Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) at Lehigh University is committed to promoting a campus-wide culture in which writing and communication in its many forms are central to learning in all disciplines. Based on the tried-and-true notion that collaboration among peers is one of the most effective methods of learning, WAC and the TRAC Writing Fellows Program create learning environments where inquiry and communication are vitally linked, restraints on learning imposed by traditional disciplinary boundaries are eased, and students and faculty are part of one vibrant intellectual community.

Foundations of Writing Across the Curriculum at Lehigh

  1. Writing is a vital mode of learning — promoting intellectual engagement, active learning, and critical thinking.
  2. When students improve as communicators, they become better not only at writing and speaking, but at reading and listening as well.
  3. Effective communication includes skills of explanation and persuasion, and also the willingness and ability to empathize, understand, collaborate, and consider new and opposing views.
  4. Writing to learn is central to the Lehigh experience.
  5. A successful Writing Across the Curriculum program prepares students to participate in a global culture and provides opportunities to acquire the motivation and skills to positively impact the world.
  6. Learning to write and writing to learn are lifelong processes. They are never accomplished completely. Not by anyone.
  7. All academic disciplines and their professions have specific conventions particular to knowledge, understanding, and communication. University faculty are experienced writers, experts in their fields, and best situated to help students understand these conventions.
  8. The teaching of writing can present distinct pedagogical and logistical challenges. It is our responsibility to provide faculty with assistance and support as needed. This may include help in: (1) articulating educational goals; and (2) discovering how writing can contribute to these goals in ways that are meaningful and appropriate.
  9. Writing Across the Curriculum and the TRAC Writing Fellows Program at Lehigh are transformative and do not call for addition so much as they invite modification of teaching practices.
  10. Partnership and collaboration are fundamental. Writing Across the Curriculum shares many goals with Lehigh faculty, branches of Library & Technology Services (LTS), and other programs and initiatives of the University at large.
  11. Writing Across the Curriculum involves faculty and student development, is connected in vital ways to curricula and departments, and is affected substantially by practices, policies, and decisions that transpire beyond LTS and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.
  12. The Director of Writing Across the Curriculum must actively seek guidance from across the University to propose changes and initiatives that are in the best interests of Lehigh faculty and students.

The TRAC Writing Fellows Program 

The TRAC Writing Fellows Program is a central aspect of Writing Across the Curriculum at Lehigh. TRAC Fellows are high-achieving undergraduate students who believe in the impact peer learning has on the university experience. TRAC Fellows typically conference with 10–15 students on 3–4 assignments per semester while primarily focusing on the writing process and clear and effective communication. TRAC is a tight-knit, academically diverse community consisting of students from all four colleges that award undergraduate degrees. TRAC Fellows support each other and build relationships that extend well beyond their work in the program. Learn more.

We look forward to collaborating with you!

Nominate Undergraduate Students for the TRAC Program

The TRAC Fellows Program owes much of its success to the support of Lehigh faculty, staff, and current fellows. Each spring semester, we interview a new class of associates. You can help us grow by nominating your best student-writers to join TRAC.

Who are your students who have shown special abilities in writing, oral communication, leadership, organization, and reliability? Please nominate them for TRAC!

We invite nominations from Lehigh faculty, staff, and current TRAC Fellows each school year. A nomination form for students to join our program for the 2026–27 school year will posted here in early November 2025. You will be able to submit the Google Form multiple times if you would like to nominate several student-writers. You can also email intrac@lehigh.edu and attach a Doc or spreadsheet if you would like to nominate a number of students at once. Nominations are due by the end of the day on Friday, February 27th, 2026.

Questions? Contact Dr. Justin Greenlee, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum at Lehigh, at jgg223@lehigh.edu, intrac@lehigh.edu, or call 610-758-4932.

History

The TRAC Writing Fellows Program launched in the fall of 2008 as an initiative of Library & Technology Services to advance writing and communication instruction in courses across the curriculum at Lehigh. In the first semester of the 2008–09 pilot year, 15 TRAC Fellows worked with 10 members of the faculty. The successful pilot program paved the way for substantial growth in just a few years. As of the Fall 2025 semester, the program has a roster of 86 TRAC Fellows who serve approximately 1,000 students, 20 classes, and 20 faculty each semester. In seventeen years, the program has trained about 871 TRAC Fellows, assisted 188 faculty and instructors, TRACed 589 classes, and interacted with 23,106 students. 

