The University of Iowa is working to bind its writing centers, programs and initiatives closer together with a new office.
The UI announced online Thursday its launch of the Office of Writing and Communication, which will serve as a “strategic hub” and support system for the university’s writing programs.
Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel said in the release those involved in the university’s various writing programs “expressed strong interest” in forming the office, and their perspectives and feedback helped shape it.
A committee made up of UI community members worked with almost all writing and communication groups over the course of a year, according to the release, gathering information on the strengths and challenges of each one. The group recommended a centralized office that could provide consistent messaging, academic and professional development to students, as well as bring closer together the various writing centers across campus and support their work.
“The feedback was clear and consistent,” said Andre Perry, committee member and executive director of Hancher Auditorium and the Office of Performing Arts, in the release. “Faculty and staff said they saw tremendous potential in a central office that could support collaboration, amplify our shared impact, and enhance the student experience across the board.”
The UI Office of the Provost will house the new office, the release stated. Hiring will begin before the start of the 2025-2026 academic year with an executive director, according to the release, who will focus on campus engagement and strategic planning in the office’s first year.
Kregel said in the release the executive director will coordinate initiatives and other work across the different writing departments, which “will build a collaborative foundation that strengthens and sustains Iowa’s leadership in writing and communication.”
Writing programs at the UI span undergraduate and graduate, fiction and nonfiction and various specific fields, including medical writing, playwriting and journalism. It also offers programs in Spanish creative writing, translation, and initiatives focused on international authors and youth writers.
“Writing and communication are at the core of what we do and who we are,” Kregel said in the release. “This new office reflects our commitment to investing in excellence, fostering collaboration, and advancing innovative programming that prepares our students for success.”
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