SAW Center

Photo of the SAW Center front desk with a student sitting behind the reception counter.

Located on the main level of Dwight in the Mediated Educational Work Space (MEWS), the SAW Center is a place where students work together with skilled peer mentors to speak confidently, argue persuasively, and write with clarity. SAW mentors are students who have undergone a rigorous training program focused on collaborative peer learning with an acute focus on writing and public speaking development.

Writing Development

At the SAW Center, SAW mentors help their peers by working intensively with students on multidisciplinary written assignments, including college essays, lab reports, creative writing pieces, senior theses and more. Mentors offer one-on-one assistance at every step of the writing process, from brainstorming to revision. While mentors do not copy edit or proofread, they can help their peers to improve their own editing and proofreading skills through advice and guidance on thesis development, use of evidence, organization, flow, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation and more.

Public Speaking Development

SAW mentors also offer support to students who wish to strengthen their public speaking skills. The SAW Center features a fully mediated public speaking appointment room facilitates the rehearsal of various forms of speaking engagements, such as conference presentations, course speeches, and interviews. Students are encouraged to meet with a mentor to review the organization and flow of their speech and to receive feedback on their vocal delivery, body language, use of visual aids, and more.

Meet the peer mentors Learn about SAW resources for students

SAW Center Contact and Hours

Phone 413-538-2651

Hours

The SAW Center is open 6 days a week during the academic year and is utilized by over 700 students each year. SAW Center users include students from all class years, language backgrounds, and abilities.

Monday–Tuesday: 3 – 9 pm
Wednesday–Thursday: 9 am – noon; 3 – 9 pm
Friday: 9 am – noon
Sunday: 11 am – 9 pm

Make an appointment     Appointment Tips

Drop-in Hours

Evenings | Sunday – Thursday: 7 – 8 pm
Mornings | Wednesday– Friday: 10 – 11 am

Note: During drop-in hours the SAW Center is ONLY open for drop-in appointments – mentors cannot be booked in advance during those hours. During drop-in hours mentors are able to meet with students for at least 30 minutes, and often longer, depending on how many other students are waiting. Students are encouraged to visit drop-in hours at the beginning or half-past the hour when possible.