The Jackson State University Richard Wright Center for the Written Word was established in 2001. Its goal is to:
Create a university culture that expects, supports, and values the writing prowess of all constituents without regard to academic field or profession.
The objectives of the Richard Wright Center from its inception are to:
Provide daily support services for students who need assistance and encouragement in completing their writing assignments and to perform better in their courses;
Help students improve their writing skills to more effectively communicate and express themselves;
Provide services to faculty and staff who desire feedback on their writing or who may need a document proofed prior to distribution;
House collaborations on dissertations, theses, research projects, and creative works-in-progress;
Boost the University’s image as written material from the institution is more professionally and accurately produced;
Promote Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) initiatives;
Provide training sessions and enlist the expertise of consultants who can assist faculty members with incorporating writing into their courses;
Provide incentives for faculty to participate in training and augment their courses to satisfy established WAC standards and criteria;
Work to increase awareness of and appreciation for the valuable contribution of Mississippi writers to American literature;
Collaborate with other divisions including the Margaret Walker Alexander National Research Center, the H. T. Sampson Library, the English Department and University College to continue their efforts along these lines;
Sponsor workshops, lecture series, readings and performances to inspire student interest and to promote the state’s rich cultural and literary legacy;
Infuse technology into all of its tutorial and service operations; and
Encourage students to use online resources and to submit their papers to the Wright Center electronically for review.
