About the Writing Center

History

The Yale College Writing Center was founded in 2004 in response to recommendations of the Committee for a Yale College Education (the CYCE)—the same committee whose work led to the new liberal arts requirements in Yale College. Writing is one of the six areas in which all Yale students must complete coursework. More than 150 courses (designated WR courses) fulfill the writing requirement, spanning more than 45 different academic departments. The Writing Center coordinates these courses and also provides tutoring and other forms of direct support to student writers and to faculty who teach writing.

Although the Writing Center is a new organization, writing has always been an important focus of a Yale education, and especially so in the last few decades. With support from the Pew Memorial Trust and the Surdna Foundation, the University launched an enhanced attention to writing in 1976. The Residential College Writing Tutors program began in 1979; through the Bass Writing Program, professors in lecture courses from the humanities, sciences, and social sciences have for many years arranged special discussion sections that focused on writing; the English department has long provided freshman writing courses like English 114 and 120, as well as advanced writing courses taught by some of the world’s finest writers and teachers. The goal of the Writing Center is to continue supporting such initiatives while also extending these approaches to departments and students who might not previously have encountered them. Some of our new efforts include a Writing Partners program that offers drop-in help for writers; workshops to help faculty enhance student writing in all courses; and an online resource—Writing at Yale—where students can learn about some of the most effective techniques for academic writing, including the use and acknowledgment of sources. The Yale Journalism Initiative, which takes journalism to be essential to a democratic society, seeks to help aspiring Yale journalists prepare for careers as reporters and writers.

Staffing

The most important work of teaching writing at Yale is provided by departmental faculty members, and the professors who value excellence in writing are too numerous to list here. As a further sign of faculty commitment, the Writing Center’s efforts are overseen by a faculty Advisory Committee, appointed by the Dean of the College. The Writing Center also coordinates the work of the Residential College Writing Tutors, whose combined 180 years of experience helping students thrive at Yale represent a resource unique among Ivy League universities. The Writing Partners include both graduate and undergraduate students, selected both for their own excellent writing and for their skill in helping other writers. Finally, the core staff of the Writing Center is located at 35 Broadway, and reports to the Deputy Dean of Yale College.

Support

The following are just some of the foundations and alumni whose generosity supports the Writing Center’s current work: The Bass family, the Newhouse family foundation, the Lionel Pincus fund, the Poorvu family, the Block family, and Steven & Cynthia Brill. In addition, the Writing Center benefits from gifts made in honor of two of the great American men of letters: R.W.B. Lewis and John Hersey—both of whom were beloved and influential members of the Yale faculty.