Who We Are 

The TRAC Fellows are talented student-writers from all undergraduate colleges who are nominated and selected through a highly competitive application process to work in courses across the disciplines at Lehigh. Trained in a rigorous 4-credit seminar course, the fellows assist students with all phases of the writing process, consult with faculty on assignment design, and help with library and database research and the use of educational technologies.

What We Do

TRAC Fellows serve as peer writing coaches who hold individual and small group draft conferences, read and respond with written feedback to drafts of student works-in-progress, assist students conducting research, and act as resources for students using instructional technologies. Each fellow works with no more than 10–15 students. Large classes therefore require more than one fellow. Fellows do not grade student papers, nor do they play any other role in determining grades. Fellows also consult with faculty on the use of new instructional technologies, assignment design, and effective use of write-to-learn activities.

Training

TRAC 100, The TRAC Fellows Seminar, trains students from across disciplines to work as peer writing coaches. Students collaborate with peers on the development of effective conferencing strategies, habits, and best practices. Facilitators and students explore how a TRAC conference is about listening to another writer; attending to the words they have put on paper; affirming some of their instincts about what is strong or weak within a given draft; and sharing experiences about the writing process. The course fosters student engagement in the writing and research process, helps fellows design effective writing assignments, and practices communication between students, faculty, and staff. 

Benefits for Students

By creating productive partnerships between highly trained undergraduate writing coaches and faculty in the disciplines, the TRAC Fellows Program helps students: 

  1. improve the quality of their writing;
  2. have greater confidence as writers;
  3. use evidence and develop arguments;
  4. improve the organization of a draft;
  5. revisit and better understand a writing prompt;
  6. spend time on revision;
  7. deepen analyses;
  8. generate new ideas;
  9. develop their research skills; and
  10. see the strengths and weaknesses of what they've written.  

Working with the fellows, students will practice habits that lead to better writing and communication skills and strategies that are important in college as well as in their specific disciplines and careers after graduation.

Benefits for Faculty

A direct result of the TRAC Fellows program will be improvement in the quality of student writing. Faculty who value good writing will enjoy reading better student work without having to devote precious time to the teaching of writing. In the TRAC Fellows, faculty will also have a valuable resource for helping students with assignments that require library and database research. TRAC Fellows will also be trained in assisting faculty with integrating write-to-learn activities that enhance student engagement with course content. Ultimately, faculty will benefit from interaction with students in their courses who are increasingly engaged, knowledgeable, and communicative.

Benefits for the University

With the help of TRAC Fellows in their courses across the disciplines, students will improve not only at writing and speaking, but at reading and listening as well. They will learn course content effectively — more deeply and more broadly — and in ways that are engaged and connected to their lives. Students will learn that effective communication includes not only skills of explanation and persuasion, but also the willingness and ability to empathize and understand, to collaborate, to acknowledge, and appreciate and assimilate new, strange, and even opposing views. With the TRAC Fellows contributing to a successful Writing Across the Curriculum program, Lehigh will prepare students to compete in a global culture while they also acquire the skills and motivation they will need to make the world a better place.

The pillars of TRAC are the values and skills of our fellows. The pillars support our community, curriculum, and recruitment processes for new Associates. Each pillar is a pair (e.g., Empathy & Peer Support Skills). A value encourages a skill, a skill encourages a value, and one pillar leads to another. A description of attributes as actions accompanies each pillar.

I

Empathy & Peer Support Skills

Actions: A fellow works to understand others and offers constructive support. They demonstrate awareness of people's strengths and challenges, especially in academic settings. They show patience, active listening, and the ability to provide feedback. They express a willingness to help peers grow and improve as writers while fostering an inclusive learning environment.

