This project brings together faculty from engineering and writing studies to improve the writing skills of undergraduate engineering students. We first applied a mixed methods approach to study this problem within our college of engineering, including surveys, interviews, and analysis of course materials. Our results suggest that the most impactful investments will be those that support engineering faculty in embedding writing-as-process throughout the technical courses and that prepare engineering students to recognize and adapt to new genres. We are currently piloting a faculty learning community focused on writing education and preparing to implement and assess vertical integration of writing in two test departments.

Funding: University of Illinois College of Engineering’s Strategic Instructional Innovations Program

Collaborators: S. L. Cooper, Physics; C. M. Elliott, Physics; J. Gallagher, English and the Center for Writing Studies; J. S. Popovics, Civil and Environmental Engineering; and P. Prior, English and the Center for Writing Studies

Students: N. Turnipseed, English and the Center for Writing Studies; A. Warfield Oyirifi, Nutrition;  and J. Yoritomo, Physics