Continuing the Conversation: The MI-WPA Gets to Work

[stol...@gvsu.edu]

Continuing the Conversation: The MI-WPA Affiliate Gets to Work

At the 2017 Corridors Conference, writing program administrators from around Michigan gathered to discuss “re-beginning” the Michigan WPA affiliate (MI-WPA), a regional group linked to the national Council of Writing Program Administrators. Our collaboration last year focused on reinvigorating the affiliate organization, imagining ways we could build relationships among WPAs, writing programs, and writing instructors across the state.

Since then, we’ve relaunched the MI-WPA, named officers, launched a website, and scheduled our first official meeting of the group on Friday, September 28, the day before we gather for the 2018 Corridors Conference. We know not everyone may be able to join us for our Friday meeting, and we also assume that we will generate a lot of ideas and direction that could benefit from some immediate planning and action.

Toward that end, current affiliate officers and members will be present during this Collaborate/Make session and we invite any writing program instructors and administrators to join us in order to continue the conversation and to chart a plan for the next year for our organization.

We will not create a set agenda for this session; rather, we would like to use this set-aside time to listen to and work with those attending Corridors who might be interested in a local WPA affiliate organization. Some possible questions we might explore together include:

• What services and support can the MI-WPA offer its members?

• What are the most pressing issues facing WPAs in Michigan, and how might MI-WPA address those issues?

• What does the MI-WPA Affiliate need from the Council of Writing Program Administrators?

• How do we spread the word about the MI-WPA, grow membership, and maintain clear communication with members?

Please bring your own ideas and questions as we collaborate to (re)make the MI-WPA Affiliate!