Welcome to the College of San Mateo Writing Center

We're here to help!

The Writing Center is located in Building 18, Room 104

Phone: 650-574-6436

Email: csmwriting@smccd.edu

Follow us on Instagram @csmwrites

Make an Appointment Access Tutorials

Table of Contents

Scroll down this page to learn more about the Writing Center, or use the links in the Table of Contents to jump to the information you need.

Make an Appointment
Important Dates
Tutorials
Writing Center Policies
Meet our Staff

Make an Appointment

Using Accudemia

When you're ready to make an appointment to meet with one of the Writing Center Instructors for an essay conference, start by opening Accudemia. We recommend that you bookmark the link: http://csm-lsc.accudemia.net/

Select the white "Schedule Appointment" button.
Select the blue "New Appointment" button.
Scroll down and select "Writing Center" as your appointment location.
Choose the type of appointment you would like (Zoom or in-person in the Writing Center.)
Your English, Literature, and/or Creative Writing course(s) will be listed on the next page. Select your course.
Select the appointment date and time that works best for you. Select "next" to see availability for the following week.
Confirm your appointment.

Not seeing any appointment dates/times that work for you?

Check Accudemia frequently.
Visit the Writing Center in person. We can add you to the waitlist, and you may be able to get an appointment if there is a no-show or last-minute cancellation.
Fill out this three question survey. Those responses help us document student demand and identify gaps in availability.

Students who wish to provide additional feedback about Writing Center access, hours, or services may also contact campus leadership. Hearing directly from students helps administrators understand how academic support services are being used and where additional resources may be needed.

Language Arts Division Dean Chiara Ojeda

Building 15 Room 168 ojedac@smccd.edu 650-574-6337

Need a visual guide?

If you are new to Accudemia or prefer to see screenshots of each step, expand the menus below.

View Detailed Instructions ▼

Detailed Instructions

Video Overview

Orientation: How to Make an Appointment (4 minutes 29 seconds)

Select the link above to view our video guide.

Detailed Instructions with Screenshots

First Steps

Select "Schedule Appointment."

Upcoming appointments section on Accudemia homepage

Select the blue “New Appointment” button, as seen below.

List of upcoming appointments on Accudemia and new appointment button below list

Select Center and Modality

On the next page, scroll down to the bottom to select the Writing Center as your appointment location.

Accudemia center selection page

Choose the type of appointment you would like. The Writing Center offers two options:

Essay conferences over Zoom
Meetings in the Writing Center.

Two Writing Center appointment modality options

Select your Course, Instructor, and Appointment Time

Your course and/or courses will automatically appear. Choose your English, Literature, or Creative Writing course.

Based on your choice for “type of conferences”, the available appointments for the current week will appear.

Accudemia appointment page

Confirmation and Notes

Once you choose the appointment, a confirmation will appear.

In the "notes" section, you can add a note, essay prompt, or link to a Google Doc. Select "confirm" to finish.

Accudemia appointment confirmation page.

Changes and Cancellations

You can return to Accudemia at any time to reschedule, cancel, or add more notes and files.

Reschedule your appointment
Cancel your Appointment

How to Join Your Zoom Appointment ▼

Zoom Appointments

Joining Your Zoom Appointment

At the time of your appointment, log into Accudemia via your email link or the button at the top of this page.

On your home page, you will see your upcoming appointments:

Upcoming appointments list

Select the red “Join Now” button, then the green "Join Session Now."

Ready to join session

The Zoom meeting link will open. Select "Open Zoom meetings" to enter the waiting room.

Zoom meeting link

If you have any difficulty accessing your Zoom appointment, please call 650-574-6436 or email csmwriting@smccd.edu.

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Important Dates

**FALL 2026**
Date	Event / Holiday
August 17	Writing Center opens: Day and Evening Classes Begin
August 28	Last day to Drop with a refund
September 7	Labor Day Holiday
September 7	Last day to Drop without a "W" on your record
October 7	Flex Day
November 9	Veteran's Day Observed
November 16	Last day to Withdraw from semester-length classes
November 26, 27	Thanksgiving Holiday
December 11	Last day for Writing Center conferences
December 13-19	Final exams

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Tutorials

Writing Center Tutorials

Our tutorials will help you develop a wide variety of reading and writing skills: grammar, paragraph development, critical thinking, and more! You are welcome to explore our tutorials on your own, or your instructor may refer you to a tutorial for additional practice and support in a particular area.

You can access the tutorials in a few different ways:

Visit the Writing Center, where the printed copies of our tutorials are available in binders near the front desk.
Visit the Tutorials page here on our Canvas site, where the tutorials are available as downloadable PDFs.
Interactive Canvas module versions of our tutorials are coming soon!

The last step in the tutorial process is to make a Writing Center conference to review your work with a Writing Center instructor, and to practice applying your new skills to your writing.

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Writing Center Policies

Appointment Restrictions

The Writing Center is only able to offer a limited number of appointments each semester, so we recommend that students plan ahead.

Students can make appointments up to 14 days in advance.
Students are able to make up to one appointment per week during the regular semester.
Students can attend up to two Writing Conferences per essay assignment.

The Writing Center is able to offer a limited number of weekly matched tutoring appointments for students who would like additional one-on-one support. If you feel you would benefit from this kind of support, reach out to your English instructor or contact the Writing Center at the beginning of the semester.

Logging in and Out

When you arrive to the Writing Center for an appointment or to study, log in at the kiosks at the front desks in Room 104 or Room 102. Log out when you exit.

Arriving to Your Appointment

Arrive at least 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This will give you time to:

Log in
Print your materials (if needed)
Gather your thoughts.

Let the front desk know that you are at the Writing Center for an appointment. We will help you log in, and we can help you print your assignment prompt and draft. When the instructor you are scheduled to meet with is ready, we will walk you over and introduce you.

Late Arrivals, Cancellations, and No-Shows

The Writing Center is only able to offer a limited number of appointments per semester. In the interest of fairness, we will offer an appointment to another waiting student if a scheduled student does not show up to their appointment.

If you cannot make it to your appointment, cancel the appointment using Accudemia, or call the Writing Center at 650-574-6436 or email csmwriting@smccd.edu.

If there is a chance you will be late to your appointment, call the Writing Center at 650-574-6436 or email csmwriting@smccd.edu before your appointment start time. Make sure to include your name in all emails! We can help you reschedule your appointment if needed.

Appointments will not meet if the student is 10 minutes late or more. Students who are 10 minutes late or more will be marked as no-shows. Students who do not show up to two appointments will no longer be able to schedule appointments using Accudemia, and will need to make any further appointments by visiting the Writing Center, calling, or emailing.

Food and Drinks

The Writing Center is a food-free zone. Drinks with non-secure lids (such as to-go coffee cups, cups with straws, etc.) can wait for you on the shelf just inside the entrance to Room 104. Water bottles with secure lids are welcome.

Cell Phones and Quiet Zones

In Room 104 and 102, students are welcome to engage in quiet conversations while studying. Please keep voices low so that students in Writing Center conferences can listen to and fully participate in the conversations they are having with instructors.

The Quiet Room is a space for quiet study. Do your part to keep the Quiet Room quiet: take conversations into Room 104, Room 102, or the hallway.

Whether you are in the Quiet Room or Rooms 102 or 104, please take cell phone conversations out into the hallway. Watch and listen to media using headphones. Headphones are available for checkout from the front desk.

If you'd like to be able to study with a larger group, or would like to be able to engage in less quiet conversations and study sessions, College Center Building 10 is a great choice, or you can reserve a study room at the CSM Library!