About us

• We believe that language and writing are powerful tools for expression, identity, and communication. We value linguistic diversity and recognize that writing is not just about adhering to standardized academic and disciplinary conventions, but about finding and voicing one’s authentic self. As such, we affirm that all varieties of English and all languages are valid and valuable, and we appreciate the richness that diverse linguistic backgrounds bring to the NAU community.
• We believe that writing should be seen as a process and not a product, and we take a collaborative approach to supporting all writers in their writing process who come to the LWC. Our goal is not to fix students’ writing, but instead to engage with students in a meaningful dialogue about their goals for their writing sessions and for their writing overall.
• We believe that the LWC should be a safe and inclusive space for all students, including those who come from traditionally marginalized backgrounds, where students can find a sense of community and belonging.
• We believe that strong writers have strong rhetorical awareness. As such, we encourage students to examine their audience, purpose, context, and constraints to help them make intentional choices to best convey their thoughts and claims.
• We believe that the richness of our tutors’ diverse backgrounds, experiences, and personal tutoring philosophies is one of our greatest strengths. This diversity not only enriches the tutoring process but also provides students with a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that supports their unique needs and goals.
• By integrating these beliefs into our day to day practices, we believe that the LWC provides a meaningful experience for writers of all levels, skills, and backgrounds: one that validates the richness and beauty that students’ unique voices bring to their writing, one that helps students learn to adjust their writing for multiple purposes or audiences, one that helps students feel a sense of community and belonging, and one that one that empowers students with skills and confidence.

At the LWC, we…

• Defer to faculty and programmatic guidelines regarding the use of genAI as it relates to coursework that students bring to the LWC.
• Discuss and model the use of genAI to develop ideas, conduct research, summarize complex readings, and more.
• Guide students in assessing the credibility and accuracy of information produced by genAI.
• Help students to recognize potential bias, as well as the lack of diverse perspectives and linguistic diversity in genAI.
• Discourage the use of genAI to create text for students to submit in their courses and approach concerns directly with students.
• Discuss the consequences of using genAI for full text submission without proper citation.
• Support students in appropriately citing the use of generative AI.
• Require all students enrolled in our ENG100/ 405 writing support courses complete a genAI literacy module.