Each year the East Central Writing Center Association (ECWCA) acknowledges the outstanding service provided by tutors/consultants throughout the region. Designed to celebrate the contributions of undergraduate-student, graduate-student, and staff writing center tutors, these awards serve not only to publicly acknowledge deserving tutors/consultants, but also to support and sustain the important work of writing centers for campuses and larger communities for another generation. Two awards, one in each category explained below, are presented each year.

Categories

Outstanding Tutor of the Year Award

This award recognizes innovative approaches to tutoring/consulting, the quality of work with writers, and the articulation of a tutoring/consulting philosophy. While any member of the writing center staff who tutors may be nominated for the Outstanding Tutor of the Year award, it is generally given to those who hold tutoring positions.

Submit a nomination for Outstanding Tutor of the Year

Tutor Leadership Award

This award recognizes the leadership contributions of undergraduate-student, graduate-student, and staff writing center tutors, including but not limited to development of new programs, writing center training innovations, presentation of writing center work in academic and non-academic forums, community outreach, work with special populations, and creativity in writing center programming/services. While any tutor may be nominated for the Tutor Leadership Award, it is generally given to tutors who hold positions of leadership in their writing centers: for instance, assistants to the director, assistant directors, graduate coordinators, and lead tutors are the most likely candidates for this award.

Awards:  $400 Cash Award and Award Certificate

Submit a nomination for the Tutor Leadership Award

Guidelines for Nominators

Individual institutions are welcome to nominate writing tutors/consultants for both awards; however, each tutor/consultant should only be nominated for one award per year and each institution should only nominate one tutor/consultant in each category. Award recipients are ineligible for the same award in the following year.

Nominators must be prepared to provide the following information in the online submission form:

1. A personal statement written by the nominee. To ensure a blind review, the nominee should use plain paper (not letterhead) and avoid mentioning an institution. Provide first name and last initial as a means of identification, instead. 

   a. For the Outstanding Tutor of the Year Award, the personal statement should describe a clear philosophy of tutoring/consulting, exemplified through narratives about one or two significant tutoring/consulting sessions or other work completed in the center. 
   b. For the Tutor the Leadership Award, the personal statement should delineate the activities that demonstrate the nominee’s leadership in the writing center.

   
   

2. A letter of support for the nominee from the sponsoring faculty/administrator/ colleague. This letter should
   • avoid reference to the nominee’s institution;
   • refer to the nominee by first name and last initial;
   • and be written anonymously.

Detailed Criteria for Tutor Awards

Outstanding Tutor of the Year Award

The award for the 2022 Outstanding Tutor will be given to recognize innovative approaches to tutoring, the quality of work with writers and the articulation of a tutoring philosophy that guides the tutor.

For the Tutor Award, the personal statement should describe a clear philosophy of tutoring, exemplified through narratives about one or two significant tutoring sessions. The personal statement should be accompanied by a letter of support from the faculty/administrator/colleague sponsoring the nomination.

Up to 5 points are awarded in each category, for a potential total of 25 points.

1. Does not demonstrate (very low)
2. Makes steps to demonstrate (low)
3. Makes steps to demonstrate clear philosophy but has had moderate success in enacting or illustrating (neutral)
4. Clear philosophy of tutoring, supported by examples (high)
5.  Clear philosophy of tutoring, two or more clear and supported examples that exemplify this philosophy (very high)

Tutor Leadership Award

The award for the 2020 Tutor Leadership Award will be given to recognize the tutor’s various leadership contributions, including but not limited to including but not limited to development of new programs, writing center training innovations, presentation of writing center work in academic and non-academic forums, community outreach, work with special populations, and creativity in writing center programing/services.

For the Tutor Leadership Award, the personal statement should delineate the activities that demonstrate the nominee’s leadership in the writing center.  The personal statement should be accompanied by a letter of support from the faculty/administrator/colleague sponsoring the nomination.

Up to 5 points are awarded in each category, for a potential total of 30 points:

1.     Does not meet (very low)
2.     Makes steps to lead (low)
3.     Makes steps to lead but has had moderate success (neutral)
4.     Excels at leadership in-center (high)
5.     Moves outside of local WC contexts, leader in the field/community (very high)

ECWCA TRAVEL AWARD

The East Central Writing Center Association (ECWCA) is committed to providing access to the  conference to consultants across the region and offers up to five $200 travel awards to support the travel expenses of presenters. Preference is given to applicants who are first-time presenters at the conference and who are not receiving other financial support. In addition, reviewers will take into consideration applicants’ proximity to the conference. All presenters are welcome to apply. This is an individual award; awardee must be in attendance at the awards ceremony to receive the award.

Applicants must be prepared to answer the following questions in the online submission form:

Then, you need to write a short essay (250 words) about how this award will support your scholarly ambitions.

Apply for the Tutor Travel Award

Award Contact

For other questions, contact Marilee Brooks-Gillies at mbrooksg@iupui.edu

Thank you for applying for the award; we hope to see you at ECWCA 2022 at Michigan State University.