Writing Across the Curriculum

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 Fall 2025, 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 953 TRAC Fellows, assisted 193 faculty and instructors, TRACed 596 classes, and interacted with 23,385 students. 

What We Do

TRAC Fellows serve as peer writing coaches who hold individual and small group conferences, read and respond with written feedback to works in progress, assist students conducting research, and act as resources for students using instructional technologies. Each fellow works with no more than 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.

How Fellows are Trained

TRAC 100, The TRAC Writing Fellows Seminar, is a 4-credit course (HU, WRIT) that trains students from across disciplines to work as writing coaches. Students collaborate with peers in class on the development of effective conferencing strategies, habits, and best practices. Course facilitators and students explore how a TRAC conference is about listening to another writer; attending to what they wrote; affirming some of their instincts about what is strong or weak within a draft; and sharing experiences about the writing process. The course fosters student engagement in the writing and research process, teaches fellows to consult on the design of effective writing assignments, and practices communication between students, faculty, and staff.

Benefits for Students in TRACed Classes

By creating productive partnerships between highly trained writing coaches and faculty in the disciplines, the TRAC 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 a piece of writing.  

Working with the fellows, students will practice habits that lead to better writing and communication skills. They will also learn strategies that are important in college, in their discipline(s), and in their careers after graduation.

Benefits for TRACing Faculty

A direct result of the TRAC program will be improvement in the quality of student writing. Faculty who value good writing will enjoy reading better student work. In the TRAC Fellows, faculty have a valuable resource for helping students with assignments that also require library and database research. 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, 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, and to acknowledge and appreciate new, strange, and even opposing views. With the TRAC Fellows contributing to Writing Across the Curriculum, Lehigh will prepare students to participate in a global culture and  acquire the skills and motivation 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 TRAC Fellow attributes as actions accompanies each pillar.

I

Empathy & Peer Support Skills

Actions: A fellow works to understand others and offer 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

Meet with your assigned fellow(s) early in the semester

You should schedule a meeting with your assigned fellow(s) in the first or second week of the semester. TRAC Fellow contracts with Library & Technology Services begin on the first day of the semester and end on the last day. In that meeting, you can share a syllabus, instructions for writing assignments, rubrics, and relevant course policies (e.g., whether or how your students are permitted to use artificial intelligence). Your fellow(s) may also ask to be added to your CourseSite in the “Visitor” role so they can study your course design and learning objectives. (N.b.: Fellows cannot view Assignments, grades on individual assignments, or the Gradebook in the Visitor role. See "Course Site Roles and Permissions Explained.")

Set a timeline to aid the TRACing process

To facilitate a robust revision process, faculty who work with TRAC Fellows agree to: (1) set a due date for all drafts to be submitted; (2) which opens a conferencing window of 7–10 days when a student can meet with their fellow; and (3) tell their students that drafts should be sent to their fellow 48 hours before a conference takes place. This timeline allows the fellow to provide written feedback on drafts and hold individual, in person conferences to help students produce their best work and improve as writers. 

Require conferences with fellows

Mandatory conferences ensure that fellows have opportunities to benefit your students and the course.

Remind your students to fill out the TRAC Feedback Survey after every conference

A fellow will ask a student to fill out a feedback survey after each writing conference. Many questions include a Likert scale: “I felt comfortable working with my TRAC fellow.” “It was easy to schedule a TRAC conference.” “The conference was productive in helping me improve my assignment.” “I am glad that my assignment incorporated the TRAC process.” One question asks about the perceived benefits of a conference: “The TRAC process helped me to develop the following related to my writing assignment. Please check all that apply.” (The most common responses during the 2024–25 school year were: “Improved language,” “Stronger argument,” “Confidence in my writing ability,” “Better organization,” “Clearer writing,” and “Revision strategies.”) Please remind and encourage your students at multiple points in the semester to fill out the TRAC Feedback Survey after each writing conference.

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 November. 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 tracfellows@lehigh.edu.

What can the TRAC Writing Fellows do for you?

Fellows provide support in several ways.

1. They help you to see your own work from a fresh perspective and stimulate ideas about revision by offering written commentary on drafts of your writing assignments.
2. They provide an opportunity for sustained, focused, and detailed conversation about your writing through individual or group conferences.
3. Though the TRAC Fellows' main area of expertise is the writing process, they also provide assistance with library and database research and the use of instructional technology.

What will 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. Focus on grammar or spelling.
4. Do anything 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 TRAC because writing is an important part of your course. This arrangement constitutes a commitment to the program and, therefore, working with the TRAC Fellows is a course requirement. 

Accordingly, your responsibilities are to:

1. Follow the professor’s instruction regarding writing.
2. Make certain that drafts are submitted when they are due.
3. Sign up for 3–4 conferences related to your drafts at various points in the semester.
4. Read the TRAC Fellows’ written feedback on your drafts carefully and take it into consideration in your revision process.
5. Bring the draft with the TRAC Fellow’s feedback to the conference.
6. Come to the conference on time with specific plans and questions, ready to engage in a focused and detailed discussion about your writing.
7. Fill out the TRAC Feedback Survey after each conference.

What happens during 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. 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?

All Lehigh students can benefit from working with TRAC Fellows. Writing is a mode of learning that is never completed, and your professional success depends to a great extent upon lifelong development of discipline-specific 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 as of Fall 2026. We invite faculty, staff, and current TRAC Fellows to nominate students beginning in early November 2025 and until Friday, February 27th, 2026. We will reach out to nominees directly 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 in February. If you would like to seek a nomination from a member of our current student Leadership Team, please email tracfellows@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 early November 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 (either "First Year" or "Sophomore"), undergraduate college affiliation (e.g., "College of 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 and off 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 tracfellows@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 10–15 students on 3–4 assignments per semester. 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 first fall after your acceptance and trains students to work as peer writing coaches. Fellows also attend bi-weekly staff meetings, participate in student-led workshops, and participate in 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 will be posted to this website in November.