While tutors typically enjoy writing, they also enjoy working with people and find the program an important experience once they enter the job market or go to graduate school. Some want hands-on experience with writing and working in networked environments.

First, you would be nominated for the program by an instructor who is familiar with your writing and interpersonal skills. Once you are nominated, you will be invited to apply to WRITING 300: Seminar in Peer Tutoring. Applications are requested in both Fall and Winter semesters and reviewed by Sweetland's Peer Tutor Committee. If you are accepted to WRITING 300 and excel in all aspects of it, and we have programmatic need for new tutors, you will be invited to join the peer tutor program. At this point, you would enroll in WRITING 301: Directed Peer Tutoring. Upon successful completion of 301, you may be invited to join our staff as a paid tutor. As a member of the staff, you’d attend staff meetings and tutor for pay for a total of roughly 5-10 hours per week.

Candidates for the Peer Tutor Program should be nominated or recommended by a faculty member or GSI. To earn a nomination, students should demonstrate a strong command of the English language through their writing and verbal communication skills. In addition to being nominated, candidates also complete an application, which includes writing an essay and submitting an academic writing sample from a University of Michigan course. Enrollment in the Peer Tutor Program is by application only.

The application deadline for the Fall 2013 term is Sunday, March 24th at 11:59PM. You can access the application form here.

1. Go to https://ctools.umich.edu/ and log in.
2. Click on “Membership” in the sidebar, and then click on “Joinable Sites” at the top.
3. In the search bar, search for “Sweetland PT Program.” In the worksite list, the recruitment site should populate. Click on “join” under the site name.
4. Click on “Drop Box” in the sidebar, and in the “Add” drop-down menu, click “Upload Files.” Upload your application materials:
   • your peer tutor application form as a .doc or .docx file, named according to these conventions: “Lastname_Firstname_PTapF13”; and
   • a PDF of your unofficial transcript (see instructions above).

Outstanding tutors who have completed the required courses may be selected to tutor for pay during future terms. 

In addition, the Sweetland Center for Writing hires two graduating undergraduates who have completed one of the following:  the Sweetland Peer Tutor Program or the Sweetland Minor in Writing to work as paid interns from mid-May through mid-August. Interns work 15-20 hours per week between 8am and 4:30pm, Monday-Friday.  Interns will work closely with each other and Sweetland staff and faculty on several writing center initiatives. Click here for more information on Sweetland Summer Internships for Graduating Peer Tutors.