Online Consultations

Students can meet with consultants online from anywhere in the world through Adobe Connect, our real-time, web-based consulting program. All online consultations are by appointment only.

You can schedule distance appointments using the University Writing Center’s TutorTrac scheduler by selecting Online as your center. You can also phone to make an appointment. We’ve expanded our online availability for the 2011-2012 school year, but our online availability is still more limited than our face-to-face hours, so it’s best to schedule an appointment well in advance.

Online Consultation

• What occurs during a Online consultation?

  During an online consultation, you and a consultant engage in a one-on-one discussion of your document via web-based Adobe Connect software. This allows you to communicate in real time via audio and/or chat, in a secure environment. You'll also have access to screensharing, allowing both you and your consultant to make changes to your paper at the same time. During your session, the consultant takes some notes about what you discuss, which will be e-mailed to you once the session is complete.

  We strongly recommend that you use headphones and preferably a microphone for online consultations, but chat functions are still available without these devices.

• What should I do before my consultation?

  You’ll receive a confirmation e-mail when you schedule your appointment. The e-mail will contain the URL you will access at your appointment time, or you can click the Adobe Connect image at the top of this page. Log in as a Guest with your full name (so we can identify you and let you in). Make sure you have your paper open and saved as well.

  You might also want to test your computer before the session.

  It’s a good idea to log in at least a few minutes before your appointment, since the room contains an informational PowerPoint and links to tutorials that will help you get started with your session. At your scheduled start time, your consultant will meet you and give you directions for sharing your document with us.