Iowa State associate professor of English David Russell will lead a discussion about working to increase writing skills among ISU’s colleges at tonight’s Faculty Forum.

Russell, who currently teaches rhetorical analysis and business communication classes, will introduce the discussion “Writing Across the Curriculum.”

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. in the Cardinal Room of the Memorial Union.

Russell said the purpose of tonight’s dinner/discussion forum for faculty is to get faculty members from the various colleges together to concentrate on ways to help improve their students’ writing skills.

“The goal is for faculty members to share ways of helping students not only learn to write, but also write to learn,” he said.

Russell added strong writing and speaking skills are vital in helping students “learn material and apply it to their future professional lives, where writing is becoming more and more important.”

Increased writing skill, Russell said, “is another way of improving an undergraduate education.”

Russell said his main interest in the topic deals with “how people learn and the different kinds of writing needed for communication in different disciplines and professions.”

Russell will begin the forum with a 10 minute speech on writing across the curriculum, which will then lead into an open discussion among the faculty members present.

Russell described tonight’s forum as an important opportunity for faculty members to share ideas and talk openly about the subject matter involved.

“I really cherish opportunities like these for faculty to get together and talk,” Russell said.

Russell added how important these opportunities to share ideas among faculty at ISU are, and how the discussion benefits everyone.

He also said more students along with faculty members should take advantage of the writing center on campus, which is also available on-line.

Of the center, Russell said, “ISU should be proud that more is being done to serve students in many various disciplines.”

Tonight’s dinner/discussion meeting is the first in this year’s Faculty Forum series and is sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Dinner begins at 6 p.m. The discussion is scheduled to begin at 6:45 in the Cardinal Room of the Memorial Union.