II

Intrinsic Motivation & Intellectual Curiosity

Actions: A fellow is curious about writing, technology, research, communication, and the educational values of TRAC. Their learning is often self-driven, and they pursue knowledge beyond classroom requirements. They show a genuine desire to explore new ideas outside of their comfort zone, ask thoughtful questions, and are willing to engage deeply with new topics. They are organized and manage their time well, since these skills help them achieve their most meaningful goals.

III

Creativity & Critical Thinking

Actions: A fellow exhibits outside of the box, creative, and critical thinking. They articulate their thoughts clearly and adjust their communication based on context. They possess active listening skills, including responding thoughtfully, asking follow up questions, and paraphrasing ideas. They engage in meaningful dialogue and demonstrate the ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible way.

IV

Adaptability & Growth Mindset

Actions: A fellow develops a personal approach to writing, peer feedback, and problem-solving. They are devoted to self-reflection and personal and academic growth. They think beyond conventional methods and offer original ideas and perspectives. They demonstrate the ability to analyze situations, approach challenges with care, and propose creative solutions. They show flexibility in thinking and turn problems into opportunities.

V

Listening & Communication Skills

Actions: A fellow listens and assesses a situation fully before offering advice. They communicate thoughtfully and confidently. They adapt their language to different audiences, and explain their ideas with clarity. They engage in meaningful dialogue, are open to persuasion, and show that they value others’ input and perspectives.

Faculty Responsibilities

To facilitate a robust revision process, faculty who work with TRAC Fellows must agree to require submission of working drafts of all assignments to be TRACed to the TRAC Fellow 7–10 days in advance of due dates. This time will allow the fellows to provide students with written feedback on their drafts and to hold individual conferences to help students produce their best work and improve as writers.

How to Request TRAC Fellows for your Courses

Faculty requests for TRAC Fellows in Spring 2026 courses must be submitted by November 14th, 2025; for Fall 2026 courses, by April 17th, 2026. The faculty request form for Spring 2026 will be posted here in early October. You can also request fellows by reaching out to Dr. Justin Greenlee, the Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, via email at jgg223@lehigh.edu or intrac@lehigh.edu.

What can the TRAC Writing Fellows do for you?

Fellows provide support in several ways: 

  1. By offering written commentary on working drafts of your writing assignments, helping you to see your own work from a fresh perspective and stimulate ideas about revision.
  2. Through individual draft conferences, providing an opportunity for sustained, focused, and detailed conversation about your writing.

Also, though the TRAC Writing Fellows' main area of expertise is writing and the writing process, they are also trained as helpful resources in library and database research and the use of instructional technology.

What will the TRAC Fellows not do for you?

TRAC Fellows do not: 

  1. Grade your assignments or speculate about grades your professor might award.
  2. “Fix” or line edit your writing.
  3. Do anything at all that interferes with peer-to-peer collaboration and your engagement in the revision process.

What are your responsibilities when working with TRAC Fellows?

Your professor has chosen to work with the TRAC program because writing is an important part of your course. This arrangement, made for your benefit, constitutes a commitment to the program and, therefore, working with the TRAC Fellows is a course requirement. 

Accordingly, your responsibilities are to:

  1. Follow carefully the professor’s instruction regarding writing.
  2. Make certain that working drafts are submitted to the TRAC Fellows when they are due.
  3. Read the TRAC Fellows’ written feedback on your drafts carefully and take it into consideration in your revision process.
  4. Sign up for 3–4 conferences related to your drafts and make sure to come to conferences prepared and on time.
  5. Bring the draft with the TRAC Fellow’s feedback to the conference.
  6. Attend the conference and come with specific plans and questions, ready to engage in a focused and detailed discussion about your writing. 

What happens at a conference with a TRAC Fellow?

The conference is your opportunity to formulate a plan for revising your draft in preparation for final submission to your professor for grading. During the conference, the TRAC Fellow may question — and even challenge — specific aspects of your writing in order to stimulate your thinking and generate productive dialogue. The TRAC Fellow will be helpful, but it is your responsibility to make the most of the conference and do your best to leave the session with a clear plan for revision.

What if you are already a good writer who doesn’t need extra help?

