The Story of the Writing Lab

The Clemson University Writing Lab was established to support students, faculty, and staff in improving their writing skills across disciplines. Founded in the early 1980s, the Writing Lab has grown in scope and reputation, becoming an essential academic resource on campus. Initially designed to help students with English coursework, the Lab quickly expanded to include assistance for writing in all fields, recognizing the importance of clear, effective communication in various academic and professional contexts.

Over the years, the Writing Lab has introduced various programs, including online tutoring and workshops tailored to specific writing tasks like research papers, lab reports, and resumes. It also hosts workshops and events aimed at cultivating a community of writers and providing access to valuable resources. Today, Clemson’s Writing Lab continues to adapt to the evolving needs of the campus, helping writers become confident, effective communicators who can succeed in academic and professional settings.

The Writing Lab at Clemson opened in 1983. Across the country, in the early 1980s, writing centers were entering into the consciousness of higher education. Writing across the curriculum (WAC), or the idea that writing happens in all fields of study, was gaining traction at the time. The Writing Lab Newsletter began publishing in 1977. The Writing Center Journal followed shortly after, in 1980. Clemson, under the leadership of Art Young, was at the forefront of WAC pedagogy.

The Writing Lab was initially developed as a support structure for students enrolled in ENG 100. At one time, appointments were required for those considered to have "writing deficiencies." Likewise, the Writing Lab was staffed primarily by English Department graduate students until around 2012.

Now, the Writing Lab does not position itself as an answer to "writing deficiencies." Instead, the Writing Lab acts as a support structure for writers as a part of the writing process. Writers (now including faculty, staff, and alum) can receive support from undergraduate and graduate writing consultants at any stage of writing in any discipline on any kind of writing.

The Clemson University Writing Lab had a few name changes over the years as it evolved to better meet the needs of students and faculty. Originally called the “Writing Lab,” it was later rebranded as the “Writing Center” to emphasize its focus on providing a comprehensive range of writing support services. However, it recently reverted to the original name, “Writing Lab,” to honor its 40-year legacy while also embracing a refreshed vision.

The return to “Writing Lab” reflects a renewed focus on its roots and mission, particularly as it received recognition from the Southeastern Writing Center Association for excellence in writing support. The Writing Lab has expanded significantly over the years, both in terms of physical space and services offered, now holding appointments in various formats and supporting diverse academic and personal writing projects. The renaming to “Lab” resonates with the practical, hands-on support they aim to provide within their new Cooper Library location

No matter what the Writing Lab is called, the mission remains the same: supporting Clemson writers.

While many of the Writing Lab staff are from South Carolina, there are global links within the Writing Lab. In the map below, you can see the origins of 2019-2024 staff.

Since 2020, each new staff member has contributed a song (or two, or four) to the Clemson Writing Lab Playlist. Often, these songs communicate something about how each member of the Writing Lab community views the work of the Lab.

In 2023, the Clemson Writing Lab applied for the Southeastern Writing Center Association's Center Acknowledgement & Recognition of Excellence (C.A.R.E.). This is the only writing center-focused certification worldwide.

The application process was intensive, requiring three years of preparation before submitting the packet materials. The application was evaluated by peer institutions based on training materials, mission, message, and collaborations.

Director Dr. Chelsea Murdock received the official conferment of the award and certification in February 2024 at the Southeastern Writing Center Association Conference in Atlanta.

In the early 90s, the Writing Lab supported just over 400 students. This was noted to the Board of Trustees by President Prince.

By the 2023-2024 Academic Year, this number ballooned to 1449 appointments between August 2023 and May 2024. In the  annual report , it is noted that these appointments supported 777 individual writers. Many writers made multiple appointments, growing their skills.

In the Fall 2024 semester alone, there have been over 800 appointments. This is a 63% increase over the Fall 2023 semester.

In 2023, the Writing Lab launched its 2023-2033 strategic plan, titled "Constellate." The plan establishes several areas for growth and development, including expansion of graduate writing support, more robust professional school mentorship, and community outreach.

The Constellate plan also emphasizes the year-over-year growth of Writing Lab support, calling for the further development of administrative infrastructure.

You can read the Constellate plan below: