A proposal for a new Writing Center at Union was recently accepted as part of Union’s reaffirmation of accreditation for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Writing Center, key to the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for SACS, will open to students during fall 2017.
The goal of the Center has two parts. It will provide support for students who struggle with foundational writing. It will also support discipline-specific writing, because writing looks very different across the many areas of study at Union, and each discipline has its own set of techniques for successful written communication.
“Our plan would focus on foundational writing skills in first year comp, so we would provide that support for 111 and 112 in English, and then designated discipline-specific writing intensive courses, each guided by the Writing Center director,” said Ted Kluck, assistant professor of communication arts and committee member for goals and objectives of the Writing Enhancement initiative.
The Writing Center is part of the umbrella QEP, Writing Enhancement at Union, involved in reaffirmation with SACSCOC. When this process began for Union about a year and half ago, Emily Lean, assistant professor of business administration and chair of the committee, asked for QEP proposals. Chris Bailey, assistant professor of English and director of composition support, along with Patricia Hamilton, professor of English, put together and submitted the Writing Enhancement proposal. Out of the many proposals submitted, the decision was narrowed down to six, and ultimately the Writing Enhancement QEP was chosen.
“Submitting a proposal for a writing center seemed like a logical and appropriate topic for enhancing student learning across the campus,” Bailey said. “The Writing Center is vital to the success of the University’s writing enhancement initiative, which seeks to support faculty and students in the composition classroom and in writing across the disciplines.”
Bailey said that even students who have strong writing skills can benefit from the Writing Center.
“According to institutional data, 79% of Union University seniors say that they plan to attend graduate or professional school,” Bailey said. “To further prepare students for graduate programs, the Writing Center can help with discipline-specific materials required of many graduate school applications.”
A Writing Center director will be hired in the spring or early summer prior to the Center’s grand opening in the fall of 2017.
