Writing, mentoring & community: UW College of Education's academic writing fellows program
Published October 10, 2024
Carrier, J. W., Williams, M. K., Mercier, A., Maddox II, R. P., Houseal, A., Hudson, M., Aydinian-Perry, A., & Eidin, E. (2024). Writing, mentoring & community: UW College of Education's academic writing fellows program. The Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching, 8(3), 668-674.
Abstract
Established in 2017, the Academic Writing Fellows Initiative at the University of Wyoming’s College of Education has guided over 30 faculty members in cultivating effective scholarly writing practices. The initiative’s comprehensive structure includes writing retreats, check-in meetings, book discussions, and individualized mentorship from national writing experts. Additionally, weekly writing groups provide peer mentoring, support, feedback, and accountability —creating a sense of community within the academic writing process. This multifaced approach creates a holistic and supportive environment to foster a culture of academic writing. In this paper, we describe the results of a cohort-based self-study program review of the Academic Writing Fellows Initiative, highlighting both quantitative measures of scholarly productivity and qualitative assessments of members’ perceived value of the initiative. We discuss how the initiative has contributed to increased publication rates and enhanced scholarly collegiality within the University of Wyoming’s College of Education. Additionally, we offer insights into replicating similar initiatives in other academic settings, emphasizing the potential for building transformative communities through effective mentoring.
