Starting in autumn quarter 2025, the University will begin a multi-year restructuring of the undergraduate writing program, which had previously run concurrently with the humanities Core sequence. The program will be replaced by the new Chicago Center for Writing, and the Center will be led by Abigail Reardon, the current executive director of the Writing Program. Seven writing specialists were laid off in July, with the remaining specialists expected to be let go in waves during the 2026 and 2027 spring quarters, according to Writing Specialist Sarah Osment. Osment estimated that 11 writing specialists applied to the new IP position, but only two were ultimately hired in spring. In an email to the Maroon, Writing Specialist Sophie McMillian-Myers explained that only writing specialists with doctorates were eligible to apply for the IP roles, excluding several specialists with master’s degrees.