DRW Digital Archive

Items

• Proposed Changes to the College of Liberal Arts Part of the UT Austin Catalogue, 1981-1983, to Bring Undergraduate Degree Programs within the Spirit of the Report of the Committee on Basic Education Requirements
  These proposals to change the degree programs in the College of Liberal Arts are similar to other proposals submitted by all the other colleges at this time. Notable here, as elsewhere, is substitution of a previous two-semester, first year requirement (including E 306 and another lower-division English course) for the new English Requirement, including E 306, E 316K, and E 346K.
• Questions to the President Concerning Conflicting Statements about the New English Requirements
  Sledd asks why the intended and original policy to allow transfer credit for E 346K from outside UT was changed.
• Minutes of the University Council Meeting of December 13, 1982
  At this meeting of the Faculty Council, James Sledd introduced a motion to allow students to substitute E 307 (a second-semester, first-year writing course) for the new E 346K requirement. After Sledd defended his motion, Kinneavy spoke in defense of the new English requirement including E 346K. Ultimately, a vote on Sledd's motion is deferred until the next Faculty Senate meeting. Attached are Sledd's 14-page motion and its lengthy defense and Kinneavy's 3-page riposte to Sledd's allegations.
• University Council Meeting Minutes 18 October 1982
  At this meeting, Sledd’s first two questions to the president are presented. President Flawn also announces the creation of a committee to approve substantial-writing component courses. Finally, changes to degree programs in Architecture, Natural Sciences, and Communications are debated, sometimes touching on the new English Requirement (E 346K).
• Secretary’s Report 18 October 1982
  This report lists the status of the English proposal for a new requirement in English. The proposal was approved on Sept. 17, but President Flawn attached a letter stating that he will approve the proposal but not the ability to substitute courses for E 346K.
• Four Motions Concerning The Basic Education Requirements in Writing and Natural Science
  Kelley describes motions that are intended to implement the Vick Report recommendations approved by Faculty Senate in March 1981. This includes the president's appointment of a 10-15 member University Committee on Writing which will approve courses eligible to have a substantial writing component and the university deans submission of a list of courses for approval as SWC classes in their respective colleges.
• Minutes of the University Council, 23 March 1981
  At this Faculty Senate meeting: (1) The senate approves a motion to allow the individual colleges to consider and propose curricular changes in the spirit of the Vick Report recommendations, rather than vote on the recommendations individually. (2) The Faculty Senate deliberates the English Department proposal to change the require writing curriculum so that it includes E 306, E 316K, and E 346K. (3) The Faculty Senate begins to deliberate a proposal for a sophomore-level writing course in Advanced Composition (E 309).
• Minutes of the Second Regular Meeting of the General Faculty, 3 May 1977
  At this meeting, the recommendations of the Hairston Committee are discussed: leave the English requirement at 9 hours and establish a university-wide committee to address writing across the curriculum. The meeting features a lengthy indictment of the English writing program by Sledd, comments by Kinneavy and Hairston defending recent efforts to improve the writing program, and a failed vote on the Hairston Committee recommendation because no quorum was present.
• Minutes of the University Council Meeting, 20 April 1981
  At this meeting, an amended version of the proposal to change the university-wide English requirement was deliberated and approved. These amendments based on the 23 March Faculty Senate discussion: (1) The Writing in Business variation of E 346K was removed and (2) authority to approve E 346K equivalents was moved from the English Department to the University Council. Other amendments were deliberated and denied.
• Minutes of the University Council Meeting, 16 February 1981
  At this meeting, the Faculty Senate discussed the Vick Report, its writing requirement and the feasibility of its full implementation. Faculty from various departments throughout the university discussed the quality of student writing and the feasibility of expanding writing instruction beyond the English Department's offerings.
• Proposal by the College of Liberal Arts for an Undergraduate University Requirement in English
  This proposal recommends 9 hours of required credits in English for all undergraduate degree programs at UT: E 306 Rhetoric and Composition, E 316K Masterworks in Literature, and E 346K Writing in Different Disciplines.
