By Martina Padia Fajardo
One of CIS University’s most important resources for students is the Writing Lab, which is key to our university’s goal of supporting academic success. The lab, run by a dedicated team of supervisors and tutors, provides an essential resource for students looking to improve their writing skills, build self-assurance, and develop their feeling of community on campus, while also raising their academic performance and GPA. It is open four days a week (Monday through Thursday) from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Writing Lab has been proven to be a key resource for students who want to achieve greater success. Based on data from the university’s academic administration and the previous academic year, the grades of 36 students who spent more than 40 hours in the lab improved considerably in every subject. Understanding the impact of lab engagement on students’ academic success, professors often encourage their students to attend. One of the Writing Lab supervisors, Dr. Alex Feldman, said that “The more time students invest in the lab, the more their grades reflect that dedication.”
Students who attend the lab often report improved critical thinking skills and better comprehension on assignments, besides higher grades. Students reduce the original stress they often experience when dealing with challenging assignments by breaking them down into easier sections. After that, they work on them with the tutors provided by the lab.
The tutors at the Writing Lab are university students chosen for their excellent academic achievement and passion for helping others. The supervisors, professors Alex Feldman and Tracy Wood, together with the Dean of Student Affairs, Mary McCarthy, pick a group of four to five tutors each semester based on their research, writing, GPA, and critical thinking skills. To make sure that they are qualified to guide their peers, most chosen tutors have made the Dean’s List.
Dr. Tracy Wood highlighted the teamwork aspect of the space: “We find that when students work together, they create bonds and motivate each other to push through their challenges. There’s a sense of companionship that develops.”
For lots of students, the Writing Lab is a community as much as a study resource. The lab turns into a space where collaboration and support between students and classmates from different academic backgrounds and levels develop. Tutor Sandra Torres shared their personal experience: “Seeing students who may have insecurities and doubts return with renewed confidence is always satisfying. For example, I used to work with a freshman who had trouble organizing their essays. They had not only mastered essay structure by the end of the semester, but they also gained greater confidence in how to communicate in class.”
The environment in the lab creates a special kind of teamwork where students help one another’s progress. Pairing students from different degrees leads to a solid sense of growth. According to Alex Feldman, “They’re all learning together, whether it’s a communications major assisting a business student with essay writing or a business major sharing insights on structuring reports.”
Tutors understand the value of listening to each student they help and modifying their approach based on their specific needs, in addition to their skills. Students who use the Writing Lab often remark on the confidence and sense of belonging it brings. “I wasn’t sure about my writing before the lab. But I saw changes in a couple of sessions, and I even made friendships with other lab students,” said freshman Silvana González.
The Writing Lab is an environment where many students go not only to improve their academic performance, but also to build connections and develop their talents. It is an essential tool that supports both personal development and academic achievement.