Writing support group for graduate students

Research writing is often the most challenging part of graduate student life. To help graduate students find accountability and peer support for their academic writing, the Committee on Graduate Student Concerns (CGSC), in partnership with the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Graduate Education, launched the Writing Support Group.

The initiative provides a space where graduate students can make steady progress on their writing and research work. In each Writing Support Group session, participants set a goal, work in 40-minute sprints, and wrap up by processing their experience with their peers.

To be inclusive and accessible to graduate students, most of whom are juggling professional and academic obligations, Writing Support Group sessions are offered online and on-site. The sessions are open to all graduate students, whether they are working on their requirements for coursework, studying for comprehensive exams, or writing their thesis, dissertation, or capstone project manuscripts.

Participants have shared that the community they’ve found with the Writing Support Group has been just as important as the productivity they’ve gained. For many, the sessions serve as a reminder that they are not alone in their graduate school journey.

As one Master in Counseling Psychology student shares, “What I liked about the WSG were the social aspects: opportunities to get to know other graduate students from outside my course... I most enjoyed the short breaks where I got to talk to other grad students. The small group discussion at the end was also really helpful because I got to hear how others coped with the difficulties of big requirements. I felt like I wasn't alone in the struggle.”

The Writing Support Group turns an otherwise solitary task into a shared experience. This helps students stay on track with their writing goals and, more importantly, builds a stronger sense of belonging and community.

Stay updated on upcoming Writing Support Group sessions by following the CGSC Facebook page.