Apply to Be a CSWIM Partner

What Makes a CSWIM Partner

CSWIM Partners provide support in written, oral, and multimodal communication, from course assignments to applications to personal projects. Using their own experience as Pomona students, they promote a sense of community and culture of collaboration in every consultation.

CSWIM Partners include students majoring in almost every department, and every Partner works with writing and multimodal projects from all disciplines. Partners are peer readers, listeners, and mentors. We look for students who are open to new ways of thinking and engaging, who listen and read thoughtfully, and who can reflect on the process of writing and communication and talk about that process with their peers.

Training and Time Commitment

Prior to their employment they take English 87: Introduction to Writing Studies and Pedagogy. When they begin work the following fall, they are required to attend regular trainings and staff meetings to strengthen their work as a Partner. Partners typically work two two- or three-hour shifts per week in the CSWIM, and many also work as Attached Partners.

Hiring Timeline and Process

Each fall, we begin the recruitment and hiring of a new cohort of Partners for the following academic year. In October, an email goes out to all students inviting them to apply, and we solicit nominations from faculty and staff across the College. The CSWIM also hosts an open house for interested candidates to learn more about the role and application process. 

As part of your application, you’ll provide:

• a cover letter, including name of two faculty references (Pomona or 5C)
• your resume
• a writing sample with responses to short reflection questions

Applications are reviewed by a hiring committee of senior staff and CSWIM Partners, and candidates will be contacted by mid-November to hear if they have advanced to the interview stage. Interviews are conducted in time for us to extend offers before the spring course registration deadline, since all new Partners will need to register for the mandatory training course, ENGL 87: Introduction to Writing Studies and Pedagogy.

Follow the CSWIM on Instagram @cswimstagram and email cswim@pomona.edu for more application details.

Transfer Students

If you are a transfer student with previous experience in a writing center at another college or community college, please email Dr. Felton.

Attached Partners

Faculty across the college can request to work with a dedicated CSWIM Partner for their course. Attached Partners collaborate with the faculty member they’re paired with to support students in one specific class across multiple assignments. The time commitment varies based on the demands of the course and assignment deadlines. Attached Partners communicate with the faculty member about the role they will play and set their own schedules for meetings with students.

Please note: There is no separate application for this position. All Attached Partner assignments are made at the request of a professor.