University Writing Program

The American Copy Editors Society (ACES), a professional organization of copy editors, is dedicated to improving the quality of journalism and the working lives of journalists. Our main purpose is to educate our members–and others in the news business–in ways of improving the standards of copy editing and increasing the value the news industry places on our craft. While our primary focus is on newspaper copy editing, we welcome editors from other publications, as well as academic representatives and students.

The organization has many roots, growing out of meetings sponsored by the American Society of Newspaper Editors, meetings of Southeast editors and the desire of many others to address copy editing issues.

If you are concerned about the state or status of copy editing and want to lend a hand, please get in touch with any ACES representative. We welcome you.

The American Medical Writers Association (AMWA), founded in 1940, is the leading professional organization for medical communicators. The more than 5,400 members from around the world include a variety of medical communicators. If you write, edit, or are employed in the field of medical communication as a teacher or as a specialist in multimedia, public relations, advertising, or marketing, you belong in AMWA. AMWA enhances the professionalism of freelance medical writers and editors and of those employed by a hospital, medical school, clinic, health sciences center, foundation, or nonprofit association, or by a pharmaceutical, medical communication, or biotechnology company. Membership in AMWA is open to anyone interested in any aspect of medical communication. Student membership is available to full-time students.

Founded in 1948, the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) is the nation’s leading organization of independent nonfiction writers. Our membership consists of more than 1,100 outstanding freelance writers of magazine articles, trade books, and many other forms of nonfiction writing, each of whom has met ASJA’s exacting standards of professional achievement. ASJA brings leadership in establishing professional and ethical standards, and in recognizing and encouraging the pursuit of excellence in nonfiction writing. ASJA headquarters are in New York City. The Society has active regional chapters in Northern and Southern California, the Rocky Mountain area, and Washington, DC.

The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) is a non-profit, educational association of journalism and mass communication faculty, administrators, students and media professionals. Dedicated to promoting the highest standards for education, the Association provides an abundance of resources for news, research and career opportunities, including a multicultural network of practitioners from every discipline of journalism and mass communication. Founded in Chicago in 1912, AEJMC is the oldest and largest alliance of journalism and mass communication educators and administrators at the college level. Today, the Association has some 3,600 members around the world. AEJMC conventions attract more than half these members each year to various destinations throughout the United States and Canada

The mission of The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) is to foster literary talent and achievement, to advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, and to serve the makers, teachers, students, and readers of contemporary writing. AWP’s members have provided literary education to students and aspiring writers from all backgrounds, economic classes, races, and ethnic origins. AWP has helped to establish the largest system of literary patronage the world has ever seen. AWP has supported the development of hundreds of educational programs, conferences, reading series, and literary magazines as well as thousands of jobs for writers and new audiences for contemporary literature. AWP’s members teach in hospitals, prisons, elementary schools, high schools, and community centers as well as in colleges and universities

The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) supports and promotes the teaching and study of college composition and communication by 1) sponsoring meetings and publishing scholarly materials for the exchange of knowledge about composition, composition pedagogy, and rhetoric; 2) supporting a wide range of research on composition, communication, and rhetoric; 3) working to enhance the conditions for learning and teaching college composition and to promote professional development; and 4) acting as an advocate for language and literacy education nationally and internationally.

The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) is committed to improving the quality of science news reaching the public. Comprised of a panel of distinguished journalists and scientists, CASW develops and funds programs to help reporters and writers produce accurate and informative stories about developments in science, technology, medicine and the environment. The Council’s contributions to science writing were recognized in 2003 when it received the prestigious Public Service Award of the National Science Board, which advises the president and Congress on science and oversees the research programs of the National Science Foundation.

