DRW Digital Archive

Items

• Letter about the English Writing Program
  Dean Stanley Werbow writes to UT President Lorene Rodgers to report that the English writing program is strong but in need of some improvements. Werbow specifically mentions the need for a writing center and an upper-division, discipline specific course in writing.
• Report of the University COuncil Committee to Examine the Undergraduate Writing Program
  These are the recommendations of the committee created by the University Council's recommendation in 1992.
• 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.
• Draft of Letter to Fonken with Notes, 25 February 1986
  A prefatory handwritten note asks for feedback on an attached letter to Gerhard Fonken. The letter says that the needs and interests of the students are not served by recent changes to the writing program. The letter argues that the new program will adversely affect the university's reputation, the Writing Center, and the graduate program in rhetoric. The letter defends the E 306 curriculum, saying it was never a remedial course. Finally the letter argues that E 309K will suit the needs of English literature faculty by letting “non-specialists” who know nothing about the research on writing instruction teach lower-division writing.
• E 346K Committee Report, 6 March 1986
  This report from the E 346K committee explains that E 346K has been removed from the course catalogue and that E 309 will be offered under three headings: Topics in Writing, Writing Process, and Thinking and Writing (309K, 309L, and 309M). Students can enroll in 309 in their first year. Plans for additional writing classes, the Writing Lab, and for E 316, E 325M, E 360M, and E 379C are mentioned in the report. Finally, the report says that other departments have been asked to develop discipline-specific writing classes.
• 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.
• Devising a Division
  Barton, Chris. "Devising a Division." Alcalde January/February 1994, pp. 22-24. A feature article on the DRC, mentioning new initiatives (UWC, CWRL, promise of textbook), and reporting enthusiasm from participating faculty. Ruszkiewicz, Faigley, Trimble, Kruppa, and Friend (AD in the UWC) are quoted.
• New Education Initiative Provides One-on-One Assistance to University Students Seeking Improved Writing Skills
  Neff, Nancy. "New Education Initiative Provides One-on-One Assistance to University Students Seeking Improved Writing Skills." _OnCampus_ 25 October 1993, pp. 1-2. An article about the newly opened Undergraduate Writing Center in Parlin 102. The DRC, the DWRL, and the SWC initiative are also discussed. Faigley, Kimball, and Slatin are quoted.
• Writing Lab Works
  McMurrey, David. "Writing Lab Works." _Daily Texan_ 19 April 1983, p. 5 McMurrey writes to say that James Kinneavy supports the writing lab and to offer survey results showing that other faculty and staff feel similarly.
• John Ruszkiewicz Letter to Wiliam Sutherland, 17 February 1985
  Ruszkiewicz requests the creation of "Specialist" position for lecturer and head of writing lab, Dr. German.
• Memo Describing the Proposed Budget for the Writing Lab and its Staff Expenses
  A memo to Associate Dean John Weinstock listing the budget that the Writing Lab would need, the staff it would employ, and the purposes it would serve. A handwritten note, signed "Joe," indicates that David McMurrey's proposed appointment doesn't add up
• Report on Writing Lab use, Summer 1983
  A report discussing the use of the writing lab, its effectiveness, the kinds of issues students were bringing to their tutors, including comments from students
• Writing Lab Statistics, 1985-1986
  Statistics re: number of students who visited the writing lab, the number of visits total, the number of courses (with breakout for English courses), and the times of day when the visits occurred. A handwritten note at the top of the page is addressed to "John" and signed "Tom Reber."
• Notes on Students' Use of Writing Lab, Fall 1986
  Handwritten notes on how many students visited the lab, how many visits total, which tutors saw what number of students, and for what classes.
• Letter to William Sutherland Suggesting a Learning Specialist Position for the Writing Lab
  A letter from Ruszkiewicz to Sutherland, Chair of English, asking that the future director of the Writing Lab be appointed as a learning specialist, to ensure job stability and good pay
• Resignation Letter from David McMurrey
  A letter from David McMurrey, director of the Writing Lab, explaining to William Sutherland, Chair of English, that he has accepted a job with IBM and further explaining that McMurrey would stay at the university if a more stable position at a higher rank (higher than lecturer) were available
• Proposal to Implement the Recommendations of the University Council Committee to Examine the Undergraduate Writing Program
  A proposal listing actions recommended (including establishment of a University Writing Center) and their justification, all based on the Fowler report. This proposal lists the resources and actions necessary for the UWC to become a service to the entire undergraduate population not just students in DRC classes.
• Student Use Survey re: Writing Lab
  A report on a survey of students who came to the Writing Lab, how many came and for how many visits
• Lab Subcommittee Report to the Writing Skills Assessment Committee
  A full assessment of the lab, what it does for the writing program and what services it will provide in the new writing program with specific reflection on E 346K, E 106 and E 206
• Draft Report on the Status of the Writing Lab Spring 1983
  A draft of a report explaining what the Writing Lab does, what students it serves, what resources it requires, with predictions about how the new writing program will change the lab's duties and requirements.
• Notes on the function of the Writing Lab in the new writing program
  Some notes on the resources that the Writing Lab will need and the purposes it can serve in the new writing program, with specific reflection on E 306, E 106 and E 206, and E 346K.
• Responses to McMurrey's Request for Additional Writing Lab Funds
  A memo to Carol McKay explaining some reactions to McMurrey's request for additional funds so the Writing Lab can accommodate the new writing program
• Budget and Proposed Expansion of the Writing Lab to Serve the New Writing Program
  A detailed budget for extra staff, so the Writing Lab can serve the new writing program including E 346K
• Estimated Costs for a Printer and a Personal Computer for the Writing Lab
  An unsigned budget for a printer and a personal computer to be used by the Writing Lab.
• Notes From Meeting of Rhetoric Faculty Regarding Division of Rhetoric and Composition
  One page of notes about an early meeting among James Kinneavy, John Slatin, John Ruszkiewicz, Linda Ferreira-Buckley, and Lester Faigley discussing appointments for the DRC and a vision for the DRC's future.