About Tutors
If you are curious about becoming a Mesa Writing Center Tutor, we should start by explaining who tutors here and what a writing tutor does. The simplest way put it is to repeat our unofficial motto: if you are a good writer, you should be working here; if you are struggling with your writing, we should be working for you. The people who work here are a diverse group of individuals who share an interest in writing, a desire to help students learn how to improve their writing, and an ability to effectively blend the interest and the desire into a successful tutorial.
The application process has three stages. First an applicant will express his or her interest in becoming a Writing Center Tutor by picking up an application, completing it, and returning it during a short chat with the Writing Center Coordinator. A writing sample of the prospective tutor’s writing must accompany the returned application. It should be recently written for a Mesa College course, be graded, and have the instructor’s marks on it. A Mesa instructor familiar with the applicant’s writing and ability to work well with classmates should email a recommendation to the Coordinator within one week of the application’s submission for consideration. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make this arrangement. The second stage is successfully completing Education 100, the Writing Center’s basic training course. A sample syllabus is available upon request. The third and final stage of the process is a formal interview for the position.
Tutors seldom work here for the money. The hourly rate starts at 9.00 for newly hired tutors who have completed of Education 100 and goes up to 10.00 after two semesters of service and completion of advanced training. Many of our tutors are Mesa students who work here between classes and enjoy working here. Tutoring is often a personally rewarding experience for both tutor and tutee.