What does a writing program do? What are its components? Are

there disciplinary norms for these things? Who is creating visionary,

leading programs, and why?

WHAT IS A WRITING PROGRAM?

During the present revolution in scholarly & professional communication, writing programs provide leadership across

the campus and beyond.

WRITING PROGRAMS OFFER DEGREES, HAVE IMPACT

There is a significant gap between Emory’s historical support for writing and disciplinary norms. For more than two decades, 25% or more of MLA job listings have been in

writing. Hundreds of departments offer minors, tracks, or certificates in writing studies.

WHAT WILL EMORY’S WRITING PROGRAM DO?

It is common for Emory’s aspirational peers to use

their unusual prestige and influence to flout

disciplinary norms regarding writing

programs. .

As the 2010 Burmester report & others conclude: Emory’s aspirationalpeers invest far more heavily in their writing programs. However, the

focus on aspirational peers fails to yield a true picture of either Emory’s peers or of disciplinary norms.

Curriculum Remediation

WHICH WRITING PROGRAMS SHOULD EMORY EMULATE?

MIT offers a writing minor in every department; Syracuse had 80 majors the day it opened; GWU’s international

enrollment is 7.5% vs Emory 11%.

Using the metric of US News rankings, Emory’s true peer bracket includes roughly the top 40 national universities and the top 50 English PhD programs. 0

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SYR #62 EMORY

Full

Associate

Asst

Track Faculty in Writing

EMORY’S NATIONAL PEERS EMPLOY RESEARCH FACULTY

Georgia Southern’s department of Writing & Linguistics offers 2 majors, 4 minors & a graduate certificate.

With the exception of Emory, all major research institutions in Georgia adhere at least minimally to disciplinary norms in writing faculty.

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Track Faculty in Writing

RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS EMPLOY RESEARCH FACULTY

UM –UIUC ranked 13-22; Emory & UC Davis ranked 26; PSU-CMU ranked 29-38. UVa, Georgetown, UC

Irvine, numerous others all hiring in writing studies & related fields.

English literature lines are dropping in absolute terms, while writing & digital media hires are soaring.

Most programs outside the top 10 are adapting to the changing landscape of English studies.

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Writing

Writing

Track Faculty in Writing

ENGLISH PHD PROGRAMS EMPLOY RESEARCH FACULTY

Leadership across the curriculum, disciplinary currency, renovation of English grad/ug curriculum, possible improved enrollment &

placement, community impact, interdisciplinary attention to changes in professional & scholarly communication, dynamic relation to other

initiatives—digital, international, STEM, pedagogy, PFF, etc etc.

WHAT DOES EMORY GAIN BY HIRING TRACK FACULTY?

ELEMENTS OF A 5-YEAR PLAN

WID/E, QEP FYC EWC

DOMAIN Curriculum PFF

Any 5-year plan will involve hiring, organization, and budgeting. There are currently no permanent faculty, staff or budget associated with

the Emory College Writing Program.

HIRING: TRACK FACULTY

FYCAssociate Director of EWP/Coordinator of First Year Composition. Asst. professor, 10 months, 2 releases 1 year, 1 release thereafter.

Leadership responsibilities include addressing major policy questions (eg 2 FYC courses, FYS, exemptions, alignment w/ nat’l outcomes); assessment of student learning, formative assessment of teaching by lecturers, track faculty, and grad students; program development, graduate pedagogy, etc.

Supported by 9 mo lecturer with two releases. Would reduce DUS workload & increase compliance Significant improvement in FYW & PFF

Position #1

HIRING: TRACK FACULTY

WIDAssociate Director of EWP/Coordinator of Writing In the Disciplines. Assoc prof, 10 months, 2 releases for 2 years, 1 release after.

Will coordinate broadly to lead WID meets WIDE, or D-WID, a nationally prominent, innovative writing in the disciplines initiative in support of an undergraduate culture of evidence: acquiring, visualizing, presenting, curating and organizing multiple kinds of data in multiple formats—from powerpoint and performance to oral history and activist video.

Supported by 9 mo lecturer with two releases. Will serve as lead WP contributor to QEP Major overhaul in advanced writing across disciplines

Position #2

OPEN QUESTIONS

Leadership of the EWC is under review. Currently staffed by an interim Assistant Director (12-mo staff), several 1-year graduate fellows, and undergraduate tutors. We are doing assessment of its space & mission.

At present, the EWC does not report to the EWP. Anticipating that it might do so, we are considering several changes—eg, integrating a large staff of ESL tutors with the EWC tutoring operation & substantially expanding the ESL preparation of EWC tutors. Selected EWC tutors will also participate in a pilot effort in support of digital literacies.

The best future of the EWC is a multiliteracy approach. There are some efficiencies to be gained by combining with

EWP and considering other partnerships. It is highly desirable to reorganize the fellowships—eg 5-

year top-off superfellowships.

Position #2

EWC

“WRITING SUPPORT” VS WRITING IN THE CURRICULUM

The EWC needs to be led into a true multiliteracies center, implying significant investment in personnel and physical plant, quite possibly at the university level. The best solution is a provost –funded senior hire.

Currently over a dozen campus units offer “writing support” services at highly varying levels of sophistication, frequently by nonspecialist staff and students with limited training. There is substantial unmet need. None of these units address digital literacy & the changing nature of scholarly and professional communication.

Over 14 units provide “writing support” Resources are wasted, need is unmet, quality varies Strategic planning of writing support at university level

requires at minimum the tasking of a provost-level admin.

Position #2

EWC

Proposed Org Chart, 2014-15

Should we think about writing in the curriculum

at the univ level also?

ESL

Oxford

QEP

English Dept.

CFDE

Civic Engmt

DSC

other WP

U/G Rsch

IT, ECIT

Over 12 units currently provide “writing support” of

variable quality.

Proposed Org Chart, 2013-14

ESL

Oxford

QEP

English Dept.

CFDE

Civic Engmt

DSC

other WP

U/G Rsch

IT, ECIT

Temporary f/t hires in 2013-14 could be considered for asst-coordinator slots in

2014-15.

It would be ideal to settle the program

assistant & asst. director

positions, and hire an academic technologist.