January 4, 2008
CONTACT: Beverly Makhani, Undergraduate Education, 509-335-6679, makhani@ws.edu
WSU Writing Program Opens New Graduate Student Center
PULLMAN, Wash. -- The new Graduate and Professional Writing Center (GPWC) has opened its doors for business at Washington State University.
Part of the WSU Writing Program’s Writing Center operation, the graduate center is located in room 414 of the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education. It is designed to provide services to assist grad students with written communications--from papers and publications they must create as researchers, to syllabi and assignments they must craft as teachers.
The GPWC provides three options for assistance: in-person, one-to-one consultations with trained peers and faculty; group sessions for graduate students with similar needs; and a resource library of materials including books as well as copies of successful dissertation and theses from many disciplines.
“The Writing Program is pleased to offer WSU’s graduate community a place and program to assist with writing effectiveness,” said Lisa Johnson-Shull, director of the Writing Center that for 23 years has provided services to undergraduates. The Writing Program is one of six units of WSU’s Office of Undergraduate Education.
“The communications needs of graduate students are very specific. They are expected to communicate well and in the discourse of their discipline. Many, including English-as-a-Second-Language students, have indicated in various studies they would like support to sharpen their writing skills.
“Our challenge was to begin to develop a resource--not be a proofreading or counseling service, but rather an environment of support where grad students can, for example, learn to frame questions for their dissertation chair and committee, or where international students can refine grammar and structural issues of writing.”
For the past several months, Johnson-Shull and English doctoral student Kristine Kellejian have worked closely with many across campus to develop the GPWC, including the Graduate School and associate deans of academic colleges.
“The Graduate School is very supportive of the new writing center,” said Pat Sturko, associate dean of the Graduate School. “It will give graduate students tools to be successful and leadership opportunities to be tutors in the center. We hope faculty encourage their graduate students to use its services.”
Employees this year will include staff professionals, specially trained graduate students acting as peer writing consultants from education, engineering, English, and sociology, and a faculty tutor from philosophy.
Manpreet Chahal, doctoral student in pharmacy and Graduate and Professional Students Associatio (GPSA) president, said he will use GPWC’s library soon for tips on writing his own dissertation.
He likes the idea of peer consultants—especially those in clients’ fields. “In our future, we will have peers evaluating our writing for journal articles and such, and this aspect of the GPWC just makes good sense.” He hopes GPSA will be able to support the center financially.
Set-up funding for the center came from many investors, said Johnson-Shull. The Provost’s Office, the Graduate School, the Office of Undergraduate Education, and some colleges and departments offered support of many types, including staffing.
“It’s a fact that this is not a fully funded center,” said Johnson-Shull. “It will be a slow-growth enterprise. We are conservative in our launch, yet optimistic that we can make a difference to grad students wishing assistance with writing.
Kim Kidwell, associate dean in the College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, sees the GPWC as an exciting support resource that also brings benefits for faculty.
“As the quality of students’ writing improves, their progress toward their degree and their research may well evolve more quickly,” said Kidwell. “These are people who need to be passionate and timely about what they must write about in their field, and learning to write well as students will help them all throughout their professional lives.
“Also, if their theses or manuscripts can be improved by working with the GPWC before giving drafts to their professors, then the GPWC helps the faculty as well.”
Johnson-Shull agreed, adding that graduate students who write well themselves are likely to be more effective teaching assistants and teachers of undergraduates.
“In fact, as the GPWC came together, I realized it is about more than just writing guidance. It offers significant opportunities for professional development for future faculty.”
Grad Writing Center Open House 3-5 p.m. Jan. 18
An open house from 3-5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, will showcase the facilities and introduce the staff of the new Graduate and Professional Writing Center in Smith CUE 414. The WSU community is invited.