writing, as well as work on other important writing components. We encourage you to discuss with your tutor at the beginning of your session what kind of feedback you are hoping to receive.
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The Writing Center is not just for those that struggle with writing – although the more we work with writers, the more we understand that EVERYONE struggles with writing! Our professional consultants are trained to work with writers from novice to experts. Indeed, our consultants often meet with each other to discuss their own writing projects! Strong and struggling writers alike need smart audiences to give feedback on their writing. That’s what we do.
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Yes! All in-person appointments can be switched anytime to online. Go to the scheduler and click on your appointment. Click “edit appointment” in the appointment box and then select online.
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That depends. If your tutor is in the Mansfield Library, then they are available to meet in person or online. To make this change go to the scheduler and click on your appointment. Click “edit appointment” in the appointment box and then select online. However, some of our tutors ONLY work online, so note the location of your tutor to determine if you can switch your online appointment to in-person.
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Appointments can fill up, especially during busy times of the semester. But cancellations are common, and checking the scheduler frequently often results in getting a booking. We also encourage you to add yourself to the waitlist by clicking on “Waiting List” on the lower right corner of the day’s schedule. This will enable our system to send you a notification when an appointment opens up.
You can also access tutor support by stopping by our drop-in studio hours, 1-4pm Monday through Friday. If helpful, we can help you get set up with an account and make an appointment. Drop-in hours are also available at the Branch Center, the Payne Center, and Missoula College (2nd floor lounge area).
If you encounter difficulties finding a time to meet with one of us, please email writingcenter@umontana.edu, and we will do our best to help
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You have already paid for this service in your student fees! Why not make the most of your investment and come visit?!?
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At your appointment time, log into the scheduler, click on your appointment box, then click on the Zoom link. Please have your assignment prompt and any written work open on your desktop. Plan to use a device with a screen large enough to see documents.
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Unfortunately, no. We do not have the resources to provide feedback on student writing outside of appointment times.
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Yes! These kinds of application materials are often some of the hardest writing assignments you’ll face. Our consultants are trained to work with you on personal statements and application essays.
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Yes! We would be happy to look at your resume with you. The Office of Experiential Learning and Career Success is also a good resource for getting resume help.
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Of course! Many of our consultants have backgrounds in creative writing and all would be delighted to work with you on any creative writing tasks.