Remember that your time in the Writing Center should be used in the most constructive way. Your primary responsibility is to provide tutoring for students who visit the Center for writing assistance. Additional responsibilities exist during the “down” times when students are set to a task and are working autonomously, or when students are not visiting the Writing Center. Remember that your time as a tutor is work time; there is always some constructive way for you to improve the Center or to improve your tutoring skills.

Most Centers house professional journals, articles, and books that contain information relating to tutoring. If you're not tutoring, take time to increase your professionalism by reading these publications. Just as professors can always improve their teaching techniques, so, too, can tutors continue to learn more about their area. 

• Is some cleaning in order?
• Do you need to make some posters to help generate more business? (For more ideas on publicity, see Module 14, “Writing Center Publicity.”) 
• Does the furniture need rearranging?
• Do you need to make a list of supplies that the Center needs?
• Is an on-line computer available where you could join a listserve on writing centers to keep current on discussion topics? 

While you shouldn’t feel the need to create meaningless busy work, you should exhaust all possibilities of creating meaningful work during your hours in the Center before you resort to doing your personal work. You are a paid, professional employee, and your supervisor as well as your institution are relying on your contribution to make the campus Writing Center the best it can be.