EIU to celebrate grand opening, ribbon-cutting for enhanced Writing Center August 25
Aug-17-2026Center to officially open with advanced features in updated location as a dedicated Booth Library partner
(Charleston, IL) — Eastern Illinois University will celebrate the grand opening of its enhanced Writing Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at
3 p.m. Tuesday, August 25, in Booth Library. The event is open to EIU students, employees and community members, and refreshments will be served.
Located in its updated space on the third floor of Booth Library, the Writing Center provides students with a dedicated resource for developing their writing skills and strengthening their confidence as writers. The enhanced center features an updated environment designed to support individual and collaborative writing assistance while creating a stronger connection between the Writing Center and the library's broader academic support services.
As a dedicated Booth Library partner, EIU’s enhanced Writing Center expands the ways students can access assistance throughout the writing process — from brainstorming and organization to drafting, revision and polishing.
“Writing is at the heart of learning in virtually every discipline, and our goal is to ensure every EIU student has access to the support they need to become a more confident and effective writer,” said Dr. Rachael Ryerson, associate professor of English and director of the EIU Writing Center. “This new space gives us an exciting opportunity to strengthen the Writing Center as a welcoming, accessible resource for students while building an even stronger partnership with Booth Library.”
The Writing Center works with students at all stages of the writing process and across academic disciplines. Rather than simply editing or correcting a student's work, Writing Center staff help students develop strategies and skills they can apply to future writing projects.
Dr. Michael Gillespie, dean of Booth Library and dean of Student Success, said the partnership reflects the library's role as more than a place to access information.
“Bringing these resources together in the same space does more than layer support on top of instruction, it reflects how much co-curricular collaboration matters if we are serious about raising the floor for student success,” said Gillespie, who also serves as a professor of Sociology. “The faculty and staff of Booth Library are excited to welcome the Writing Center into its new home, and even more excited to keep celebrating what our students are capable of."
The August 25 ribbon-cutting will provide students, employees and community members an opportunity to tour the updated Writing Center, learn more about its services and meet members of the EIU community involved in supporting student success. The grand opening also highlights EIU's continued investment in resources that help students succeed academically and develop skills that extend beyond the classroom.
For more information about the EIU Writing Center and available services, visit the Writing Center in Booth Library or contact the center directly by calling (217) 581-5929 or emailing writingcenter@eiu.edu.
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, community-based services and opportunities, visit Eastern Illinois University or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.
