Re: writing center directing as teaching

[Beth Boquet <eboquet@FAIR1.FAIRFIELD.EDU>]

> Date:          Mon, 19 May 1997 11:03:50 -0500
> From:          nleech@sunyrockland.edu
> Subject:       Re: writing center directing as teaching
> To:            Multiple recipients of list <wcenter@ttacs6.ttu.edu>
> Reply-to:      wcenter@ttacs6.ttu.edu

> I need advice here.  My writing center budget and program are under severe
> attack because of college-wide enrollment decline (even though our number
> of students has remained fairly constant).  The first line of attack is to
> remove one of our two professional positions.  It was grant-funded for 5
> years, and institutionally funded for the last year on a temporary basis
> with the plan to conduct a national search early this spring.  In January,
> however, a hiring freeze was imposed, so we've been scrambling every since
> to find other funding to no avail.
> 
> It may sound as if a community college would not need 2 professionals
> leading its writing center, but part of what we do is to administer 60-70
> sections of a one-credit support module that about half our students are
> required to take along with freshman composition.  These sections are
> staffed by 35-40 student tutors, working in small groups under our
> direction.  In addition, we perform about 1200 hours of individual
> tutoring for students in any discipline.
> 
> The writing on the wall seems to be saying that the intention of the
> administration might be to consolidate our individual writing tutoring
> with the newly created tutoring center.  I know that many of you work in
> what are called learning centers, and I'm hoping that you might share your
> experience with me of how that arrangement works.  I've always held the
> idea that tutoring writing (and reading) are somewhat different
> propositions than tutoring other things, that it is less interested in
> "skills" and content and more devoted to the idea of a relationship with
> language.  I'm sorting out what stance to take in case I'm approached with
> such a suggestion, and I need help from my WCenter buddies.
> 
> Nancy Leech
> 
>
Nancy, 

Just a quick thought here:  To whom do you report?  Where does your 
budget come from?

I ask this because the writing center here at Fairfield is housed in 
the Academic Division and I report to the Dean of the College of Arts 
and Science.  The Learning Center is housed in the Student Services 
Division.  This fact alone, as confirmed by my dean, indicates that 
the administration believes that tutoring writing is different from 
tutoring in other academic areas (as you indicated in your message).  
I'm not so sure I agree with that proposition, but it certainly has 
resulted in my getting the sweeter deal.

It seems to me that, especially since your center supervises a module 
which generates a considerable number of FTEs (and presumably some 
sort of institutional credit), you have a strong argument for being 
situated in the academic division, if you aren't already.

That's where I would start--not so much with being concerned about 
being folded in with other tutoring services (though I would silently 
be _very_ concerned about that) but with being more interested in 
where the writing center is positioned institutionally and what the 
rationale is for keeping it there (or moving it, whichever way you 
want to go).

You might also talk to Ben and Lea at IUP.  If you remember, they 
co-directed the Writing Center--Ben with an appointment through the 
English Department and Lea with an appointment through the Learning 
Center.  That arrangement has since been modified, but I'm sure they 
could shed some light on this.

Good luck!

Take care, 
Beth
eboquet@fair1.fairfield.edu