Request a Studio Partner

Undergraduate Students

We are no longer arranging Studio Partners for winter quarter. However, you are welcome to schedule one-off appointments with us, or to place a Studio Partner request for spring quarter.

If you are interested in something similar to Studio Partners, but with course credit, please contact Elizabeth Stephan about the Academic Literacies Practicum (LIBR 341) course. 

Graduate Students 

Graduate level research and writing is exciting but can present new challenges. Whether you are writing a thesis or other materials for your program, it can be daunting to figure out how to work through large projects, even with help from faculty in your program. Why go at it alone when you don't have to?

Sign up for a Studio Partner to be matched with a Graduate Research & Writing Assistant who will work with you through the process. Signing up  requires no obligation on your part; you meet when it's convenient for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

The partners program is the Hacherl Research & Writing Studio’s service where you can have consultations with the same person and build a working relationship with them. This program is here for you if you are looking for someone you can meet with weekly who is trained to offer strategies and support as you explore your schoolwork. As you get to know each other, you can navigate shifting priorities since you will also be building an understanding of each other’s approaches to learning. We want you to feel confident seeking support and advocating for your needs—the partners program is one space we hope we can practice doing so together.  

The current program was started in 2015, inspired by many prior efforts to provide structured learning for student writing, research, and reading. Its original design was to support multilingual learners writing papers in English. Since then, the program has grown so that all WWU students–both undergraduate and graduate–can take part. The partners program has also helped lead to a sibling program, a practicum in academic literacies (on hold until fall, 2023), which provides students course credit for their learning work with us during a quarter. We are still changing and growing to match what you bring to us, so please request a partner and tell us what you’re looking for! You might find that this is a space where it can happen.

 

Our partnerships vary widely in what people work on together. Here are some of the things a partnership can focus on:

  • Support for weekly academic planning and scheduling
  • Writing and revising a research essay
  • Practicing presentations or scripts
  • Having someone to study with and keep you accountable
  • Revising a novel

Go ahead and tell us what you’re looking for in your request form.

 

Partners typically meet 1-2 times a week for an hour. This can give space in between meetings for you to process and practice strategies, to transition between assignments, or establish a work cycle

If you are in-person, you will most likely meet your partner in the Hacherl Research & Writing Studio. The Studio is located in Haggard Hall on the second floor, across from Circulation Services. There will be a table marked “Partners” where your partner will meet you at your scheduled time. After meeting here, you might transition to a different workspace in the Studio or elsewhere in the Libraries. If you have trouble getting in touch, don't hesitate to check in with our staff on shift at the front of the Studio

We want to be responsive to how you approach learning and what is going to work well for you. For instance, your partnership might begin with a conversation about your study habits, your experiences in your classes, or what kind of support you are seeking. 

There is a space on our request form where you can disclose any disability or accommodations information you would like to share. At the same time, we strive to be accessible and accommodating with all our consultations; it is not necessary for you to disclose any disability information for you to get support. 

The exception to this is if you have a learning need that goes beyond the usual 1-2 hours a week, in which case one of our supervising staff may inquire about official accommodation needs.

Anytime! (Almost). We normally close the request form in the last few weeks of the quarter, since there isn't much time to connect you with a partner by then (at that point you are welcome to use our drop-in services or schedule an appointment by clicking here). Besides that, we have people starting partnerships throughout the quarter and you can continue into the next quarter if scheduling allows. The partners program is here to be helpful for you, so if you need to stop your partnership for whatever reason, you can do so at any time.

After you fill out the request form we will email you to let you know we received it. From there, it will take about a week to connect you with a partner who can meet your needs and availability. You will hear back from us within that time and then you and your partner can message to determine a time that works best for your meetings.

Our request form asks about the classes and subject areas you are looking for support with and you are welcome to specify which ones you are focused on. At the same time, our years of experience have shown that staff do not necessarily need to have a background with the class or area of study you will be working on. Our staff have many different academic backgrounds which we bring to our work in supporting research, reading, and writing across disciplines. While we cannot guarantee you will be partnered with someone who has experience in that discipline, we'd love to hear what your areas of focus are so we can better prepare to work with you

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

This is your student ID number, including the W (W12345678)
Undergraduate Students
Would you prefer to meet in-person or online?
Please note, while the Studio strives to make special accomodations when requested, our ability to provide an accomodation is dependant on staffing and other factors. 
Graduate Students
Note: During that initial meeting, your potential Studio Partner will talk with you about what you hope to get out of the program and then make a tentative plan for supporting your research and writing.
Please note, while the Studio strives to make special accomodations when requested, our ability to provide an accomodation is dependant on staffing and other factors.