Each semester, the Jones White Writing Center offers a Business Writing Credential,* which is open to all 亚色影库 students. This program offers a free certificate in effective workplace, business, and technical communication and can be added to your résumé.
According to Challenger, Gray, and Christmas (2019)† and the Forbes Human Resources Council (2022),‡ proficiency in written communication is one of the twenty-first-century skills that employers are looking for, but those new to the workforce are less prepared for. Earning your Business Writing Credential can develop your written communication skills and make you more marketable in the future.
To earn your Business Writing Credential, you need to:
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Attend at least four of our Business Writing Workshops in fall 2024 or beyond
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Visit with a tutor to work on your résumé, cover letter, or other business writing-oriented document (online or in person, schedule through My 亚色影库 > Academic Support > Writing Center: Schedule a writing tutorial)
We offer multiple opportunities to attend the Business Writing Credential workshops each semester. You do not need to complete your credential in one semester, but can take multiple semesters to do so.
For questions about the Business Writing Credential, please write to Andy Decker, at w-center@iup.edu.
Fall 2026 Business Writing Credential Workshops
All Business Writing Credential workshops will be held in a hybrid format. Students may attend in person at the Writing Center computer lab (210 Stabley Library) or online, .
Workshops Location and Zoom Link
Wednesday workshops are held in 210 Stabley Library and on Zoom.
The .
AI in College Writing – September 2, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Level: Graduate and Undergraduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
This workshop helps students understand how to work effectively with AI tools in their academic writing. Students will learn when and how to use AI writing assistants appropriately, following academic integrity guidelines. The workshop covers practical strategies for using AI as a brainstorming partner, draft reviewer, and research assistant. Students will also learn how to properly disclose AI use in their work and maintain their authentic voice and authorial agency while using AI tools. This workshop is ideal for students in any class.
Avoiding Plagiarism – September 9, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Level: Graduate and Undergraduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
This workshop introduces undergraduate and graduate writers to how to avoid plagiarism in their writing, including through papers written in coursework and at the honors thesis, MA thesis, or dissertation stage. The workshop will cover cultural expectations, reading and citation strategies, managing large numbers of sources, and self-citation. We will also discuss iThenticate, which is used by the graduate school for submission of a thesis or dissertation.
Résumés — October 7, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
This workshop introduces students to developing the content and designing an effective résumé. We explore effective résumé samples, how to frame experience to diverse audiences, and the different content that goes in a résumé. Students can also learn new features in MS Word that will make their résumés distinctive. Students can get started on one during this workshop, or polish what they’ve already written.
Cover Letters — October 14, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
Twenty-first-century workplace contexts require effective communication skills, and in the digital age, these skills include how to use statistics and numbers to tell stories to potential customers or the public. This workshop explores the importance of data visualization, shares strategies and suggestions for effectively and ethically presenting statistical data in both written and visual formats, and explains how to use these effectively for informative and persuasive purposes.
CV Workshop — October 21, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
This workshop introduces students to developing the content and designing an effective CV. Typically used in academia, research, medicine, and law, and longer than a resume, a CV is a comprehensive document detailing one's full academic and professional history. In this workshop, we'll explore effective CV samples, how to communicate relevant experience to diverse audiences, and the different content that goes in a CV. Students can also learn new features in MS Word that will make their CVs distinctive. Students can get started on their CV during this workshop, or polish one they’ve already written.
Personal Statements and Other Required Narratives — October 28, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
This workshop introduces students to writing an effective personal statement. After reviewing models of successful personal statements, we’ll discuss the purpose of the personal statement, how to tailor a personal statement to fit a specific application, and how to highlight relevant experiences. Students will get a chance to draft a personal statement for intended applications.
Reverse Outlining: Working Backward to Move Writing Forward — November 4, 7:00–8:00 p.m. NEW!
Level: Undergraduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
Reverse outlining is a revision strategy in which you skeletonize an existing document to reveal its underlying structure. This technique helps writers learn the conventions of different kinds of documents and see gaps between their intentions and how a draft has been written. In this workshop, students will learn to apply this technique across genres using provided samples and their own writing.
Clarity and Conciseness in Business and Professional Writing Workshop — November 11, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Level: undergraduate/graduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
This workshop explores the critical importance of clarity and conciseness in a variety of writing contexts (including in academic and professional settings). Specifically, the workshop introduces students to the paramedic method, which can be used at the sentence and paragraph levels to make writing more direct, active, and precise. We’ll also explore purpose and audience-driven strategies for clarity and conciseness that can be used to reduce wordiness and provide clarity.
Proofreading — November 18, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Level: undergraduate/graduate – counts toward Business Writing Credential
This workshop helps students build the careful reading skills they need to proofread their papers, including reading slowly, using A Writer’s Reference, and applying useful editing techniques.
Acknowledgment: Many thanks to Jasmine Bishnoi and Emily Zylstra for helping curate this list of workshops.
*A credential is a non-credit-bearing cocurricular training at 亚色影库.
†Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, Inc. (2019). “”
‡Forbes Human Resources Council. “?” May 17, 2022.