Appointments: In-Person, Virtual, and by Email

Student and advisor in a tutoring session
Appointments: In-Person, Virtual, and by Email

Appointments for Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD Students and Postdocs 

In appointments, we can support you with brainstorming, planning, writing, revision, and publication. Our instructors are experts in teaching communication across disciplines, including digital, technical, and scientific writing and communication.  

WCC appointments are included in students’ tuition. You can access them in person, remotely via our virtual platform, and asynchronously by email.

View "How do WCC appointments work?" on YouTube

What happens in a WCC appointment?

In an appointment, we start by learning about you and about your work, goals, and questions. Depending on what work you bring and what your priorities are, we’ll give you clear actionable feedback on your work in progress. We might support and guide you while you brainstorm, draft, or revise. We’ll coach you to try new strategies, sharpen your writing or presentation skills, and stay on track. Your work is your own and you ultimately make the choices and decisions that serve your goals and strengthen your work. You’ll leave the appointment with defined next steps, along with resources or tools that can help. 

WCC appointments are interactive. Advisors and tutors won’t copyedit for you, but they will work with you based on your questions and priorities.

What to bring with you to an appointment

To keep a safe physical distance during your appointment, Tutors and Advisors cannot work from shared printed documents.

You can provide links to your documents (via any cloud-based program: Office 365, Google, DropBox, etc.), including assignment instructions and rough drafts, in the Appointment Booking Form.

If you cannot share your file(s) electronically, please print hard copies for them. During the appointment, you can choose to work from your laptop or from a second hard copy. Printing services for students are available throughW Print. 

Note that there is a W Print kiosk in the lobby of South Campus Hall, if you would prefer to bring hard copies. 

Types of appointments available

In-person appointments

In-person appointments are booked through the WCONLINE system, and are held in WCC’s offices, located on the second floor of South Campus Hall (SCH) above The W Store and the Bookstore. Check-in at the reception area located in The Write Spot, 219 SCH.  

If you have started working on your assignment or project, please bring your work with you, including assignment instructions and rough work. You can choose to work from your laptop or from a second hard copy, but your advisor or tutor might need to distance and will either need a separate hard copy or access an electronic version. You can share links to your electronic document from the any cloud-based program (Google, Office365, etc.) via the appointment booking form.  

If you would prefer to bring hard copies, printing services for students are available through W Print. There is a W Print kiosk in the lobby of South Campus Hall.

How to book an in-person appointment

Appointments can be booked up to 14 days ahead through WCONLINE.

  1. Choose your appointment date and time and click on the white box. 
  2. Select Schedule In-person appointment. 
  3. Complete the appointment booking form questions. 
  4. If you are sharing your documents (assignment instructions, draft-in-progress, etc.) electronically using Office 365, Google Docs, DropBox, or another electronic file sharing software, copy and paste the link(s) to your document(s) in the text box provided. Click on Create Appointment and you’re all set! 
  5. Check your email for instructions on how to attend your in-person appointment.

If you need to add your document links later, you can do so by following these instructions: 

  1. Log back into WC Online at any time before your appointment  
  2. Click on your appointment (it should be a blue rectangle) 
  3. Select Edit appointment  
  4. Paste the link in the text box 
  5. Click save changes 
  6. Check your email for instructions on how to attend your in-person appointment.

How to attend an in-person appointment

During Spring term

The Writing and Communication Centre's offices are located on the second floor of South Campus Hall (SCH). To attend your in-person appointment please meet your advisor at the chairs outside of the WCC's offices in South Campus Hall (SCH 229) at least five minutes before your appointment begins.

During Fall and Winter terms

The Writing and Communication Centre is located in The Write Spot on the second floor of South Campus Hall (SCH). To attend your in-person appointment please check in at The Write Spot reception area at least five minutes before your appointment begins.

Remote virtual appointments

Virtual appointments occur using the WCONLINE system. For your virtual appointment, make sure you have a working webcam and microphone, and that you are working in a quiet and private location. Firefox and Chrome browsers work best for online appointments on the WCONLINE system. The online appointment system will not work on a tablet or smart phone. 

On the day of your appointment, log in to WCONLINE approximately five to ten minutes before the beginning of your appointment. Click on your appointment in the schedule (it will appear as a blue rectangle) and choose "Start or Join Online Appointment." You will need to have an electronic version of your work available. 

How to book a virtual appointment

Appointments can be booked up to 14 days ahead through WCONLINE.

  1. Navigate the calendar by clicking on the navigation arrows (PREV WEEK or NEXT WEEK) or find your preferred date by clicking on the calendar icon. Click on a white rectangle to book that appointment time.
  2. If no appointment is available, click the WAITING LIST link under a date to add yourself to the waiting list for that date.
  3. When booking your virtual appointment, select Schedule Online Appointment under is this an online, in-person, or email appointment?

If you need to add your document links later, you can do so by following these instructions: 

  1. Log back into WCOnline at any time before your appointment  
  2. Click on your appointment (it should be a blue rectangle) 
  3. Select Edit appointment  
  4. Paste the link in the text box 
  5. Click save changes 

How to attend a virtual appointment
  1. Log into WCOnline approximately five to ten minutes before the start of your appointment. 
  2. Open the appointment time you booked (it will appear as a blue rectangle). 
  3. Click "Start or Join Online Appointment." 

Email appointments 

Email appointments are offered by some advisors, but not all. The advisor will spend 50 minutes reviewing your draft and will focus on the area(s) or question(s) you identify. They will not be able to read lengthy documents completely. You will receive email feedback starting about one hour after the appointment time you booked and by the end of that day. The advisor will not copyedit your document, but they will instead provide general feedback on such things as structure, clarity, style, error patterns, etc., depending on revision stage of your draft and any goals you identify. 

In-person drop-ins

If you’re working in the Library, have a question, or want some quick help with an assignment or draft, come by for a drop-in appointment (no booking required). 

In-person or virtual group appointments

To book an appointment for your group, please contact us at wcc@uwaterloo.ca.

How to book an email appointment

To book an email appointment follow these instructions:

  1. Choose your appointment date and time and click on the white box. 
  2. Select Schedule email tutoring appointment.
  3. Complete the appointment booking form questions. 
  4. Upload your draft to the intake form. Include your assignment instructions or relevant details with your draft, or upload them as a separate document. Note: we are not able to provide feedback on your work if you don't include your draft and your assignment instructons or relevant details (such as a job description if you're submitting a resume).
  5. Complete the form and click on "Create appointment."

If you need to attach your document links later, you can do so by following these instructions: 

  1. Log back into WC Online at any time before your appointment is set to begin. Note that you will not be able to attach documents once the appointment has begun.
  2. Click on your appointment (it should be a blue rectangle). A pop-up window will open.
  3. In the pop-up window, scroll to the bottom and select "Attach file," then follow the instructions to upload your files to the appointment.
  4. Click "Close" on the appointment form when you have finished attaching your documents.