Perspectives Inaugural Issue (Winter 2013)

Dr. Sandra Dunbar PERSPECTIVES • WINTER/SPRING 2013 11 The College of Health Care Sciences Effective Writing Center, which opened its doors at the start of the fall 2012 se- mester, is now available to all CHCS stu- dents who wish to coordinate tutoring sessions with experienced writing coaches. Services offered to CHCS stu- dents include brainstorming (idea devel- opment), thesis development, paper organization, citation style guidance, and help with mechanics such as grammar, word usage, and punctuation. “Our students and faculty members have identified writing support as an impor- tant area of provision,” said Terry Morrow, Ph.D., assistant dean of student affairs and cofounder of the Effective Writing Center. “Our college’s dean, Dr. Richard Davis, re- sponded by providing the funding for the center’s first year. Our vision is to see it ex- pand to serve all HPD students eventually. We have a great team of coaches and are al- ready seeing positive feedback from stu- dents and faculty members. Currently, three writing coaches facili- tate the needs of student writers and have incorporated flexible schedules to ensure maximum availability. Each coach is an experienced writer with a passion for writ- ing as well as student education. Most coaching sessions are held in the evening or on weekends. According to Kaye Robertson, M.L.S., executive director of the Health Profes- sions Division Library, “The HPD Library has long recognized the need for writing coaching for our students, and we are very happy and proud to be a part of this pilot project. Effective writing is a lifelong skill that will benefit our students long after graduation as they advance in their chosen fields and perhaps even publish in health and medical journals.” Amanda Chiplock, M.L.I.S., who serves as the emerging technologies librar- ian and as a writing coach, was quick to explain why she feels the writing center is such a vital student resource. “Many stu- dents who have participated in coaching sessions expressed gratitude to have some- where to go for writing assistance and guidance, beyond just editing services,” she stated. “As a writing coach, it is my job to build confidence in each student’s writing abilities, and to provide the tools and support necessary to learn and strengthen skills. So far, the program has been very successful and will only improve from here. I’m excited to be a part of it and help build the foundation for a permanent HPD Effective Writing Center.” Students can expect personalized, in- teractive, and productive coaching sessions that typically last one hour but can be ex- tended to suit each student’s need. The CHCS Effective Writing Center is currently open to all students enrolled in the CHCS and is open seven days a week by appoint- ment only. Moreover, students can also meet with their coaches online using Web- based platforms such as Adobe Connect and Google Docs or in person in the HPD Library. Coaching sessions are available to all main campus, SEC, and online CHCS students and are facilitated by the coaches. CHCS Launches HPD Effective Writing Center CHCS NEWS OF NOTE college, her office hopes to support fac- ulty members and area clinicians in se- curing continuing education hours they will find professionally useful. Her focus is primarily for area clinicians, but fac- ulty members will benefit from each workshop that will be made available to them as well. Kathleen Hagen, M.M., HPD director of faculty development, provides valuable professional develop- ment workshops for HPD faculty mem- bers, and Dr. Dunbar will collaborate with her on some events. Additionally, Dr. Dunbar has spent time coordinating with the Office of Student Affairs to provide opportunities for stu- dents to benefit from a variety of semi- nars and workshops offered. Added to the list of Dr. Dunbar’s career accomplishments was the release of her 2009 book entitled An Occupational Per- spective on Leadership: Theoretical and Practical Dimensions . Intended specifi- cally for occupational therapists striving to improve their leadership skills, the book was coauthored and edited with seven of her students when she taught a doctoral-level leadership course. Accept- ing the challenge to write the book “to fill in the gap,” the book evolved when her students expressed a desire to create a text for the course since there was not one with an occupational perspective at that time. Dr. Dunbar is already working on the second edition of the book with Kristin Winston, Ph.D., OTR/L, assistant professor of the Department of Occupa- tional Therapy, which will expand on leadership in organizations. On a personal note, Dr. Dunbar is mother to a college-age son who cur- rently studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Understandably, she is proud of his accomplishments and feels very blessed. For additional information about the CHCS Effective Writing Center, please visit http://nova.campusguides.com/hpdwritingcenter. Tutors at the HPD Effective Writing Center