Re: Writing Center Directing as Teaching

[EBOQUET@FAIR1.FAIRFIELD.EDU]

Jane--

This is an issue I've been trying to think about, without a whole lot of
success, with my dean and with my departmental mentoring committee.  One thing
we've come up with is to keep track, even if only for one semester or for one
academic year, all of the activities which you do in the center which might be
considered teaching: staff meetings/practicums/independent studies--count 'em
up, actual tutoring in the writing center, meeting with people's classes,
meeting with faculty to discuss assignments, whatever.  Someone brought up the
question of FTE's, which are not generated by this kind of teaching, but when I
raised this with my department, my chair responded that, while FTEs may be an
administrative concern in terms of budgeting, they are not the concern of the
rank and tenure committee.  The committee's concern with regards to teaching is
whether or not I am teaching a range of things, adding to what was previously
available, and doing it well.

Good luck with it, and I'll be looking to see how everything turns out.

Take care,
Beth Boquet
eboquet@fair1.fairfield.edu