[Englecturers] Thinking about Next Year for the Writing Program

[John Briggs]

Writing Program Instructors:


      A number of people have asked me about plans for the University 
Writing Program in the coming year.  I'm writing to provide an 
updated view of what I see ahead, especially in terms of enrollment 
and prospects for employment.

      I am optimistic about the coming year.  It is important to know 
that the latest estimate of UCR enrollment for fall, 2008, predicts a 
slight increase.  New freshman enrollment, which is the crucial 
indicator of writing program enrollment, is projected to be slightly 
higher than in fall of 2007.  Although a fee increase might affect 
some students' decisions to come to a UC campus, the large number of 
applicants this year means that the chance of a drop in enrollment 
has diminished considerably.  (If I sound here like the chairman of 
the Federal Reserve Board, I'm not running for the position.)
.
      The UWP has been given good space in HMNSS.  Architectural 
modifications to accommodate new administrative offices in HMNSS 1003 
will begin in a few weeks.  Instructional space in HMNSS 1002 and 
1001 for workshops, tutorials, and some instructional offices will be 
reconfigured in time for fall classes.  HMNSS 1102 and 1103 will 
continue to be used for the ELWR program and other UWP 
activities.  The decision to house the UWP in HMNSS is very good for 
the program and the campus since it keeps the program accessible to 
students and to instructors' offices.

      For the first time in a decade, we have funding for a writing 
center.  We have hired two TAs (Connie Chow in History and Kevin Sitz 
in Political Science) to begin meeting with students. The center's 
campuswide work will proceed incrementally, focusing on workshops and 
tutorials for a limited number of writing-intensive courses (not 
composition courses) across the curriculum.  Campuswide tutoring will 
come later.  The Learning Center, with its trained undergraduate 
tutors in the Surge Building, will continue to provide 
assistance.  Over time, the goal of the new writing center will be to 
assist faculty who wish to make their courses more 
writing-intensive.  In future years, some of those courses might be 
considered, if the Senate approves of the idea, as alternatives for English 1C.
(The idea about 1C alternatives is my own preference.  It is not yet 
Senate policy.)

      The new Lecturer contract, which sets the full-time load at 
eight courses per year, will create a need for more instructors.  At 
least some of that need will be met by the hiring of TAs from other 
departments -- a priority I believe is crucial to the future 
prosperity of the entire program.  At the same time, the size and 
complexity of the overall program, the staffing effects of the new 
Lecturer contract, and the likelihood of higher enrollment, will call 
for continuing dependence upon the expertise of TAs and Lecturers 
already teaching in the program.  Once again this year we will be 
looking, as we have for many years, for new Lecturer applicants to 
join the pool so that we are sure we can compensate for growth and 
attrition.

      To ensure stability, personnel reviews involving Lecturers will 
take place again this year in the English Department's Committee on 
Writing Courses, chaired by John Ganim.  Hiring responsibilties for 
next fall will be my responsibility, this spring and summer, as head 
of the University Writing Program..

      My interim appointment is for the current academic year.  When 
the time comes for another search (sooner or later this year), I plan 
to apply for the permanent position.  I believe that the changes I 
have described will ensure stability in the University Writing 
Program for 2008-2009, whoever is the next director.

      Thank you for all that you do that makes the UCR program one of 
the best there is.


John Briggs








here are some imponderables, of course.