Re: WAC Programs

[tere molinder-hogue <tmhogue@iupui.edu>]

Thank you, Pat!!  I'm rushing a "lit review" into being for Friday's
meeting and you raise two sterling issues I definitely need as support:
that "faculty . . . have to have an incentive to invest in WAC" and that
administrators (in my case) enter the stage at that point.  Your comments
about summer/winter are definitely useful . . . *thank you* for taking
time to respond . . . I *love* this list!!  :-)   Tere



On Mon, 5 May 1997, Writing Center wrote:

> Thanks for the clarifications.
> 
> At 10 hours a week, you'll go WACy--sorry--unless you economize. Our
> 12 year old program is committed to narrow and deep in order to
> maintain quality.  Only recently have we begun to feel pressure for
> bean counting. We're committed to our office as being a place of learning
> for ourselves as well as service, so we have to be gradual in our work.
> 
> Faculty, especially those committed primarily to research, have to have an
> incentive to invest in WAC.  That's where the administrators come in.
> They also come in for you.  Make certain that you are receiving credit for
> this administrative/service/teaching effort--even if you're not
> tenure-track.
> 
> What about some well-publicized workshops in the summer and during
> interim, if you have one, combined with a web site that could start out
> with lots of links and then emerge into your own, perhaps with the help of
> the faculty in those summer workshops.  As a colleague reminded me the
> other day, get the faculty to work with you instead of you working for
> them. You might function as a sort of Brigadoon--alive and flourishing in
> the summer and close to dormant in the winter, while the writing center is
> flourishing.  The web site could function as the link between your two
> efforts.
> 
> 
> Pat McQueeney
> 
> 
> On Mon, 5 May 1997, tere molinder-hogue wrote:
> 
> > 
> > We don't use "writing-intensive" rhetoric a lot -- our purpose is
> > essentially to try to foster increased use of writing in courses in all
> > disciplines.  We do a pretty solid job of reaching students writing in
> > other disciplines (our UWC is sponsored by the School of Liberal Arts and
> > I'm part of the English department and answer to the chair;  WAC falls
> > under the aegis of the Director of Campus Writing whose not done much
> > with WAC); we aim to target faculty. Existing WAC initatives exist among
> > discrete faculty (usually LARTS) with whom we've fostered a relationship
> > as well as with freshman retention programs.  When most of us think of WAC
> > -- we think of both writing to learn and writing in the disciplines. 
> > 
> >   
> > 
> > On Mon, 5 May 1997, Writing Center wrote:
> > 
> > > A few questions:  Do you think of WAC as being synonymous with
> > > writing-intensive courses?  Is your target group primarily faculty or
> > > students?  Where do the current WAC initiatives already exist--in Liberal
> > > Arts or in the professional schools?  What is your field currently? 
> > > English?  Who do you answer to for the writing center and for WAC?  When
> > > you think of WAC, do you think of writing to learn, writing in the
> > > disciplines, or a combination? 
> > > 
> > > Pat McQueeney
> > > University of Kansas
> > > 
> > > On Fri, 2 May 1997, tere molinder-hogue wrote:
> > > 
> > > > 
> > > > I need help.  I'm supposed to put together a WAC program for our campus
> > > > (large commuter campus w/about 26,000 students and attendant schools,
> > > > programs, etc.).  Some informal WAC initiatives already exist.    
> > > > 
> > > > A couple problems exist also.  I am a lecturerr
> > > > (un-tenurable) allowed 10 hours week for administering our writing center
> > > > (it sees 2000 -2500 students a year with staff ranging from 15-25
> > > > undergrad and part-time faculty tutors) AND putting organizing WAC
> > > > effort, with essentially no budget, etc.
> > > > 
> > > > My questions.  How much released time from teaching and other
> > > > administrative responsibilities are other wc administrators allowed
> > > > to implement WAC efforts?  What kind of budget is required?  What kind of 
> > > > support from tenured or tenure-track administrators is required?  
> > > > 
> > > > And finally -- does anyone have ideas or pointers about organizing such a
> > > > program?  In incremental steps?  All at once?  Any help will be deeply
> > > > appreciated.  Thanks!!      
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > _____________________________________***_______________________________________
> > > > 
> > > > Tere Molinder-Hogue		           
> > > > University Writing Center		    
> > > > CA 502L  (317) 274-4499/2049			     
> > > > 425 University Blvd.					
> > > > Indpls., IN  46202				
> > > > """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> 
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