Academic & Writing Support
The academic support you need to thrive here at Penn and beyond.
From helping to organize research papers to providing extra support for students with disabilities, SP2’s trained peer tutors and knowledgeable staff are here to help students excel.
Services for Students
SP2 master’s program students can access one-on-one writing support from peer tutors enrolled in our doctoral programs. Zoom-based sessions help students sharpen skills and leverage best practices in areas such as writing style, organization, editing, APA standards, redundancy, and avoiding plagiarism.
How Do I Arrange Assistance?
To access this service, follow these steps:
- Request a referral(opens in a new tab) from an instructor or your academic advisor. Faculty and advisors may also submit a referral form to the Office of Student Affairs, at which point the office will connect the student to a writing tutor.
- Once students have been connected with a writing tutor, the tutors will work directly with students to schedule a time that is mutually convenient.
- Appointments are 30–60 minutes long. Additional appointments may be scheduled based on tutor availability, but priority is given to students requesting an initial session.
- Sessions take place remotely via Zoom, which does not require any special software; only an internet connection and webcam are needed. If needed, students may contact Student Affairs to use a webcam in the Caster computer lab.
- Students referred to SP2 Writing Support are not required to use the service but are encouraged to do so.
Please note that consultations are by appointment only and must be arranged through the Office of Student Affairs. This resource is not intended for help with proofreading or basic editing.
Academic Support at the Weingarten Center(opens in a new tab) provides a set of free services to enhance students’ academic performance:
- Individualized learning consultations focused on reading, writing, critical thinking, studying, and time management
- Strategies for Success in Graduate Studies – a workshop series for graduate students
- Resources for faculty, instructors, and teaching assistants
How Do I Arrange Assistance?
Students can schedule 50-minute virtual or in-person meetings to discuss study strategies and approaches to a variety of academic assignments and assessments. Access MyWeingartenCenter(opens in a new tab) to schedule a Learning Consultation. If you select a virtual consultation, you will receive a Zoom meeting link in the appointment confirmation email.
Disability Services at the Weingarten Center provide comprehensive, professional services and programs for students who self-identify with disabilities to ensure equal academic opportunities and participation in University-sponsored programs. Our team:
- Reviews documentation and determines reasonable accommodations
- Works collaboratively with students through the accommodations request process
- Coordinates implementation of student accommodations
- Advocates for students with disabilities
How Do I Arrange Assistance?
To get started with Disability Services, students can visit the MyWeingartenCenter(opens in a new tab) portal to complete an accessibility request, upload documentation, and schedule an initial appointment with a staff member. The Weingarten Center recommends that students with disabilities register with Disability Services upon matriculation to the University, but students may register at any time during their studies at Penn.
It may take up to four weeks to review documentation and approve accommodations.