We use a “talk it out” strategy to enact our “how can we help?” goal.
Our mission:
Writing is a complex process and an integral tool in the production and dissemination of knowledge; our shared purposes could not be accomplished without writing. The CEW is committed to supporting writers across all sectors of the UB Community. Because writing is a social practice, knots in the writing process are often best untangled through low-pressure dialogical exchange. Large, high stakes writing projects can be particularly daunting and isolating. Therefore, in addition to dialogical exchange and feedback, we create community support for completing these projects through regular writing retreats and by encouraging and facilitating the formation of writing groups. Our practices are grounded in theory and research in the fields of Composition and Rhetoric, Writing Centers, and TESOL.
Our values:
We are people-centered. The CEW honors and makes space for the writer’s voice, both in conversation and in written products. Each writer is unique; each writing situation is singular. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach to writing consultations, we attempt to meet each writer at their point of need through active listening. The writer’s text is ultimately their own, so our practices seek to preserve the writer’s authority over their own text, while at the same time helping them to successfully navigate the academic situations which will draw them closer to achievement of their goals.
Our practice is dialogical and aimed at growth and development for individuals and communities. We extend our active listening practices to create positive, perspective-sharing relationships with units across the university. We seek feedback to help us shape practices and to be more responsive to the needs of UB writers. We also view the wellbeing, development, and success of our staff (most of whom are also students) as equally important to that of the writers we serve, providing them with ongoing professional development and mentoring.
Our scope:
Our primary role is to provide quality one-to-one consultation services, available to the entire campus community. We also create programs that faciliate dialogue and support around writing activities, especially in the management of large projects, such as dissertations. We cannot be experts on all of the diverse disciplinary genres and research processes animating the university, but we are skilled at providing thoughtful feedback, a space for exploratory dialogue, and advice about moving through the writing process.