• Report of the University Council Committee on Basic Education Requirements
  This report suggests changes to the 45 hours in basic education requirements established by the 1955 Graham Committee Report. Substantial changes to the writing requirement are suggested including: 6 hours of lower-division writing classes taken in the Department of English (beyond E 306) and 6 additional upper-division hours of substantial writing component courses taken in students' major disciplines.
• Minutes of the University Council Meeting of May 16 1977.
  The main item on the agenda is the “Report of the Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Change in the Plan I B.A. Lower-Division Requirement.” The faculty discuss the state of the writing program and its success in heated terms. Sledd, Kinneavy, and Hairston contribute substantially the conversation. The report’s three recommendations are voted individually, and all three pass.
• English Department Polarized over E 346K
  Megaw's "English Department Polarized over E346." in _The Daily Texan_ from 7 March 1985, p. 3 discusses how _The Daily Texan_ offers an important forum for debate, as well as the reduced composition requirement.
• University Council Meeting Minutes, 15 April 1985
  Among other items discussed are James Sledd’s questions about E 346K. Question 1: If the number of E346K sections to be offered will be no greater than the number of lower-division courses that the English department offered in the past, why can’t English staff E 346K? (2) Does the English Department’s poor management of E346K support Kinneavy’s claim that the department is dismantling the writing program? (3) What legislation cancelled the state authorized assurance that transfer credit would be allowed for E 346K? (4) Knowing the problems that the English Department was having with E 346K, did upper administration decide to not do anything because they didn’t want to spend money to support the writing program? President Flawn answered “no” to the last question. The decision to postpone E 346K was made on academic grounds, and he hopes to see the course implemented in the fall. Attached is a report of the faculty senate committee on the status and role of the lecturer which ends with two motions, both passed at the last Faculty Senate meeting: Motion 1. Deans should do their best to ensure that classes be taught by tenure-line faculty, not lecturers. Motion 2. All departments should develop a policy on lecturers to clarify their position. A sample policy is included.
• Sledd Memo, 19 February 1985
  This memo addresses Sledd's position on conflicts about E 346K and first-year writing at UT.
• English Department Meeting Minutes, 19 April 1984
  Addresses E 346K E 316 and English requirements.
• University Council Minutes, 17 February 1986
  At this meeting, the E 346K proposal is discussed. Kruppa, Sutherland, and Fonken defend the proposal, while Kinneavy argues that it's an attempt to shirk composition instruction. Other faculty from other departments weigh in. There is no motion as the decision is left up to the English Department.
• Notes of Rhetoric Interest Group
  Notes from meeting of rhetoric faculty expressing concern regarding their marginalization within English Department.
• Liberal Arts Faculty Council Minutes, 7 March 1985
  Addresses issues related to E 346K. Primary content is Sutherland explaining why E 346K implementation is being postponed.
• E. Smith Letter on English 346K
  Letter regards an article, published in the Daily Texan, that expressed distaste for E 346K and is directed to selected members of the English Department.
• Note From James Sledd, 22 February 1985(?)
  James Sledd suggests that a new suite of elective lower-division courses be re-instituted, now that E 346K has been waived as a requirement.
• Notes on Writing Program
  List of complaints relating to relationship between English Department and Writing Program with specific focus on E 306, the writing lab, E 346K, and hiring.
• Memo to dean King about course requirements, 1983
  A cover memo to Dean King from "Steve" says there is no need to take any of the actions suggested by William Sutherland. A memo from Sutherland to Dean King recommends that a range of transfers be allowed for lower-division courses, for E 316K, and for E 346K.
• Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, 4 March 1985
  The waiver of the E 346K requirement is discussed at this meeting. Sledd makes two motions: (1) the faculty maintain continuity of writing instruction while E 346K is suspended; (2) a formal committee be appointed to investigate recent changes to the writing program. Kinneavy is given the floor and hands out a 4-page document titled “The Decomposition of English” which argues that the English Dept. is systematically dismantling the writing program. Other English faculty--Sultherland, Gribben, and Carver--defend against Sledd's and Kinneavy's claims.