To efficiently serve a large number of learners, delivering timely and effective feedback to students is more crucial than ever. At times, student writing deficiencies can make it more difficult for faculty to determine and assess competence related to course concepts. 

This is one reason why Western Governors University (WGU) and Grammarly embarked on a groundbreaking partnership nearly a year ago to enhance the writing assessment process for over 180,000 students. This collaboration led to the creation of a real-time writing feedback system integrated directly into WGU’s learning management system.

This article explores the challenges WGU faced, how Grammarly’s technology was adapted to meet those needs, the measurable impact of the partnership, and what lies ahead for this pioneering initiative.

The Complexity of Writing Assessment at Scale

WGU's educational model requires students to submit written work that is evaluated by a diverse faculty pool exceeding 1,500 members. These faculty assess more than 2,500 types of performance assessments annually. However, a significant hurdle emerged: they struggled to accurately identify competencies within student submissions because of inconsistent writing quality.

WGU needed a scalable, consistent, and timely intervention that could improve writing quality upfront, streamline faculty evaluation, and provide equitable support to all students regardless of their background or resources.

Grammarly’s Writing Score API Integration

Grammarly, widely known for its AI-powered writing assistance, had already been a popular tool among students independently using it to improve their work. This existing interest laid the foundation for a deeper collaboration with WGU. But the partnership needed more than off-the-shelf solutions; it required a custom integration that could deliver real-time, rubric-based feedback within WGU’s assessment workflow.

“We realized that traditional workflows didn’t meet WGU’s high-volume, high stakes writing assessment needs,” said Jenny Maxwell, head of education at Grammarly. “Together, we innovated and created the Writing Score API — a first-of-its-kind solution that acts as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for students before submitting their graded work.”

The Writing Score API provides students with an immediate, detailed score on a one to 100 scale based on multiple dimensions such as spelling, grammar, sentence clarity, word variety and tone. This feedback is aligned with WGU’s rubric, enabling students to iteratively improve their writing before final submission. 

Unlike Grammarly’s standard consumer products, this integration is embedded within the institutional system, ensuring all students have equitable access to the tool without the need for individual premium licenses.

How the System Works

• Students upload their written assessments (over 100 words) to WGU’s platform.

• The system analyzes the writing and generates a flag: green for “good to go” or yellow indicating areas that need improvement.

• If flagged yellow, students receive automated, actionable feedback guiding them on specific writing issues and available support resources.

• Students can revise their work based on this feedback and resubmit it before final grading.

• Faculty then assess the content with confidence that writing clarity will not obscure the demonstration of competency.

Quantifying Impact: Time Saved and Quality Improved

Since the official deployment of the system in August 2024, the partnership has yielded impressive outcomes. WGU evaluates roughly 3.5 million written assessments annually, and the integration has resulted in an average reduction of approximately two and a half minutes per evaluation. While this might seem modest at first glance, it translates into a staggering 145,000 hours saved in just six months.

These saved hours enable WGU to support an additional 300,000 assessments annually, which means many more students benefit from timely, quality feedback. Beyond efficiency, the quality of student writing has improved greatly.

Student and Faculty Feedback

The real measure of success lies in the experiences of those using the system daily. Students have expressed appreciation for the clarity and immediacy of feedback. One student noted, “I didn’t know what I needed until it was highlighted to me definitively where I was lacking.”

This non-threatening, automated feedback mechanism allows students who might feel intimidated or unsure about their writing skills to improve independently without waiting for faculty intervention. It empowers them to become better writers on their own terms.

Faculty also benefits from this system. By trusting grammar and clarity checks to Grammarly’s automated process, instructors can focus on their areas of expertise—evaluating the substance and competency of the student’s work. This shift not only streamlines workflow but also promotes consistency across evaluations, regardless of the faculty member’s background.

Faculty Adoption and Calibration

Introducing new technology into an established academic process naturally comes with a learning curve. Some faculty members initially questioned the focus of the automated feedback, especially those with strong backgrounds in English, who are accustomed to evaluating writing mechanics in detail.

To address this, WGU and Grammarly narrowed their focus to specific rubric elements like clarity, while de-emphasizing mechanics that were less critical to the competency assessment. 

Ongoing communication, training, and support have been key to helping faculty adapt. Grammarly provides customer success managers who analyze faculty usage and offer best practices to maximize the pedagogical benefits of the tool. 

Why This Partnership Works

The success of this collaboration extends beyond technology—it is deeply rooted in the culture of both organizations. WGU’s commitment to innovation and putting resources behind student success creates fertile ground for experimentation and scaling new solutions.

“WGU’s culture is all about innovation and student success,” said Sluk.  "They literally put money where their mouth is, investing in solutions that better serve one of the largest higher education populations in the world.”

Similarly, Grammarly’s mission aligns perfectly with WGU’s goal to provide equitable access to writing support for all students, regardless of background or financial means. This shared vision fuels continuous improvement and expansion of their partnership.

Next Steps and Opportunities

As the partnership approaches its one-year milestone, both WGU and Grammarly are eager to build on their early successes. Key focus areas include:

• Increasing student adoption rates beyond 70% to maximize impact.

• Continuing to refine the Writing Score API based on user feedback and evolving educational needs.

• Expanding faculty training and support to further smooth the learning curve and enhance pedagogical use.

• Exploring additional AI-driven tools and integrations that complement the writing feedback system.

For institutions interested in understanding the broader implications of AI and productivity in education, Grammarly offers a detailed report called The Productivity Shift — shedding light on how AI tools are transforming workflows and outcomes in higher education.

Final Thoughts

The WGU and Grammarly partnership exemplifies how technology, when thoughtfully integrated and aligned with institutional missions, can transform educational experiences at scale. By providing real-time, actionable writing insights, they have not only improved efficiency but also empowered students and faculty alike to focus on what truly matters: learning and mastery.

As education continues to evolve in the age of AI and digital transformation, collaborations like this pave the way for more equitable, effective, and engaging learning environments for all.