Writing Studies
Our Vision
The Department of Writing Studies (DWS) envisions a world where people are engaged, flexible, and ethical learners and writers who lead meaningful lives of connection and contribution.
Our Mission
We support, lead, and learn with writers in classrooms, careers, and communities.
Our Values
We value ACCESSIBILITY
We affirm the uniqueness of people as we strive to create and sustain the conditions for people to learn with and build on each other’s abilities, cultures, histories, identities, questions, stories, and strengths.
We value ADAPTABILITY
We acknowledge and attend to changing circumstances and technologies. As writers and learners, we must be dynamic and open to change.
We value EMPATHY
We aim to understand the perspectives, experiences, emotions, and expectations of people.
We value EMPOWERMENT
We cultivate curiosity, collaboration, and creativity in order to foster thinkers and writers within, across, and beyond the Department of Writing Studies, Boise State, and our communities.
We value the recursive process of REFLECTION, REVISION, and GROWTH
We encourage and model this process for our students and our partners across campus and our communities.
DWS Community Events
President’s Writing Awards
The President’s office graciously sponsors the President’s Writing Awards competition. Currently in its 41st year, the contest honors undergraduate writing at Boise State. The PWA committee is currently accepting submissions of student writing in the following categories:
- Creative Nonfiction
- Critical Analysis
- First-Year Writing
- Foundations of Ethics and Diversity (UF 200)
- Fiction
- Identity, Culture, and Languages
- Poetry
- Research-based
We encourage you to submit your best writing to this contest! Cash awards are available in each of the eight categories. Eligible writing includes work completed for a Boise State undergraduate course anytime from Spring 2022 to Spring 2023.
The deadline for student submissions is Friday, March 17 at 5 p.m. Prepare your essay, story, and/or poem today!
Scholarship Applications
Looking for funding? The Department of Writing Studies will award multiple scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year.
For more information on the application process and additional funding opportunities, visit the Boise State Scholarship page.
Scholarship Applications are due Feb 15, 2023