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There are just three days left in the semester and we’re wrapping things up. Like most of my colleagues, I am deep in grading mode. However, I thought I would take a few minutes this morning (before I head into campus and while my son is sleeping) to post.
This past academic year has been pretty incredible for our little composition program. We have one new class on the books, ENG 316 Rhetoric, Democracy, Advocacy, which will be offered in spring 2010 for the first time. We also have two classes heading for college and university curriculum committees after passing our department unanimously: Women, Writing, Rhetoric and Issues in Composition and Rhetoric Studies. A very productive year for course development and another step toward rounding out a solid concentration in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy Studies at KU.
This past year we also completed two successful tenure-track faculty searches. In the fall, we will welcome Mysti Rudd from Lamar State College-Port Arthur (IUP PhD candidate) in Texas and Moe Folk from Michigan Tech. Over the summer I am going to ask Mysti and Moe to introduces themselves to you, but for now let me just say that both of these folks promise to contribute to our program in exciting ways. As I have suggested before on this blog, our program has at its core an ethic of “conversation.” That is, we are interested in a diversity of approaches at our composition table that can contibute to a lively conversation over the teaching of writing, literacy in the 21st Century, and all things composition and rhetoric. Many of us got into this field because of its lively discussion over the purpose and nature of writing, rhetoric, and literacy…so, it only makes sense that we would want to use that energy, that commitment to discussion as the model of our program. I am sure that Mysti and Moe will both expand and deepen our conversations.
This past spring saw another successful Composition Conference for student writers. This 5th annual conference was expanded to include student writers from all levels of composition courses, which exceeded our expectations. Despite a very miserable weather day, attendance at this year’s conference was the best yet. Our keynote speaker, Steve Parks from Syracuse University, gave an engaging talk entitled “Once I was a Washing Machine: Worker/Writer Alliances at the Edge of the Economic Abyss” (see the pics below). His talk was both well attended and sparked conversations that echoed through our conversations for weeks.
Over the course of this summer we will be planning for what promises to be an exciting new academic year. We will be hiring an additional tenure-track faculty member in Multicultural/Multiethnic Rhetorics; formally submitting our concentration for department approval; expanding our course offerings; deepening our use of new media; and continuing conversations in our weekly meetings and reading groups. Toward the end of this semester, we began some interesting and exciting conversations with our fellow rhetoricians in the Speech Department (soon to be Communications Studies). Frankly, the promise of reuniting rhetoric just gets me all happy (yes, I am a rhetoric geek). In short, I think we are in great shape…or, given that today is Obama’s 100th day in office, maybe I should say: “the state of our program is strong!” :-)
Hello all comp/rhet followers. We’re only two weeks into the semester and already it’s exciting.
As you may know, three of us–Linda Cullum, Amy Lynch-Biniek, and I were in San Francisco at MLA interviewing candidates for our tenure-track position in Comp/Rhet. This week we begin our interviews. On campus interviews are always hectic, but from my perspective they are one of the most interesting parts of my job. It’s an opportunity to talk to great people who are doing excellent work in both their classrooms and their research. At the very least, it’s an opportunity to build networks of connection with other Comp/Rhet folks across the country.
If interviewing candidates for one position was not intense enough, we decided to push to search for a second tenure-track position this year. The position: Digital Literacies/Visual Rhetorics. Our initial plan was to search DL/VR next year along with a position in Multicultural/Multi-ethnic Rhetoric. But when opportunity presented itself to push the search to this year, we went for it.
If we are able to hire both positions this year we will have a total of 6 Comp/Rhet faculty, which will put us in an excellent position to focus on program development over the next couple of years. The addition of a faculty member in Multicultural/Multi-ethnic rhetoric in 2010 will give our little-program-that-could further depth.
In any case, we are looking forward to an exciting few weeks!
Our ad for a tenure-track position in Composition and Rhetoric for fall 2009 is now posted on Kutztown University’s web site:
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Kutztown University of Pennsylvania enrolls approximately 10,000 students in graduate and undergraduate programs. The University is located in the borough of Kutztown in a charming rural setting, and is within 20 minutes driving time of the diverse metropolitan areas Allentown/Bethlehem and Reading, and within 60 minutes of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The University is very interested in hiring employees who have had extensive experience with diverse populations.
The English Department invites applications for a tenure-track position in Composition and Rhetoric beginning Fall 2009. Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric preferred, ABD accepted with completion of dissertation before second year of appointment. Demonstrated experience and research in one or more of the following areas a plus: History of Composition and Rhetoric, Classical Rhetorics, Multicultural Rhetorics, Visual Rhetorics, Writing Program Administration, Assessment of First-Year Writing, or WAC. Strong applicants will also be committed to a “stretch model” approach to introductory composition courses.
The 4/4 teaching load will include College Composition, Introduction to College Composition, Honors Composition, and Advanced Composition with opportunities to develop and teach upper-level and graduate courses in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy Studies. Three (3) years of college-level teaching experience required with significant experience teaching Composition. Successful interview and demonstration of teaching abilities required.
Send a letter of application, vita, three current letters of reference, and all official college-level transcripts to Dr. Kevin Mahoney, Chair, Composition Faculty Search Committee, 241 Lytle Hall, English Department, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA 19530. Only complete application packets will be considered. Review of applications will begin November 14, 2008 for MLA interviews and will continue until the position is filled. For more information on our program, visit our website at: http://kucomprhet.wordpress.com or contact the Committee Chair at Mahoney@kutztown.edu.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and actively solicits applications from women and minority candidates. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a member of the State System of Higher Education.
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