Faculty Guide: Partnering with the Writers’ Studio

As faculty, your endorsement is the single most powerful factor in encouraging students to utilize the Writers’ Studio. We view writing not as an isolated mechanical skill, but as a dynamic practice of collaborative inquiry, critical thinking, and writer development.

Here is how you can partner with us to help your students engage meaningfully with the Studio and grow as confident, independent communicators across all disciplines.

How to frame the Studio in your syllabus & classroom

How the Studio is introduced to students dramatically shapes how they use it. We encourage faculty to frame our services around collaboration and growth rather than remediation:

  • Emphasize Peer Collaboration, Not “Proofreading”: Frame consultants as “informed readers” and peer mentors who sit alongside students to discuss ideas, structure, and audience impact—not as proofreaders who “fix papers.”
  • Encourage Early Visits: Remind students that they do not need a complete or “perfect” draft to visit. Visiting during early brainstorming, outlining, or early drafting phases yields the highest academic impact.
  • Highlight Transdisciplinary Value: Remind students that writing support at the Studio isn’t just for English or Core Curriculum courses. We support STEM research papers, business pitches, artist statements, screenplays, and personal passion projects.

Suggested syllabus language

“Writing is a collaborative process, and all writers benefit from feedback. I encourage you to visit the Butler Writers’ Studio (Jordan Hall, Room 304) at any stage of your writing process—from brainstorming and outlining to drafting and polishing. Trained peer consultants are available to help you talk through ideas, structure arguments, and build confidence in your voice across all academic and creative genres. Schedule an appointment via Navigate360.”

How to support Studio engagements effectively

  • Avoid Required/Mandatory Single Visits: Whole-class mandatory visits often lead to transactional, “check-the-box” sessions. Instead, offer extra credit for visiting early in the drafting process, or incentivize multiple visits across a semester-long project.
  • Share Assignment Prompts & Rubrics: Encourage your students to bring your assignment guidelines, prompts, and rubrics to their appointments. Having access to your explicit expectations helps consultants guide students more effectively.
  • Incorporate Studio Workshops: Encourage students to attend our consultant-led 60-minute workshops, such as the STEM Writing Lab, Business Writers Should BLUF, Prose that Performs, or Fight, Flight, or Write.

Faculty collaborations & classroom visits

We offer several direct ways to collaborate with your courses throughout the academic year:

  • First-Week Classroom Visits: During the first week of school, writing consultants reach out to First-Year Seminar (FYS) and introductory course faculty to offer brief 5–10-minute classroom visits introducing our peer consultants and services.
  • Custom Assignment Design & Workshops: Studio leadership is available to consult with faculty on assignment design, peer-review scaffolding, or facilitating tailored writing workshops for your specific courses.
  • Consultant-Embedded Courses (Pillar III): In our Fall 2027 initiative, we will partner directly with select instructors to embed dedicated writing consultants into courses to assist with assignment design, lead peer review sessions, and host course-specific office hours. Reach out to us if you would like to participate!

Get in touch

Have questions about assignment design, workshop offerings, or hosting a consultant in your classroom? Reach out to our leadership team: