Skip to Main Content

The Process of Applying for an Advanced Writing Course Designation

Step 1: Consult with Howe Center Staff and/or Miami Plan (MP) Writing Committee (Optional)

Departments that would like to submit a course for approval are encouraged to consult with us in advance to receive support and feedback in one of two ways:

  1. You are welcome to schedule an appointment with Elizabeth Wardle (wardleea@MiamiOH.edu), the MGP committee chair and Director of the Howe Center for Writing Excellence (HCWE), or contact Assistant Director for Writing Across the Curriculum, Mandy Olejnik (olejnimr@miamioh.edu).
  2. You may also receive feedback from the full MGP Writing Committee, which reviews all Advanced Writing applications. Contact Dr. Elizabeth Wardle (wardleea@MiamiOH.edu), the MGP committee chair, for more information.

Questions about multiple MGP designations, course staffing, and other larger questions should be directed to the Office of Liberal Education.

Step 2. Submit materials through CIM

When you are ready to submit for approval, you must use the Curriculum Management Forms for courses or programs on the Registrar's website. If you have questions about the CIM system itself, please contact the Registrar (courseapproval@MiamiOH.edu). Contact Elizabeth Wardle (wardleea@MiamiOH.edu) with questions about Advanced Writing requirements. Contact Leighton Peterson (lpeterson@miamioh.edu) with larger questions about the MGP.

Directions about what and how to submit to CIM can be found on the Office of Liberal Education website.

The course materials submitted must demonstrate that:

  • the course meets each of the six student learning outcomes for Advanced Writing
  • the course meets the Four Pillars of all Miami Plan courses
  • the course 1.) provides students with frequent opportunities to write and revise based on feedback and 2.) includes writing as a central component

The course syllabus uploaded to CIM should be sure to include:

  • A description of the course, course goals, and a statement noting that the course meets the Advanced Writing requirement. A short student-centered explanation of how and why it is an Advanced Writing course would be useful.
  • A description of both the major (formal or extended) writing assignments and their point/percentage value, as well as an overview of the types of informal writing that students can expect in the course.
  • A weekly calendar for the first few weeks of the course that illustrates the types of activities to be engaged in. This calendar can help the committee “see” where and how class time will be devoted to writing instruction.

Step 3. Liberal Education Council (LEC) will review course materials

After you submit your proposal to CIM, the Liberal Education Council will review your proposal for higher-level concerns (such as staffing and scheduling, course caps, cross-lists, and request for multiple designations). Then the Office of Liberal Education will send it along to the MGP Writing Committee for recommendation.

Step 4. MGP Committee will review course materials

The MGP Writing Committee members will review the submitted materials to ensure that the course provides adequate and sound writing instruction and meets the writing-related student learning outcomes.

  • If the committee recommends for approval, the committee will share this recommendation with the LEC committee.
  • If the committee requests revision, the committee will share its questions with you via email and/or request that a representative from your department attend the next meeting to provide additional context.

Step 5. LEC makes a final recommendation

After reviewing course materials and the MGP Writing Committee’s recommendation, the LEC committee will either make a recommendation for approval or for revision:

  • If the committee recommends for approval, it will pass its recommendation on to Senate for final approval.
  • If the committee requests revision, you will be notified.

Step 6. Senate reviews course proposal

Final approval or non-approval for the Advanced Writing proposal will come from Senate.



Howe Writing Across the Curriculum Programs

The mission of the Howe Writing Across the Curriculum Programs is to ensure that all Miami faculty and graduate teaching assistants can effectively include writing as a means to support learning in their courses and programs.

2022 Writing Program Certificate of Excellence

logo-the-conference-on-college-composition--communication.png

2022 Exemplary Enduring WAC Program

2022 Exemplary Enduring WAC Program Award