UTSA Writing Center opens in John Peace Library, consolidating tutoring services

New UTSA Writing Center in John Peace Library, Main Campus

By Anne Peters
Communications Coordinator, UTSA Libraries

(Oct. 19, 2010)--Another milestone was reached in the ongoing renovation of the John Peace Library on the UTSA Main Campus with the opening of new spaces for the Writing Center and two units of the Tomas Rivera Center (TRC) -- Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring services. The integration into one unit of the three key academic support programs creates a one-stop student learning center.

The newly renovated wing on the south side of JPL's second floor includes a mix of study rooms, collaborative study spaces, computing resources and staff office space. The move to JPL triples the space for the TRC Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction (SI) programs, accommodating more students for tutoring and group study sessions.

"Students will have a much easier time finding the tutoring program and attending regularly scheduled SI study groups," said Leticia Duncan-Brosnan, TRC executive director. "The new library location will also provide students with convenient access to the academic resources available at the library. It is a great model to have three large academic support programs such as these in one centralized location."

Marguerite Newcomb, associate director of the Judith G. Gardner Center for Writing Excellence, said the new space will greatly enhance service to students.

"We've grown tremendously in the past few years, and anyone who has visited our last locations knows how crowded they could be," said Newcomb. "The new spaces in the JPL for both our tutor room and our computer lab are beautiful as well as spacious. We believe this move is a continuation of the dream of the Writing Center's founder and namesake, Judith G. Gardner."

Integrating student academic support services into a university's library is an increasingly common phenomenon nationwide, according to Krisellen Maloney, UTSA dean of libraries. "It just makes sense for students," she said. "We are trying to find new and creative ways to ensure students graduate from UTSA. I believe one of the keys to engagement is to make all our academic support services as accessible and inviting as we can. With these additional programs now integrated into JPL, students can get the help they need without traveling all over campus."

Library resources once found in the new Writing Center/SI/Tutoring space have been relocated to other areas of the library. A new room dedicated to periodicals, microforms and newspapers has opened on JPL fourth floor.

Two additional components of the JPL renovation project are due to be complete later this semester. An expansion of the Information Commons -- with the addition of 75 computer terminals -- is scheduled to open in late October, and a new 80-seat quiet study room will open in mid-November.