Overview

Located in the Lab for Writing & Communication, Johnson Center 227E, the Communication Center supports students and faculty at George Mason University through one-on-one coaching focused on developing communication skills. We provide a safe place for students to receive feedback, ask questions, and have conversations about their own public, interpersonal, and group communication. Our center is a judgement-free space in which out coaches’ primary goal is to help students achieve their personal goals. Some students make appointments to receive support on completing oral communication requirements for course assignments (both Communication courses and those outside the discipline), while others have personal or professional oral communication goals they wish to focus on.

How can I schedule a Communication Center appointment?

To schedule an appointment, follow the steps below:

  1. Register with us online. 
  2. Login to our online scheduler, and
  3. Make an appointment. 
    *White boxes are the slots available for you to schedule an appointment. Green = unavailable times, blue (f2f) & red (zoom) = already booked appointments.

What counts as credit for a COMM 101 Communication Center appointment?

To receive credit for attending the Communication Center for COMM 101, you should:

  • complete substantial work on an assignment during your appointment such as...
    • the Explanatory Speech,
    • the Exploring Positionalities and Relationships speech
    • or the Deliberative Dialogue assignment. 
  • come with all the necessary materials for the specific assignment you wish to work on (e.g., outline, visual aid).
  • arrive on time; if you are 10 or more minutes late to your appointment, you will not receive credit.

What can I work on during an appointment?

In a Communication Center appointment for COMM 101 credit, you can work on a variety of communication skills, including:

  • topic development and organization.
  • research and APA citations.
  • visual aids and outlining.
  • speech rehearsal.

No Show and Cancellation Policies

  • If you are more than ten minutes late for your appointment, you lose the exclusive right to that appointment, and the session may be given to a walk-in student.
  • After two missed appointments (or what we call “no-shows”) you are prohibited from booking further appointments for the current term, and your existing appointments will be canceled. You may, however, use the Communication Center on a walk-in basis. 
  • Sessions may be canceled up to 30 minutes prior to the scheduled session. Clients who do not cancel in time and fail to appear for a session will be counted as a “no-show”. 

Clients who abuse the scheduling system or our policies are no longer eligible to receive our services.

 

We're Hiring! 

Check out our two job listings on Handshake!

GMU’s Communication Center is proud to announce our current job openings for the 2022-2023 school year!

  1. Communication Center Front Desk Assistant (*Open to Work Study students only*)

Handshake Job Listing #6097590; https://gmu.joinhandshake.com/jobs/6097590

This office assistant will be responsible for greeting and checking in students as they arrive for their appointments with Communication Center Consultants, notifying consultants of appointment arrivals, managing the Communication Center email, and other related office tasks as needed.  Starting in the fall, the office assistant will work an average of 15-20 hours per week in-person at the front desk of The Lab for Writing & Communication, located in Johnson Center 227E.

  1. Communication Center Consultant (*Open to all*)

Handshake Job Listing #6097590;  https://gmu.joinhandshake.com/jobs/6097505

 

Consultants support students through one-on-one coaching focused on developing public speaking skills virtually and face-to-face. Many students are required to attend the Communication Center because they are enrolled in COMM 101, but the Center's services are open to the entire campus. Starting in the Fall, newly hired consultants will work an average of 10 - 20 hours per week virtually and/or face-to-face (COVID permitting) and be paid $12 per hour.

We are specifically looking for consultants who meet the following criteria:

  • Are available to work 10 - 20 hours weekly.
  • Have taken, and excelled in, COMM 100 or COMM 101.
  • Have a supportive, engaging personality that would make clients feel comfortable.
  • Have strong written communication skills (e.g., grammar, outlining, organization).
  • Have strong oral communication skills (e.g., eye contact, gestures, facial expressions).
  • Are familiar with APA style.

Questions? Please email gmspeech@gmu.edu