10/04/2024

CWPA October Update

A Monthly Update for Members

Dear Members,

Happy October! Here are the updates we’ll be covering in this email: 

2025 Conference Update
Reminder re: Call for Applications to Serve as Co-Facilitator for the Summer 2025 and 2026 CWPA Workshop
CWPA Events in October, November, and December

2025 Conference Update

The CWPA Annual Conference will be held July 10-11, 2025, and delivered online as synchronous Zoom sessions. 

The Conference Planning Committee is starting their work now, and estimates the following timeline:  

• October 2024: Draft CFP and finalize conference schedule
• November 2024: CFP is released and available through CWPA’s website portal
• December 2024: Identify proposal reviewers
• February 2025: Conference registration is available
• April 2025: Send decisions to proposal submitters
• July 2025: CWPA Annual Conference is held online

If you’re interested in assisting with the proposal-reviewing process, please submit your interest here https://forms.gle/aoprvfCtYw1h3C9T9  

Reminder: Applications to Serve as Co-Facilitator for Summer 2025/2026 Workshop Due by December 1

The annual summer workshop for new and continuing WPAs is one of the hallmarks of our organization. In 2025, David Green will be leading this 3-day experience, and applications are open to be his co-facilitator. Anyone in the field may apply, though the person selected will need to be a member of the organization by the time the workshop begins. We are looking for experienced WPAs who can bring mentorship and expertise to the table–and represent diverse WPA identities and institutional homes. Folks from two-year colleges, HSIs, HBCUs and tribal colleges are especially welcome to apply. The benefits for the co-facilitator include an honorarium that will cover hotel and travel, an opportunity to have an impact through mentoring new and continuing WPAs, and the chance to serve in a leadership role at the national level. The co-leader selected for 2025 will lead the workshop in 2026 and have an opportunity to share established content and information that benefits WPAs and to add their focus to the workshop. Here’s David’s vision for 2025: 

The 2025 CWPA workshop will build on the previous year’s workshop through a focus on navigating social and professional change in equitable ways. Change is a constant that impacts higher education and writing program administration with the consistency of weather. Technology, social policies, social injustice, discrimination, war, genocide all contribute to campus environment, student dispositions, and critical thought in ways that are difficult to predict, and sometimes difficult to navigate. We will engage in an interactive and dynamic workshop that focuses on the role of social impact on institutional mission to the development of a program profile that embraces and engages student voice, and the recognition of harm as a part of administrative literacies essential to navigating change at the ever-evolving modern University.  

To apply to be a co-leader, please send a letter of interest (no more than 500 words, please) and an abbreviated CV to CWPA secretary Amanda Presswood by December 1 at cwpasecretary@gmail.com. Your letter should explain who you are, why you want to serve, and what you’ll bring to the workshop. Applications will be reviewed by current and past facilitators of the workshop who are currently serving on the EB and a co-leader will be notified by December 15, 2025.

CWPA Events October, November, and December

Participation in CWPA events so far has been excellent! We’ve appreciated the 20+ folks who attended our first cultural assessment conversation, and 12-15 folks who have attended each of the PD workshops so far. Continue to take advantage of these opportunities for critical reflection and professional development. 

October 18: “Grant Workshop: Designing and Funding Program Research”

• Facilitators: Joanne Giordano and Holly Hassel
• Date and time: 10/18, 90 minutes, 2-3:30pm ET
• Meeting platform: Zoom
• Cost to members: Free

Description: In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about strategies for developing research studies that contribute to disciplinary knowledge while also collecting data to help programs make evidence-based decisions. The facilitators will take participants through the process of developing a research study based on problems or issues within a local program context, distinguishing between program research and an individual classroom project, seeking funding, writing a grant proposal, and using research results to inform program development work. The presentation will focus on research that supports educational equity for students, but participants can explore other program-level research interests. Participants will have an opportunity to share their research or grant proposal ideas and receive peer feedback from the facilitators and other attendees.

November 8: CWPA Cultural Assessment Conversation Theme 2, Inclusion and Validation

• Facilitators: Jacob Babb and Patti Poblete
• Date and time: 11/8, 90 minutes, 11-12:15pm ET
• Meeting platform: Zoom
• Cost to members and nonmembers: Free

This 75-minute conversation will unpack Theme 2 of the 2023 Cultural Assessment Report (pages 11-13). The conversation will involve the opportunity to respond to the theme in writing and discussion. Participants will also have a chance to review themes that emerged in the survey / conversation on 8/23 regarding Theme 1.

November 15: “Leveraging Student Self-Assessment to Enhance Writing Programs Workshop”

• Facilitators: Annie Mendenhall and Chris Cartwright
• Date and time: 11/15, 90 minutes, 2-3:30pm ET
• Meeting platform: Zoom
• Cost to Members: $15;  Graduate Student Members: Free

Description: This interactive workshop will present strategies for implementing student self-assessment surveys in writing program assessment. We will share findings from three years of data collection from a first-year writing program at a large public university. We will invite participants to consider how student self-assessment can be used to advocate for different writing program needs, to inform faculty development, and to identify disparate student experiences.

December 13: “Mindful Leadership for Writing Program Administrators: Recognizing Values and Setting Intentions”

• Facilitator: Susan Miller Cochran
• Date and time: 12/13, 90 minutes, 2-3:30pm ET
• Meeting platform: Zoom
• Cost to Members: $15;  Graduate Student Members: Free

Description: Have you found yourself wishing you had space to reflect on your administrative work, set priorities, and perhaps just breathe? Join this two-part workshop on mindful leadership, focused on writing program administration, led by Susan Miller-Cochran. Registration for the December workshop will include registration for a workshop in May, “Mindful Leadership for Writing Program Administrators: Exercising Compassion through(out) Reflection.” Reserve your seat now for this BOGO offer!  

Click here to fill for more information and to register

Please reach out to us if you’d like to discuss any aspect of CWPA–our emails are below!

Until next month, stay well!

Kelly Blewett, CWPA President, councilofwpa@gmail.com
Erin Lehman, CWPA Vice President, elehman4@ivytech.edu 
Amanda Presswood, CWPA Secretary, cwpasecretary@gmail.com
Christal Seahorn, CWPA Treasurer, cwpatreasurer@gmail.com