Vision, Mission, and Values

The Writing and Communication Center cultivates a supportive environment where students grow as writers and communicators. Guided by our vision, mission, and values, we offer personalized consultations, engaging workshops, and development opportunities for student writers and our undergraduate staff. We are committed to excellence and contributing to the broader goals of William & Mary.  

Vision: 

Our vision is to empower students across all disciplines, fostering their growth as confident, independent communicators who can effectively convey their ideas in any context. 

Mission: 

The Writing and Communication Center fosters an inclusive and supportive academic community where students develop the skills and confidence to succeed in writing, speaking, multimodal, and digital communication. At the heart of our work is dialogue: dynamic conversations between students and consultants that cultivate reflection, discovery, and growth. Our peer writing consultants are partners in facilitating thinking, not simply correcting errors. 

We advance academic well-being by adapting to the varied needs of individual learners, emphasizing student autonomy in one-on-one consultations, and empowering students by centering their goals. Guided by principles of peer-to-peer collaborative learning, we focus on process over product and engage students at any stage of their work. 

Through this approach, we prepare students—including the undergraduate consultants who lead our work—to become adaptable, ethical, and confident communicators ready to succeed within the university and beyond.

Values: 

Collaboration: We believe in the power of peer-to-peer learning and the mutual benefits it brings to both consultants and students.

Empowerment: Our goal is to empower students to take ownership of their writing and communication processes and develop skills that will serve them beyond individual assignments.

Respect: We foster a respectful and supportive atmosphere where diverse perspectives are encouraged and valued.

Inclusivity: We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all students feel welcome and valued, regardless of their background or proficiency in writing and communication.

Excellence: We strive for excellence in all our services, continually seeking to improve and innovate—adapting to emerging disciplines, formats, and technologies to meet the needs of our students.

Development: We are dedicated to the growth and development of our undergraduate staff, providing them with opportunities to lead, learn, and succeed in their roles within the center and beyond.