Online and in-person appointments

Student & Postdoc appointments

Feeling stuck? We can help with brainstorming, planning, writing, and revision. Our instructors are experts in communicating in all disciplines, including digital, technical, and scientific writing and communication. 

The Writing and Communication Centre offers both online and in-person appointments to graduate and undergraduate students in every faculty. 

Online appointments

Online appointments occur using the WCONLINE system. 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.

Instructors work with you on developing your skills for the long term. We don't correct or change your work for you, but we can teach you the tools to revise and edit on your own.

Online Group Appointments

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

In-person appointments

In-person appointments are booked through the WCONLINE system, and are held in the Writing and Communication Centre 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. 

Please submit a link to your document(s) prior to the appointment or bring two printed copies of your document to your appointment. You can provide links to your documents via any cloud-based program. In addition, please share or bring any assignment instructions and rough drafts. During the appointment, you can choose to work from your laptop or from a second hard copy.

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

Instructions for booking and attending appointments

How to book an online appointment

Finding an appointment 

Appointments can be booked up to 4 weeks ahead through WCONLINE. 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.

If no appointment is available, click the WAITING LIST link under a date to add yourself to the waiting list for that date.

How to change or cancel your appointment

WCONLINE automatically sends reminder emails to you one or two days ahead of the appointment. If you need to change or cancel an appointment, please give a minimum three hours of notice. If you need a last-minute cancellation or are cancelling an evening or weekend appointment, please email wcc@uwaterloo.ca.

How to attend an online appointment

For your online 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. Be sure that you have the latest version of your browser installed. The online appointment system will not work on a tablet or smart phone. If you do not have access to a computer, please email the instructor to make other technology arrangements.

WCOnline works with Chrome or Firefox browsers only. Please make sure that you have a working webcam and microphone, and that you are in a quiet location. If you are unable to meet these requirements, please email your writing advisor to make other arrangements. 

  1. Log into [schedule] 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."  

How to book an in-person appointment

How to book an in-person appointment

  1. Choose your appointment date and time and click on the white box. 
  2. Select No. Schedule Face-to-face appointment under Is this an online 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

In-person appointments are held in the Writing and Communication Centre offices, located on the second floor of South Campus Hall (SCH) above The W Store and the Bookstore. To attend your in-person appointment follow these instructions: 

1. Our reception desk is located in The Write Spot (room 219), which is on the second floor of South Campus Hall across from Southside Marketplace. To get there take the stairs on the LEFT to the second floor, or take the elevator to the second floor and enter through the Student Success Office reception area.

2. Please try to arrive at The Write Spot reception at least five minutes before your appointment begins, then check-in at the reception desk. Your Advisor will meet you in The Write Spot.

3. As of November 9, 2022, masks are required for indoor academic activity at UWaterloo. WCC staff will be wearing masks for in-person appointments and programs, and we ask that students also wear a tight-fitting, multi-layer mask. A mask can be provided to any student who needs one at the time of their appointment. Masks are also available across campus, including in the Student Life Centre and Student Success Office.

What to bring with you

To keep a safe physical distance during your appointment, 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 with your Advisor, 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. 

Book an appointment now!

Appointments are booked through our online scheduling system, WCONLINE

Email appointments

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.

Advisors will spend 50 minutes responding to your work, so lengthy documents may not be read completely. After at least one hour following your appointment start time, begin to check your email inbox for your feedback. You can expect to recieve email feedback by the end of the day that you booked your appointment.

Faculty & Instructor appointments

At the Writing and Communication Centre, we support faculty members as writers, whether they're working on books, journal articles, grant proposals, or any other project. We offer 50-minute consultations that give you a chance to talk to our Faculty Support Specialist about your work at any stage of the writing process.

Here are some examples of the ways we can support faculty writers at many stages of the writing process:

  • Provide a sounding board as you plan and outline
  • Help you experience your draft the way a reader might
  • Facilitate goal-setting and offer coaching
  • Consult on the structure, organization, or mechanics of your work

Please email Dr. Nadine Fladd if you would like to set up a meeting to discuss your project.

Appointments are booked through our online scheduling system, WCONLINE

Remote video URL

Locked out of WCOnline?

If you are locked out of your WCONLINE account, please contact the Writing and Communication Centre.

Note that this email address is only monitored Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.