PROPOSAL: PROFESSIONAL WRITING PROGRAM

Adrienne Moncrief

Table of Contents

Introduction/Summary Need Goal Objectives Purpose Budget Comparisons Conclusion

Introduction/Summary

The Professional Writing program at Miami University is new (2011) and full of potential

PW major, writing & rhetoric minor Three tracks within the PW major, plus a

self-designed track Calls for different classes, and many

overlap

Problem Classes are not offered often Not enough full-time professors; many are

graduate students or part-time visiting professors

Solution Hire more professors to accommodate the

growing number of students in the program

Need

As of May 2013, 91 students were enrolled in the Professional Writing major, 65 for the writing & rhetoric minor

17% of classes taught by 7 tenure-line, full-time professors (5 retired last year)

83% of classes taught by visiting assistant professors, graduate students or part-time faculty members

Professors of PW courses – Fall 2013

Tenure-line facultyVisiting assistant professors, graduate students, part-time faculty

Goal

To hire five full-time faculty to teach upper-level production courses, client-based projects and courses & online and digital media courses

To offer more classes to improve the selection variety and availability for students

44 Professional Writing courses 19 ENG courses offered Fall 2013 (30

total) 13 JRN, IMS, and COM courses offered

(14 total)

ENG

COM, JRN, IMS

0 10 20 30 40

Courses of-feredCourses not of-fered

Objectives

Spread the word about our search for tenure-line positions

Partner with other programs in search of faculty (AIMS)

Interview applicants Narrow down the finalists Approval from the Dean

Purpose

To let students have the opportunity to work with tenure-line faculty Career development and preparation Long-term

To offer more classes each semester to help students meet the outcomes in their major

Budget

$77,288 – average salary for English literature/language tenure-line faculty

5 new hires $368,440 / year

Comparisons

Michigan State University 70 faculty in the Writing Rhetoric and

American Cultures department Purdue University

60 faculty in English Department, with 9 in particular to Rhetoric and Composition

Uniqueness of the major will draw professors to Miami

Conclusion

The PW program needs to hire more tenure-line professors To strengthen the growing program To accommodate students’ needs To replace the 5 retired faculty members

from last year The PW is a popular program with

students, employers and hopefully future faculty

Employing more long-term faculty will sustain the program and the quality of learning for students