Submit courses for writing enriched certification

Research in writing across the curriculum (WAC) demonstrates that students are more successful during and after college when they can communicate effectively, especially when writing for specific disciplinary, professional or public situations. To support students’ success as thinkers and communicators, the University Writing Committee (UWC) has created a new writing enriched (WE) course designation. WE courses may be at any undergraduate level, including 5000-level mixed undergraduate/graduate courses, provided students have opportunities to practice writing skills and strategies that they may use in their discipline, profession or field. Assignments may be informal (writing to learn) or formal (writing to communicate), and they may include a range of genres and modes, such as recommendation reports, scientific posters, case studies or ePortfolios, among others.

Faculty and instructors are in the best position to know what counts as effective writing for their students. They can enrich students’ writing when they use the following broad strategies, which are supported by WAC research:
•    Instructors both assign writing and teach aspects of writing.
•    If Graduate Teaching Assistants are involved in assigning, teaching or evaluating student writing, they are trained and supported to do so.
•    Students have opportunities to practice, receive feedback, reflect and revise writing. Feedback may come from the instructor or peers. Alternatively, students may have the opportunity to complete the same kind of assignment multiple times and improve based on graded feedback and reflection on their learning.
•    Students understand that writing is an important part of the intellectual work of the course.

Please read through the complete WE course certification criteria and process and contact universitywriting@auburn.edu with any questions.