The University of Iowa is building on its longstanding excellence in teaching writing and communication with the launch of a new Writing Enriched Curriculum (WEC) pilot program this fall.
The program represents an important step toward integrating writing and communication into every discipline and developing a model that can strengthen student outcomes across the university.
The pilot will begin with the Department of Anthropology and the Department of History.
“We are excited to be involved in the pilot for the WEC program,” says Stephen Warren, professor and chair of the Department of History. “This will enable our faculty to explore how we can further develop our students’ historical writing skills and have data-driven conversations about the many strengths of our major.”
Faculty in those departments will spend the year working with experts to identify the writing skills students need in their disciplines and develop plans to strengthen those skills by incorporating writing into their courses and teaching practices.
The process will result in a faculty-authored writing plan for each department that documents where writing instruction already takes place, identifies gaps and opportunities to strengthen those experiences, and provides a multi-year roadmap for embedding writing throughout the curriculum.
"We in the Writing Center, and in the intercollegiate Obermann Teaching with Writing Group, are excited about the launch of this pilot," says Carol Severino, director of the Writing Center and professor of rhetoric. "We believe the principle of faculty autonomy that informs WEC makes it an excellent choice for Iowa."
“Writing has long been central to the student experience at Iowa,” adds Daniel Khalastchi, executive director of the Office of Writing and Communication. “The Writing Enriched Curriculum can help us build on that tradition and ensure students who graduate from Iowa remain leaders in their ability to communicate effectively.”
The program also provides an opportunity for the university to examine how writing and communication skills can contribute to career preparation in an era of AI. As departments establish plans to strengthen writing instruction, they will also consider how students can build strong communication, critical-thinking, and relationship-building skills while learning to use AI responsibly.
“In the age of AI, fundamental human skills like communication become even more important,” says Barry Thomas, associate provost for faculty and strategic operations. “Your ability to communicate is essential to building relationships and getting things done, and those who can write clearly, evaluate information critically, and revise thoughtfully will be far more effective at using AI.”
By considering how writing and responsible AI use can be taught together, the pilot will help ensure graduates are prepared to work with emerging technologies and excel in the uniquely human skills that become more valuable as those tools help complete more routine tasks.
The pilot aims to create a model that can expand to additional departments and colleges in the coming years. To assist with this process, the UI’s Excellence in Teaching and Learning SPARC Work Group will assemble a team to explore how the curriculum could work across disciplines. If the pilot is successful, the Office of Writing and Communication will explore hiring a full-time director to coordinate future Writing Enriched Curriculum initiatives.
The pilot program is a collaboration between the Office of Writing and Communication, the Writing Center, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with additional support from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Obermann Teaching with Writing Working Group, the Center for Teaching, and the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology.