Instructor Support

We encourage faculty members to refer their undergraduate and graduate students to the Wingspan: Center for Learning and Writing Support. If you recommend it, students will come. We request that you refer individuals rather than requiring every student to attend. We simply do not have the capacity! If you would like us to work with your entire class, we recommend In-Class Workshops (below). Feel free to use the Syllabus Statement for all your courses.

We encourage you to include this information about the Wingspan in your course syllabi:

The Wingspan: Center for Learning and Writing Support is a free service for KU undergraduate and graduate students, providing writing consulting, tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, peer academic coaching, and more. The Wingspan offers dynamic programs and resources designed to foster students’ learning and writing development. Our initiatives promote active engagement both in and beyond the classroom, catering to the unique needs of undergraduate and graduate students. To learn more, visit the Wingspan's website at https://learningandwriting.ku.edu/.

Our professional staff members are happy to assist faculty with designing assignments that incorporate writing into their courses. In addition to delivering in-class workshops or facilitating peer review sessions for your class (see the section on In-Class Workshops below), we can consult with instructors on assignment development and responding to student writing. Learn more and book a consultation on our Faculty Consultations page.

We offer 30 - 45 minute in-depth, hands-on workshops on specific topics, from developing an argument to citation styles, for both graduate and undergraduate courses. Please check each workshop description for details. We can also attend your class and give a 5-10 minute presentation that introduces your students to the learning and writing services at the Wingspan. Instructors of record must be present during the workshop as their input is essential.

Learn more and request a workshop on our Workshops page. If you have any questions about workshops, email us here.

While we love when you encourage students to use our services, please do not require an entire class to make appointments at the Wingspan. We do not have the staff or space to guarantee each student an appointment before the deadline. If you would like to discuss alternative ways to support a full class, email us here.

You can incentivize attending the Wingspan, such as through extra credit, if you’d like. However, inform your students that they should sign up for appointments well in advance of the deadline. The schedule can become fully booked, so we cannot guarantee any student an appointment. Also, encourage students to come in with specific questions about their writing. When students visit just to get extra credit points, it can lead to unproductive sessions. Attaching a short assignment to the visit, such as having students write a reflection on what they gained from their writing consultation, can make it more impactful as well.

If you assign take-home essay exams, make it clear to your students whether they are allowed to use the Writing Center, preferably in writing within the exam instructions. Due to the number of courses at KU and the timing of appointments, we cannot check in with each instructor on their preferences. We are also not always aware whether a piece of writing is a regular assignment or an exam. It is the student’s responsibility to understand the class policies and only request assistance when allowed.