Writing assignments are part of nearly every course at College of Western Idaho (CWI), whether students are drafting essays, preparing presentations, writing discussion posts, or building resumes and scholarship applications. The Writing and AI Literacy Center is available to help students strengthen their writing, develop confidence, and learn how to use emerging AI tools responsibly.
The Writing and AI Literacy Center is part of CWI's Learning Commons, which also includes the Library and Tutoring Services. Together, these academic support services help students navigate coursework, build new skills, and find support throughout their college experience.
The Center offers free support to currently enrolled students at every stage of the writing process. Students can visit for support with any writing project, in any class, at any stage.
Consultants help students develop revision strategies and writing skills that apply across academic, professional, and personal contexts. Sessions are designed to strengthen critical thinking and reasoning so students leave with skills they can continue using long after a single assignment is complete.
The Center also teaches the ethical, practical use of AI tools. Students can explore AI tools and concepts with hands-on guidance while building the AI literacy needed for both academic and career success. In addition, the Center provides English language learning support for students building confidence with reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English.
Support for Writing at Every Stage
The Writing and AI Literacy Center is designed to meet students where they are. Whether a student is just getting started or putting the finishing touches on a final draft, consultants work alongside students to help them build stronger writing skills.
Students can receive support through:
- Drop-in support – Visit the Center to talk with a consultant. Walk-in sessions are welcome.
- Scheduled sessions – Meet one-on-one with a writing consultant in person or online--whichever works best for you.
- Online writing support – No time for a session? Send your draft through their email service, Asynchronous Consultation Email Service (ACES), to receive customized feedback and answers to your questions.
- AI literacy support – Learn how to use AI tools thoughtfully, understand AI-related course materials, evaluate generated information, identify bias and inaccuracies, and follow course expectations around responsible use.
- English language literacy support – Practice reading, speaking, and writing skills, build confidence with language acquisition, and connect with supportive multilingual resources.
One of the most common misconceptions is that the Center is only for students who struggle with writing.
The Center is designed to support students at every level, from those who are still building confidence in their writing to high-achieving students looking for another set of eyes.
Consultants do not proofread or edit papers. Instead, they work alongside students to help them understand assignment expectations, talk through ideas, strengthen organization, and build the confidence and strategies for doing that work on their own.
"We want students to leave feeling more confident in their ability to communicate their ideas," said Gigi Smith, Director of the Writing and AI Literacy Center. "The goal is not just to improve one assignment, but to help students build skills they can use throughout college and beyond."
Building AI Literacy Skills
The Center expanded from the Writing Center to the Writing and AI Literacy Center in March 2025 in response to the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence.
The focus has expanded to helping students understand when AI can support learning and when it can interfere with it. Consultants guide students through questions about course expectations, assignment goals, and academic integrity.
Consultants help students think critically about its role.
For example, if the goal of an assignment is to learn how to write, having AI generate an entire paper prevents a student from building that skill. In other cases, such as a higher-level business course, AI may be useful as a tool for critique, analysis, or brainstorming.
Students can also learn practical ways to use AI responsibly, including:
- Thinking critically by having AI ask questions about the student’s own writing
- Creating study tools such as flashcards, mind maps, or practice questions
- Identifying bias, inaccuracies, or missing context in AI-generated responses
- Understanding how to protect their privacy and personal information when using AI
- Reviewing course syllabi to understand what kinds of AI use are permitted
The Center recently launched an "AI Literacy for All" badge, a short online learning experience through Canvas that introduces students to responsible AI use and helps students think through context, goals, safety, and academic expectations before turning to AI.
Feedback from nearly 200 students who have completed the AI Literacy for All badge shows that many are looking for guidance as they navigate AI in school and beyond.
The three questions students ask most often are:
- “How do I use AI to support my learning without creating gaps in my knowledge?”
- “How do I use AI safely and securely?”
- “How will AI impact the careers I am interested in?”
“I think a good way to support students would be to continually update courses with information about how AI is being used in different industries,” shared a student. “Students need to know exactly how the skills they are developing will be used and ways to adapt in order to be successful.”
Those questions now shape much of the Center's work with students, from one-on-one sessions to workshops and online resources.
"We work really hard to build students' confidence and give them a sense of pride in the things they put their name on," Smith said. "Ownership and authorship are really at the center of what we do."
Since launching as the Writing and AI Literacy Center, the department has provided 1,365 student sessions and supported another 909 students through their Asynchronous Consultation Email Service (ACES), the Center's email feedback service. In total, the Center has supported 2,274 students in its first year.
More Than Essays
While many students visit the Center for help with class assignments, support extends far beyond traditional essays.
Students can receive assistance with:
- Research papers and discussion posts
- Scholarship essays and personal statements
- Speeches and presentations
- Professional emails and workplace communication
- Resumes and cover letters
- And more
The Center works closely with other departments, including the Work-Based Learning Center, to help students prepare for careers and professional opportunities.
Students can meet with consultants one-on-one in person or virtually, stop in for drop-in help, or access additional support online. Through Upswing, CWI’s scheduling platform, students can connect with services and upload assignments for review 24/7 online.
Through ACES, students can send in a draft and questions without attending a live session. A consultant reviews the submission and emails customized feedback directly to the student, typically within two business days.
ACES supports writing composition, AI literacy questions, and English language literacy needs. Submissions are limited to 10 pages at a time, allowing students to receive focused feedback in a flexible format.
This range of options allows students to receive support in the way that works best for them.
Student Success Center
As CWI prepares to open the Student Success Center on the Nampa Campus this fall, the Writing and AI Literacy Center will move into the new facility alongside the Library and Tutoring Services as part of the Learning Commons.
Bringing these services together in one shared space will make it easier for students to move between tutoring, writing and AI support, and library resources during a single visit. The Student Success Center is designed to create a collaborative environment where students can ask questions, connect with staff, and find the support they need in one location.
For more information about the Writing and AI Literacy Center or to schedule a session, students can visit the centers at the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) and Ada County Center Pintail Building (APIN).
Students can also contact the Center directly at writing@cwi.edu. Tutoring Services can be reached at tutoring@cwi.edu, and students can call or text 208.562.2233 in Nampa or 208.562.2516 in Ada County for support.
As CWI prepares for upcoming space transitions and the opening of the Student Success Center, students are encouraged to visit the Writing and AI Literacy Center webpage for the most up-to-date information on hours and locations.
