Many historians of Composition Studies argue that the matter of who exactly should be defined as a "basic writer" and what counts as “basic writing” is complex.[6][7] The definition of “basic” has been disputed when framed around issues of writing proficiency in “Standard English,” increasingly racially/ethnically diverse college demographics, which both resulted from post-secondary desegregation mandates. For example, the term “basic writing” has been attributed to the SEEK program started by Mina P. Shaughnessy[8] at the City University of New York, which she designed to help incoming college students from open admissions who had not historically been able to attend college.[9] Consistent with then-current educational theories, many of these courses focused on what were at that time believed to be core concepts of formal English, like spelling, usage, and organization, though as the field has advanced these courses are increasingly aligned with the curricula found in mainstream first-year composition.[10] Basic writing coursework has diversified considerably since its beginnings in non-credit-bearing 'pre' college courses, including stretch,[11] studio,[12] and accelerated[13] offerings, although they remain typically understood as precursors to or supplements for mainstream first-year composition.