A dedicated center for writing-related assistance, training and research opportunities is now open to University of Central Florida students and faculty members from all disciplines.<\/p>\n
The UCF Center for Writing Excellence celebrated its grand opening last week in a newly renovated space on the first floor of Colbourn Hall.<\/p>\n
The space is home to the University Writing Center and the Writing Across the Curriculum program, which are part of the Department of Writing and Rhetoric. That department also includes the First-Year Composition program as well as undergraduate and graduate-degree programs in writing.<\/p>\n
The University Writing Center provides individual and small-group consultations for undergraduate and graduate students from all majors. Founded in 1997, the center employs 32 student-tutors and last year saw more than 8,000 consultations. Remote writing-center consultation stations also have been established in the UCF Library and at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus, in addition to regional campuses in Cocoa and Daytona Beach.<\/p>\n
The Writing Across the Curriculum program was initiated in 2010 by UCF President John C. Hitt to help faculty from all disciplines assign and respond to student writing. The work is accomplished through faculty consultations, workshops and assistance with developing writing assignments for classes of all sizes. In the past year, the Writing Across the Curriculum program has worked with 50 faculty members from 12 departments, including Chemistry, Nursing and Mathematics.<\/p>\n
At the grand opening of the Center for Writing Excellence, Hitt announced a $30,000 endowment by the Atkins Foundation to improve the written and oral communication skills of STEM students. Atkins, one of the world\u2019s leading engineering and design consultancies, employs more than 100 UCF graduates. The endowment will allow the center to create innovative programs related to specialized writing instruction and tutoring for students in STEM disciplines.<\/p>\n