Communication Lab FAQ

The Communication Lab is available to all members of the UNCG community, including students, faculty, and staff. We offer one-on-one consulting in person and online about a variety of communication issues, from developing thesis statements, presentation organization to citation styles and last-minute polishing.

Yes! All of our consultants are students, and we are always looking for people who are enthusiastic about helping others and excited to learn more about consulting best practices. All new undergraduate consultants go through 8 weeks of training with the administrative team and senior consultants to ensure that they feel prepared to begin working. Training for undergrads consists of 6 in-person meetings, 6 asynchronous modules, and 10 hours of observations and in-person mentoring. If you are interested in working in the Communication Lab, fill out this form and an administrator will be in touch.

The positions we hire for are

• Writing consultant (leads sessions focusing on writing)
• Speaking consultant (leads sessions focusing on speaking)
• Cross-trained consultant (leads both speaking and writing sessions)

The Communication Lab is located in 3211 MHRA Building (campus map). During the Fall and Spring semesters, both the face-to-face and Online Communication Lab are open:

• Monday–Thursday: 9am – 7pm
• Friday: 9am – 12pm
• Sunday: 3pm – 8pm

The Communication Lab is also open during both summer school sessions.

We work with any member of the UNCG community, including undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff. We also work with students enrolled in JSNN with NCA&T, and any UNCG off-campus or online courses. 

Yes, non-native speakers of English frequently find the Communication Lab useful. We are happy to contribute what we can to your process of learning to write or present in English, but it is important to remember that we will not be rewriting your sentences, correcting every error, or giving you a script to recite. We understand this is sometimes a frustrating process; it takes time, practice, and persistence. Please feel free to visit us often. 

Come to the Communication Lab for help communicating! We can support you as you embark on any endeavor, whether that is completing a class assignment, applying/interviewing for a job, scholarship, or graduate school program, improving your facility with academic or conversational English, or working on a personal project. We are here for you and happy to help. If you have questions about whether or not your project is appropriate for the Lab, reach out to us at commlab@uncg.edu. 

The Communication Lab staff includes teaching assistants (MA, MFA and PhD students) from the English and Communication department, who also teach English composition courses; additional graduate students from English and other departments; and advanced undergraduates who undergo extensive training to work in the Communication Lab. 

• There are a few key elements for a successful session. You should bring:
• the assignment
• any previous drafts or feedback from your instructor
• any style guide your instructor asked you to follow
• your draft
• your concerns and writing questions
• Any ideas you may already have
• A positive attitude

While each session is going to be unique, depending on your project and the feedback you are hoping for, all sessions will have the same general structure: 

• All sessions last for no more than 45 minutes. You do not need to stay the whole time, but, after 45 minutes, be prepared for your consultant to start wrapping up the session and helping you figure out next steps. 
• Sessions are conversational, rather than instructive. Be prepared for lots of questions and conversation about your goals and ideas. 
• Be prepared to be handed resources! Consultants have many tip sheets and handouts that they use to help keep the conversation going and to help you keep track of what was discussed. These resources are yours to keep and we also have them all linked on our resources page. 
• Don’t expect perfection. Our consultants are here to help you grow as a communicator, not to make your project “perfect.” Coming into the Lab with an open mind and a willingness to grow as a communicator will ensure a successful session; expecting a consultant to “fix” your project will lead to a frustrating and unsuccessful session.