Santa Clara University

Community Outreach is an important part of the writing center’s mission. As such, HUB tutors may volunteer at local high schools, preparing seniors for the demands of college writing, supporting students for whom English is not their native language, helping students complete their college applications, and whatever else they can do to support and celebrate writing at other schools and organizations.

Organizations interested in working with the HUB Team should contact Dolores laGuardia, HUB Director by email at dlaguardia@scu.edu or by phone at 408-393-8999.

DOWNTOWN COLLEGE PREPARATORY
As part of English 197: Practicum for Writing Tutors, students may volunteer at Downtown College Prep (DCP), a charter high school located in San Jose, whose mission is to help underachieving students gain acceptance to four-year colleges and universities upon graduation. At least once a week, SCU students work with a class of high school seniors. Acting as peer-educators and mentors, the SCU students conduct writing exercises, brainstorming sessions, and facilitate group work under the direction of an SCU faculty member. SCU students often form close relationships with the boys and girls at DCP, and continue working with them in after-school tutoring programs and book group settings.

SANTA CLARA ADULT EDUCATION CENTER
Several students who have taken the Practicum for Writing Tutors have also volunteered at the Santa Clara Adult Education Center. This small school is only minutes from the SCU campus and provides immigrants and other ESL adults with critical language skills. The school attracts students with home countries all over the world, from China and Korea to Mexico and El Salvador.

In the future, the HUB will aid local schools in establishing their own writing centers, for all schools—whether elementary school, middle school, or high school—should have access to the resources that promote enhanced writing abilities in their students. Working to establish writing centers within the larger community can provide SCU students with a practical understanding of academic administration, learning how to get things done on time and on budget (important experience for students interested in a career in education.