A Guide to the University of Texas at San Antonio: Writing Program Records, 1989-2014

Historical Note

The University of Texas at San Antonio Writing Program offers core writing programs to students at the university. Originally part of the English Department, the program became a part of the Freshman Initiative and later a standalone program. The Writing Program publishes the annual Writing Program Student Handbook, proceeds of which help fund numerous scholarships. The Judith G. Gardner Center for Writing Excellence is part of the Writing Program and provides tutoring and other services for the students.

The Writing Program began as part of the English Department. In 2003, under the direction of Provost Guy Bailey, the Writing Program separated from the English Department and became part of the Freshman Initiative program. The program's course prefix changed from ENG (English) to WRC (Writing Core). Subsequent to the dissolution of the Freshman Initiative, the program became a standalone entity, reporting to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

In addition to offering WRC 0103 and the two core writing courses, WRC 1013 and WRC 1023, the Writing Program facilitates the Writing Across the Curriculum Pilot Program, which began in 2006. In late 2009, the Writing Program is scheduled to pilot several WRC 1023 courses related to specific disciplines (anthropology, environmental science, business, and engineering). The program annually publishes the Writing Program Student Handbook, a guide for WRC students. Proceeds from this publication fund several scholarships, including the Judith G. Gardner Writing Program Scholarships; Writing across the Curriculum, which began Spring 2009; and Incoming Freshman Scholarship, which began Spring 2009.

The Judith G. Gardner Center for Writing Excellence (The Writing Center), is also part of The Writing Program. The Center provides tutoring to undergraduate and graduate students, makes presentations on writing to classes (on request) and during orientations, provides software programs to assist students with disabilities, and maintains a computer lab for individual and class writing instructions. The Center's main location is in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building (HSS 2.02.22), with satellite locations in the John Peace Library and in the Downtown Campus's Frio Street Building (FS 4.432).

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Scope and Content Note

The collection spans the dates 1989 through 2014 and comprises syllabi for the University of Texas at San Antonio Writing Program courses ENG/WRC 0103 (Developmental Writing), ENG/WRC 1013 (Freshman Composition I), ENG/WRC 1023 (Freshman Composition II), Communication 1043 (Introduction to Communication), and ENG 2413 (Technical Writing). The collection also includes student handbooks published by the Division of English, Classics, and Philosophy and the Writing Program between 1989-2014

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is housed at UTSA's Hemisfair Campus and must be accessed via the Institute of Texan Cultures Special Collections Reading Room. To request access, please use ourCollections Request Form.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

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Related Materials

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], University of Texas at San Antonio Writing Program, UA 19.07, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Transferred to the University Archives from the UTSA Writing Program in July, 2009 (Acc. 2009-041) and October, 2009 (Acc. 2009-060). Student handbooks transferred from Rare Books division in November 2012 and in 2016.

Processing Information

Processed by Tatina Wulzer, Collections Assistant.

Updated by Sean Heyliger, November 2009.

Updated by Sean Heyliger, December 2012.

Updated by Kristin Law, June 2016.

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Inventory of the University of Texas at San Antonio: Writing Program Records

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