In a writing-intensive (W) course, writing should be integral to the learning goals and subject matter of the course.  In the language of UConn's General Education Guidelines, "Students should not write simply to be evaluated; they should learn how writing can ground, extend, deepen, and even enable their learning of course material.  In addition then to general formal questions concerning strategies for developing ideas, clarity of organization, and effectiveness of expression--and discipline specific format, evidentiary, and stylistic norms—the W requirement should lead students to understand the relationship between  their own thinking and writing in a way that will help them continue to develop throughout their lives and careers after graduation."

According to the policies of the General Education Oversight Committee and the Faculty Senate, those teaching W courses must:

1. Assign 15 pages of edited written work
2. Not only assign writing, but teach it
3. Build in a process for revision
4. Inform students that in order to pass the course, they must pass the writing component.  (This should be stated on the syllabus)

An excerpt from an April 14, 2005 GEOC memo expands on those requirements:

"The key distinction between a W and non-W course is pedagogical, not whether writing is assigned or not.  Writing, of course, may be, and in fact, should be assigned in many courses, with or without the W designation.  What distinguishes a W course from any other course is that students must be provided explicit writing instruction and consistent faculty feedback to foster revision, and W courses require a minimum of fifteen, revised and edited pages of writing.  It is likely that some courses may require fifteen or more pages of writing in a semester without offering instruction and structured opportunities for revision, but a course that did so would not qualify as a W course.

Because W courses require explicit instruction and consistent feedback for revision, it is not possible to register some students for W credit and others not for W credit in the same course.  If the teaching practices in the course conform to the requirements for a W course, then the enrollment limits must conform to the university mandate (nineteen students per section) to enable effective writing instruction." 

For the full document, please see follow this link:
http://geoc.uconn.edu/WMemo41405.htm

For the original W policy document, see the following PDF:
http://tricampuswriting.uconn.edu/W Course Guidelines.pdf

For other GEOC documents, please go to http://geoc.uconn.edu/

The General Education Oversight Committee (GEOC) sets W course policy, approves new W course proposals or modifications to existing W courses for intersession, and oversees assessment and curricular matters related to general education, including W courses.

The University Writing Center offers support to student writers, mostly through individual tutorials, and consults with faculty and graduate students as they teach writing in their home disciplines. The University Writing Center works in concert with GEOC and academic departments, but it holds none of their authority over either curriculum or faculty.