The Council of Science Editors (CSE) serves members in the scientific, scientific publishing, and information science communities by fostering networking, education, discussion, and exchange and to be an authoritative resource on current and emerging issues in the communication of scientific information. The Council of Biology Editors (CBE) became the Council of Science Editors on January 1, 2000. The new name, which was voted on by the membership during 1999, more accurately reflects our expanding membership. CBE was established in 1957 by joint action of the National Science Foundation and the American Institute of Biological Sciences. Today, it enjoys close relationships with a number of scientific publishing organizations, both national and international, but it functions autonomously, relying on the vigor of its more than 1,200 members to attain the goals of the organization.

The Council of Writing Program Administrators (WPA) is a national association of college and university faculty with professional responsibilities for (or interests in) directing writing programs. Members include directors of freshman composition, undergraduate writing, WAC/WID/CAC, and writing centers, as well as department chairs, division heads, deans, and so on. WPA publishes a journal and newsletter, holds an annual workshop and conference, makes grants and awards, develops position statements, offers consulting and program evaluation, and fosters extensive discussions about college writing and writing programs. Faculty and graduate students with professional interests in writing program administration are cordially invited to join WPA.

Founded in 1883, the Modern Language Association of America (MLA) provides opportunities for its members to share their scholarly findings and teaching experiences with colleagues and to discuss trends in the academy. MLA members host an annual convention and other meetings, work with related organizations, and sustain one of the finest publishing programs in the humanities. For over a hundred years, members have worked to strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature.

In 1934, a dozen pioneering science reporters established the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) at a meeting in New York. They wanted a forum in which to join forces to improve their craft and encourage conditions that promote good science writing. The association was formally incorporated in 1955 with a charter to “foster the dissemination of accurate information regarding science through all media normally devoted to informing the public.” Over the years, its officers have included both freelancers and employees of most of the major newspapers, wire services, magazines, and broadcast outlets in the country. Above all, NASW fights for the free flow of science news.

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Since 1911, NCTE has provided a forum for the profession, an array of opportunities for teachers to continue their professional growth throughout their careers, and a framework for cooperation to deal with issues that affect the teaching of English.

The National Writers Union (NWU) is the trade union for freelance and contract writers: journalists, book authors, business and technical writers, web content providers, and poets. With the combined strength of nearly 2,000 members in 16 chapters nationwide, and with the support of the United Automobile Workers (UAW), the Union works to defend the rights and improve the economic and working conditions of all writers.

Established in 1978, the Northern California Science Writers Association (NCSWA) currently has more than 200 members who live and work in Northern California. NCSWA members reside in locales that range from Santa Cruz to Sea Cliff and from Sacramento to San Francisco. The largest group lives in San Francisco, the East Bay, and Silicon Valley. The NCSWA includes newspaper science reporters, popular and trade magazine writers and editors, radio and television broadcasters, public information officers, marketing copywriters, and technical writers. Members cover such topics as agriculture, anthropology, astronomy, behavior, biology, chemistry, computers, earth sciences, environmental issues, medicine, and physics.

The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) was founded in 1990 by a small group of award-winning journalists, including reporters, editors, and producers working for The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, Turner Broadcasting, Minnesota Public Radio, and National Geographic. Today, SEJ’s membership includes more than 1,300 journalists and academics working in every type of news media in the United States, Canada and at least 30 other countries. SEJ’s reputation for excellence, service, and integrity has been built upon annual conferences hosted by distinguished universities, scores of regional events, unique publications, on-line services, in-the-newsroom training sessions, and an extensive membership network. As a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization, SEJ provides educational opportunities and vital support to journalists of all media who face the challenging responsibility of covering complex environmental issues.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC) is an individual membership organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication. It is the largest organization of its type in the world. Its 14,000 members include technical writers and editors, content developers, documentation specialists, technical illustrators, instructional designers, academics, information architects, usability and human factors professionals, visual designers, Web designers and developers, and translators – anyone whose work makes technical information available to those who need it. Society membership provides opportunities for ongoing learning and professional networking. Through the efforts of a small, full-time staff and a large network of volunteers, STC promotes the public welfare by educating its members and industry about issues concerning technical communication.