The simple truth is that all Lehigh students can benefit from working with TRAC Fellows. Because writing is a mode of learning that is never completed, and because professional success depends to a great extent upon lifelong development of discipline-specific sets of writing skills, everyone can benefit from the process of getting feedback and engaging in dialogue about their writing with smart and helpful readers.

How to Apply

Nominations 

The TRAC Writing Fellows Program is open to undergraduate students from all academic majors who will begin their sophomore or junior year at Lehigh in Fall 2026. We invite faculty and staff to nominate their students beginning in October 2025 and until Friday, February 27th, 2026. We will reach out to nominees to submit application materials once all nominations are collected. Nominated students will be exempt, by virtue of your nomination, from the references required of non-nominated applicants. We will also hold special information sessions for nominees. If you would like to seek a nomination from a member of our current student Leadership Team, please email intrac@lehigh; explain, in brief, your interest in TRAC and reasons for seeking a nomination (100 words or less); and we will return your message.

Applications

To apply:

  1. Complete our TRAC 2026–27 Application Form. (You need to be nominated by Lehigh faculty, staff, or a current TRAC Fellow to apply. The nomination form will be posted here in late October 2025. We will send out invitations to apply and a link to the Application Form based on those nominations on March 6, 2026.)
  2. Fill out all the fields in the application form, including “Upload a single PDF with all your application materials.” That PDF should include:
    1. (1) a cover page with your name, your current school year ("first year," "sophomore"), undergraduate college affiliation (e.g., "Arts & Sciences" or "College of Business"), and major/ minor/ area(s) of interest if undeclared;
    2. (2) a personal statement that outlines (a) why you want to be a TRAC Fellow, (b) what you think makes you unique in comparison to other applicants, and (c) what you would bring to the TRAC Writing Fellows Program;
    3. (3) 2 writing samples from work completed at Lehigh or as recently as possible (each writing sample should be no more than 5 pages long; you may excerpt from a longer work);
    4. (4) a résumé (optional – if you have one, or provide a list of activities that you are involved in on campus); and
    5. (5) an unofficial Lehigh transcript.

All application materials are accepted in the spring semester and must be received by Wednesday, April 1st, 2026. 

Partial applications will not be eligible for consideration.

You may direct any questions you may have to jgg223@lehigh.edu or intrac@lehigh.edu.

Qualifications

  1. TRAC is open to undergraduate students from all academic majors who will begin their sophomore or junior year at Lehigh as of Fall 2026.
  2. We value empathy, intrinsic motivation, intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, adaptability, a growth mindset, and the ability to listen.
  3. Exceptional skills in writing, reading, research, interpersonal communication, the use of technology, leadership, and time management.

What Being a Fellow Entails

TRAC Fellows serve as peer writing tutors who read and respond with written feedback to drafts of student work-in-progress, hold individual and small-group draft conferences, and act as resources for students conducting research and using instructional technologies. Each fellow works with no more than 10–15 students. Large classes therefore require more than one fellow. 

Fellows do not grade student papers, nor do they play any other role in determining grades. Fellows consult with faculty on the use of new instructional technologies, assignment design, and effective use of writing-to-learn activities. 

All new Fellows enroll in TRAC 100, The TRAC Fellows Seminar, as a requirement of accepting a fellowship. This 4-credit seminar takes place in the fall and trains students from across disciplines to work as peer writing coaches.

Fellows also must hold writing conferences with their assigned students, attend bi-weekly staff meetings, participate in student-led workshops, and join team-building and program assessment activities.

Rewards of Being a Fellow

  1. All positions are paid: TRAC Fellows are paid a bi-weekly stipend. Pay increases every year. Fellows remain in the program as long as they remain in good academic standing.
  2. New and lasting friendships: TRAC Fellows support each other and build relationships that extend well beyond their work in the program.
  3. Hone your writing skills: Develop as an editor, coach, and facilitator within the writing process.
  4. Collaborate with faculty: Working closely with professors within and outside your discipline provides a rare opportunity for you to reinforce disciplinary knowledge and skills and broaden your academic experience.

Attend an Information Session

Attend one of our upcoming TRAC information sessions if you are interested in applying but want to know more! More info coming soon.