by Stacy Dunn
A year ago, the Holland College Writing Centre was established for students needing help in such areas as the following:
- Grammar
- Resumé & Cover Letter writing
- Editing and proofreading
- Essay structure
Amanda Myers, Student Services Advisor (Outreach & Awards), says the centre was a success last year.
“There was strong interest – about 100 students accessed the service. It was such a success, the Writing Centre is back for the 2020/21 school year. Due to COVID-19, the service is now only available by appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Regis and Joan Duffy Library in the Charlottetown Centre on the Prince of Wales Campus.”
To access the service, students can go online to register for an appointment with a Writing Assistant virtually or in person. They can also upload documents they want reviewed. Documents will be reviewed and returned within 24 hours.
Peer support
The Writing Assistants are Holland College students themselves. Amanda says they provide notes and tips on documents, but do not write or rewrite documents for the student.
“Our assistants have a broad range of experience. One is a mature student taking Business Administration. She has a lot of industry experience and has a full-time job outside the college. Another is a Music Performance student with a Bachelor of Communications degree, and the third is an Marketing and Advertising Management student.”
Cover letter and resumé support
“Students really want to sound professional in their cover letters,” Amanda says. “They want to sell themselves in an appropriate way and stand out. The assistants help students highlight their skills and education, and show why they are the best candidate for this position. They want a solid letter that tells employers they know what the job is and what they are looking for.
“While there are templates to help with letters, the students want a second pair of eyes to ensure they have something of quality to submit to employers.”
Student Help Centre
Holland College just launched a Student Help Centre. Students log on to their Student Achievement Management (SAM) system and can connect with services such as the Writing Centre, scholarship and awards advice, tutoring help, counselling, and more.
For more information on student supports at Holland College, visit www.hollandcollege.com.
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