The Drew University Writing Fellows Program builds on the tradition of peer mentoring developed by the University Writing Center, but takes it into the classroom. Peer mentors attend class in addition to meeting students outside of class, and they work with students on whatever aspect of their writing they need to develop to help them succeed in Drew Seminars in their first year, and Writing Intensive and Writing in the Major courses and course sequences as they move through the curriculum. We currently offer three kinds of Writing Fellows.
Drew Seminar Writing Fellows
These undergraduate Writing Fellows are selected by faculty to be assigned to their Drew Seminars. They receive training in writing and literacy theories, writing center theory and practice, and conventions of academic writing. They may also receive certification from the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) through the Center for Academic Excellence. Most Drew Seminar Writing Fellows are sophomores, and may be invited to serve as tutors in the Center for Writing Excellence or as Van Houton Memorial Fund Writing Fellows in other semesters.
Edward W. and Stella C. Van Houten Memorial Fund Writing Fellows
This grant-funded program provides undergraduate Writing Fellows for Writing Intensive (WI) and Writing in the Major (WM) courses throughout the College curriculum. Faculty teaching courses that emphasize writing are invited to select undergraduates who have taken those courses to serve as Writing Fellows. Fellows receive training in writing and literacy theories, writing center theory and practice, academic genres, and discipline-specific conventions and citation styles. They may also receive certification from the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) through the Center for Academic Excellence. Most Van Houten Writing Fellows are juniors and seniors, who may also be employed as tutors in the Center for Writing Excellence or as subject tutors.
Writing and Information Literacy Fellows
This program is a collaboration between the Writing Across the Curriculum Program and the Drew University Library. Undergraduate Writing Fellows are assigned to Writing in the Major courses throughout the College curriculum to work with students on a range of information literacy skills in addition to research-writing. Currently supported by the Edward W. and Stella C. Van Houten Memorial Fund, this program is seeking separate funding.
Drew University Day of Writing
On the first Reading Day at the end of each semester, Drew Writing Fellows come together to host the “Day of Writing – End to Procrastination!” A day long write-in on the first floor of the library where any student can receive writing assistance of any kind–from brainstorming to citation–along with sympathy, support, encouragement, candy, coffee, and contests to lighten the tension from Superhero Writing Fellows. Drew’s Day of Writing is coordinated with similar events on over a hundred campuses across the globe through the Association of Small Liberal Arts College Writing Programs (SLAC-WPA).