Champion Writing Skills in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

WHO WE ARE 

The UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center (UWC)'s mission is to enrich the education of undergraduates in all disciplines through individualized consultations on writing. Its goal is not only to assist students with particular writing assignments, but also to enable them to become more effective and confident writers. 

In the age of generative AI, the UWC serves a purpose more vital than ever, helping students feel confident in their own voices and ability to shape and articulate their ideas.

The UWC's services are free and accessible to the entire undergraduate student body at UCLA. You can help us ensure this remains a free, easy-to-access resource, with even greater reach.

The Undergraduate Writing Center is staffed by undergraduate Peer Learning Facilitators (PLFs), themselves accomplished academic writers, who are trained to work collaboratively with other students, helping them discover, explore, and express their ideas clearly. New PLFs receive approximately 20 hours of training over the year; returning PLFs receive approximately 14 hours of training annually. Through their roles, PLFs hone their ability to teach and guide, while also sharpening their writing and professional skills. 

WHAT WE DO

Skilled Peer Learning Facilitators (PLFs) hold 50- or 25-minute one-on-one, in-person appointments and also provide online writing consultations or consultations via email, meeting their peers where they are and in the medium they most prefer when they need support with written assignments — be they class papers, resumes, graduate school applications, scholarship essays, lab reports, etc. — at no cost. The UWC supports students who want to develop their own writing and critical thinking skills rather than relying on generative AI.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Your investment in the Undergraduate Writing Center is an investment in writing confidence for undergraduate students campus-wide and the skilled Peer Learning Facilitators who help their peers navigate an array of writing assignments while also juggling their own schoolwork and building their professional portfolios. Help the UWC expand its reach across campus by enabling the center to hire more student writing tutors to offer more writing consultations per year as student demand increases.

WHAT PLFS, PAST AND PRESENT, ARE SAYING

“There is no better feeling than being a resource for someone and watching a moment of understanding wash across their face...especially when you can remember being in their position.” 

-Caitlin Brockenbrow, Second-year English major 

“I’ve had students from international backgrounds who didn’t quite understand what a well-written thesis looks like. Professors may assume their students already know that, and they don’t always go over the purpose of a thesis statement.” 

-Hero Jay, Third-year comparative literature and French major

“In reality, the UWC is a microcosmic example of what the general process of education entails. The submission of work, the processing of feedback and the willingness to push oneself to improve.” 

-Hatim Malek, 2021 graduate with degree in political science

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Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment. Please click here to learn more about how the UCLA Foundation invests and manages its endowments.