Invitation: Symposium: Preferable Futures for Writing Studies (Michigan Region)
Clay Walker
The news of NCTE’s de-chartering of CCCC has led many in writing studies to strategies for organizing the future of the field. Following the suggestion of Elizabeth Wardle (Miami University), we are organizing a one-day hybrid symposium for our colleagues in the Michigan region, titled “Preferable Futures for Writing Studies.”
August 12th, 2026 9:30am-2:30pm – In-Person @ University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (224 Gorguze Family Laboratory, 2609 Draper Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109); Online via Zoom.
The day’s activities are as follows, with a more detailed outline linked here:
9:00-9:30 -- Coffee and Welcome
9:30-10:15 -- Part 1: Introductions and Community Building
10:30-12:00 -- Part 2: Exploring Possible Futures
12:00-12:45 -- Lunch (details to follow)
12:45-1:30 -- Part 3: Reflections on the Field's Strengths and Areas for Growth
1:45-2:30 -- Part 4: So What? Who Cares? What Do We Do?
Please register to indicate your in-person or online attendance by 5 p.m. EDT, Monday, August 10, 2026, using this RSVP link.
We ask you to share this information with your colleagues in writing studies. We will follow up with in-person registrants regarding lunch details.
Sincerely,
Adrienne Jankens (Wayne State University) and Clay Walker (University of Michigan)