Editor’s Note: An earlier edition of this story stated that the relocation of the University Writing Center would be effective immediately. This has been changed to the correct date, next semester.
Additional details surrounding a new academic advisement center that is replacing the Writing Center has been added to this story.
The St. John’s University Writing Center (UWC) is unexpectedly set to be relocated from its current space, effective next semester. The center is set to be moved to the “Quiet Study” area of St. Augustine Hall, behind the Einstein Bros. Bagels location and will be replaced by a Student Advisement Center, according to the University.
The UWC is home to tutoring services, book clubs, faculty offices and poetry events. In the 2025-26 academic year, the center saw 3,226 total visitors, 1,616 of them being unique visits.
Workers and consultants of the UWC were made aware of the relocation the morning of May 1, when all employees received an email from the Center Director, Dr. Kathleen Lubey, notifying them of the move with no prior notice. A team of designers were later sent to the space about an hour later to begin the process.
The plans left many of the staff in shock, including senior consultant Owen Taylor.
“Total bewilderment. It felt like it came out of nowhere,” Taylor said. “It didn’t really reflect my experience of the center being a space that needed to be downsized. Our events are constantly getting great turnouts of 20-30 people. We have a lot of people that come here.”
Taylor started a petition to prevent the relocation from happening, citing four negative effects the displacement could bring:
“1. Visibility
The Writing Center’s relocation to a secluded location will undoubtedly impact the visibility of our services. While the added visibility of our website on the recent online dashboard redesign is appreciated, such a change would greatly reduce foot traffic to our location. Walk-in appointments are a primary service of ours, and increased difficulty in locating the center would put a major dent in our service output.
“2. Traffic
…in order to reach the current Quiet Study room, students are required to pass through Einstein Bros’ dining area, which is congested at all times of operation and already obstructs traffic. If the Writing Center were to be relocated there, the traffic would consist of: Einstein Bros’ customers, students seeking to use the bathroom, students looking for printers, students using elevators, students looking to access the University Learning Commons, and the University Writing Center’s clients.
“3. Space Itself
The structure of the quiet study space aligns with the name itself, it is a secluded, largely window-less squared surface that promotes an isolated, independent and silent environment. All adjectives which are contrary to the Writing Center’s core collaborative, lively and community-based activities.
“4. Confusion with ULC
The relocation is also likely to cause confusion due to its proximity to the University Learning Commons. The physical separation of the UWC and the ULC is vital to maintaining a distinction between the drastically different services offered by the centers and the relocation is likely to erase the distinct identities of both.”
The petition has gained vocal support among students, with hundreds of signatures and 19 comments, many describing the UWC as a safe space and warm learning and community environment. As of May 5, the petition has reached over 600 signatures, intending to reach 1,000.
In a statement provided to The Torch, University Spokesperson Brian Browne offered an explanation for the change and detailed what the space of the UWC will be used for now, “The internal relocation of the University Writing Center is underway as the University embarks upon an updated, three-year strategic plan focused on three critical areas that define our next chapter (Student Success, Financial Health, and Operational Efficiency & Innovation).”
“Priority 1, as identified in Moving Forward Together: Strategic Plan Reimagined 2025-2028, specifically calls for the University to: Implement a new academic advising model for all students with an enhanced structure for at-risk students. The new blended model of academic advisement will take place in the St. Augustine Hall space currently occupied by the University Writing Center.
“Academic advising is a critical component of student success, and the new structure will enable our students to have a seamless advising experience throughout their time as undergraduates at St. John’s. While this model is not new to higher education, it emerged as a key theme in focus group discussions among undergraduate students at St. John’s. Improvements to our current advisement model is one way the University can work together to improve our efforts to serve, retain, and graduate our undergraduate students,” he stated, mentioning that a new academic advisement center would be taking the place of the UWC.
“The internal relocation of the University Writing Center will not impact the quality of services provided by this unit. The University Writing Center offers students support throughout the writing process by scheduling one-on-one consultations with student writing consultants. The Center is also used for meetings and event space. The relocation space, although slightly smaller, will continue to offer the same engaging opportunities for our students and community members. Additionally, it will maintain office space for the University Writing Center’s administration. Touch-down cubicles used by faculty members and faculty offices will return to office space in St. John Hall, an academic/administrative building adjacent to St. Augustine Hall. A quiet study space for students will be relocated from the first floor of St. Augustine Hall to a designated area on the fourth floor,” Browne finished.
