WSU Writing Program ranked among top in the U.S. again
PULLMAN, Wash. — The Writing Program at Washington State University is once again ranked among the best “writing in the disciplines” programs in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges 2016” released today.
Having been on the ranking’s prestigious list of “Academic Programs to Look For” for more than a decade, WSU remains the only institution from the Northwest.
“It is an honor that nominators endorse The Writing Program for its impact on our students’ written communications,” said Mary F. Wack, WSU vice provost for undergraduate Education.
Victor Villanueva, WSU regents professor and writing director, added, “We have established a tradition of excellence across a variety of services that we offer. We recognize and are always responsive to the changing needs of writers as well as those of the professors who evaluate the work. That’s why other universities follow our lead and adapt our pedagogies for their own programs.”
A stellar example
In spring 2015, college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students, and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools were asked by the magazine to nominate up to 10 institutions with “stellar examples of writing in the disciplines.”
Eighteen others share the top writing category with WSU, including Brown, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, George Mason, and Duke universities, Bard and Kenyon colleges, and the University of California-Davis.
“These colleges typically make the writing process a priority at all levels of instruction and across the curriculum. Students are encouraged to produce and refine various forms of writing for different audiences in different disciplines,” the magazine stated.
Critical literacy and communications
A national role model, The Writing Program is in its 29th year and remains WSU’s central unit dedicated to promoting critical literacy and helping students and faculty be better communicators. The Writing Program, with the All-University Writing Committee, works with faculty to develop and review over 400 writing-intensive courses, known as M-courses. The program also manages the writing portfolio requirement for all juniors, is the center for writing assessments, and provides thousands of hours of writing counseling to undergraduate and graduate students yearly.
Villanueva added that the program is collaborating with colleges and units on intensive writing projects, guest expert lectures, and new services for first-generation and multilingual students.
Contacts:
Victor Villanueva, The Writing Program at Washington State University director, WSU Undergraduate Education, 509-335-2680, victorv@wsu.edu
Mary F. Wack, vice provost for WSU Undergraduate Education, 509-335-8044, mwack@wsu.edu