Wilson Awarded Prestigious Mellon Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  |  July 20, 2016

Chambersburg, Pa. — The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded Wilson College a $100,000 grant to strengthen writing instruction for students, especially those in their first year. Wilson plans to use the funding to establish the Wilson Writing Academy, a comprehensive system of instruction that will shape students’ writing skills and analytical reasoning capacities – central components of a liberal arts education.

The Mellon Foundation award, which will be distributed over two years, will provide funding for four main initiatives conducted under an umbrella group that will integrate writing instruction across the curriculum:

• Increased opportunities for key faculty to teach writing-intensive courses
• Professional development for all faculty who teach any form of writing focusing on consistency in methods, means and materials of instruction
• Integrated textual/digital resources for faculty and students
• Development of an expanded writing community that includes faculty members in all disciplines

These actions will strengthen Wilson’s first-year writing instruction program and bridge the gap between writing foundations courses taken by students in their first months in college and writing-intensive courses in students’ majors.

“Strong writing skills are what distinguish students going into graduate school or the workforce,” said Wilson Vice President for Academic Affairs Elissa Heil. “By ensuring that our students encounter a comprehensive system of instruction that shapes writing skills and analytical reasoning capacities central to the liberal arts, the grant will help them not only become better scholars, but will also provide them with skills that give them a career edge.”

Wilson College has a writing-intensive curriculum and students enrolling out of high school are typically not prepared for the type and length of writing assignments they encounter in their first year. In February, the college sought the grant to help students make a successful transition from high school writing to Wilson.

In addition, Wilson faculty – including full-time professors and part-time instructors – would “benefit from an integrated, cross-disciplinary program that improves writing instruction …” according to Wilson’s grant proposal.

Heil, who is also Wilson dean of the faculty, will serve as the writing project director. English professor Larry Shillock has been named the writing academy administrator.

Plans call for an organizational blueprint to be developed in fall 2016, followed by professional development conducted in spring and summer of 2017. Full implementation of the writing program will happen in the 2018-19 academic year, according to the college.

MEDIA CONTACT:       
Elissa Heil, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Phone: 717-262-2018
Email: elissa.heil@wilson.edu

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Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 31 majors and master’s degrees in education, the humanities, accountancy, management, nursing, fine arts and healthcare management for sustainability. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation.

Located in Chambersburg, Pa., the college had a fall 2015 enrollment of 923, which included students from 23 states and 14 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.