Re: Villanova Position

[David Coogan <coogan@charlie.cns.iit.edu>]

Bob,

I for one am very concerned.  I recall one interview I had last year, where
the position description was similar to the one below from Villanova.  The
tension revolved around the subject of research. I suggested that even
without tenure, a department should provide incentives for professional
renewal, in the form of fellowships, summer grants, conference/travel
budget, etc; that even without tenure or the expectation of publication,
one needs to conceive of the writing center director as an academic who
serves, not a servant who knows a little academic stuff.  In this
particular interview I had, the committee readily admitted that the job had
burn-out potential. Yet they couldnt, or wouldnt connect the burnout
potential with the lack of research/professional renewal opportunities. I
believe the argument that they represented went something like this:

"Well, there is a limit to how many tenure track people we can have in
writing." (to which I said)
"How many do you have?" (and they said)
"Four" (in a dept. of 25, or so!).  "One in poetry, one in fiction, etc."
(and I said)
"You dont have any, then.  I meant how many PhD/tenure track do you have in
rhet/comp?"
(and they said) "None."

 I dont know what's to be done about this, but the trend certainly has
soured me on the future of writing centers because it is a trend, not just
an isolated incident.


Dave Coogan
Illinois Institute of Technology

>Is anyone else concerned about the increasing number of WC director jobs
>being posted as non-tenure track, staff positions? This feels like a trend
>that has the potential to seriously undercut the integrity and long-term
>potentials of our field.
>
>Bob Barnett
>UM-Flint
>
>On Thu, 8 Oct 1998, Karyn Hollis wrote:
>
>> DIRECTOR OF THE WRITING CENTER
>>
>> Villanova University seeks a full-time director of its University
>> Writing
>> Center.  Applicants for this non-tenure track, administrative/staff
>> position
>> should have an advanced degree in Composition/Rhetoric (Ph.D. preferred)
>>
>> and/or solid experience in Writing Center administration.  Duties
>> include
>> teaching, staff development, and administration of a busy facility.
>> Salary
>> competitive.  Ideal starting date: January 1999.  Villanova is a Roman
>> Catholic university founded and sponsored by the Augustinian Order.  An
>> Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, Villanova is committed to
>>
>> fostering a faculty and staff rich in divrsity and dedicated to
>> Villanova's
>> Judaeo-Christian value orientation.  Applicants should send C.V.  (with
>> transcripts), writing sample, and three letters of recommendation to Dr.
>>
>> Charles Cherry, English Department, Villanova University, Villanova, PA
>> 19085.  Application deadline:  November 15, 1998.
>>
>>