It gives me pleasure to announce the recent release of my new book, Student Writing in the Quantitative Disciplines: A Guide for College Faculty, now available from Jossey-Bass.

As we all know, designing engaging and effective writing assignments is one of the chief challenges facing teachers in any discipline. This challenge can be especially daunting to instructors in fields (like mathematics, engineering, and other quantitative disciplines) outside of the traditionally “writing-intensive” disciplines. Drawing on my long experience with writing in the disciplines, my text offers instructors in math-based disciplines meaningful approaches to making their coursework richer and more relevant for their students (as well as satisfying institutional imperatives for writing curricula!). Moreover, by contextualizing the writing done in quantitative courses, the text should prove useful to instructors of first-year writing, writing center staff, and all others engaged in the scholarship of composition and its teaching.

The book provides an overview of the ideas behind writing across the curriculum, writing in the disciplines, and writing-to-learn, as well as an introduction to writing process, assessing and responding to student writing, and developing meaningful writing activities…all tailored to teachers in quantitative-intensive areas. Included too are dozens of examples of writing exercises, from low-stakes two-minute activities to robust and richly structured projects.

I would be delighted to answer any questions you have about the book.

All the best,
Patrick Bahls

Eligible applicants must have a minimum of a Masters degree in English or a related field, with experience teaching technical/professional writing or technical communication at the postsecondary level. Qualified candidates will exhibit a commitment to excellent teaching; an interest in, or experience with, incorporating technology into teaching and learning; demonstrated ability to contribute to diversity initiatives; and an understanding of technical writing in a global context. Applicants with experience as technical writers in professional, non-academic environments are preferred.

Candidates invited to interview will be asked to provide a teaching portfolio and three original letters of recommendation addressed to: Dr. Aaron Toscano, Technical/Professional Lecturer Search Committee Chair, Department of English, UNC Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223. Interview candidates will also be asked to provide an official transcript from their academic institution addressed to Dr. Nancy Gutierrez, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, same address.

Applicants are subject to criminal background checks.

Deadline for applications is April 23, 2012. UNC Charlotte strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained. To learn more about the UNC Charlotte English Department, visit our web site at http://www.english.uncc.edu.

Application Deadline:  April 2, 2012

Midlands Technical College English Department—Columbia, SC

In Spring-Summer 2012, Midlands Technical College English Department is hiring to fill open positions for two (2) full-time faculty instructors, with appointments to begin in Fall 2012.  MTC’s English Department provides a collegial work environment for 20 full-time and approximately 40 adjunct instructors, teaching first and second-year English courses (composition and literature) to approximately 4000 students each fall and spring semester across multiple campuses.  Competitive salary and benefits package.

Basic Job Duties:

• Teach six sections of composition and/or literature courses per semester as needed.
• First-year composition course section enrollments are capped at 22 with second-year (200-level) literature surveys at 25, per NCTE standards.
• In fall and spring semesters, instructors teach 6 sections per semester.
• During our 10-week summer semester, instructors may opt to teach 4 sections at full-time salary, 2 sections at half-time salary, etc.
• Advise students and serve on college and/or department committees.
• Engage in professional development.
• Professional development funds of up to $750 are available annually.
• Participate in collection and analysis of student learning outcomes data.
• Use online platforms to enhance teaching and learning in on-ground as well as (for those interested) hybrid and online course environments.
• May teach classes at multiple campus and off-campus sites, including selected local high schools.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in English or related field with a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in English required.
• Doctorate or Master’s Degrees in English, Composition and Rhetoric, or Linguistics strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated interest and expertise in teaching composition and literature courses in a college environment required, with preference to experience engaging diverse student populations.
• Demonstrated interest in college writing program development also preferred.

How to apply:

From the MTC homepage http://www.midlandstech.edu  click on “Employment Resources”  (in the list to the left) then click on “Current Openings” and scroll down to the list of job openings where you’ll see our position announcement.   Applications and accompanying required materials (state application, transcripts, cover letter, resume or CV, teaching philosophy statement) will be accepted through April 2, 2012.

For further information, or if you have questions: 

Contact Dr. Rhonda Grego, English Department Chair, at gregor@midlandstech.edu or 803-738-7754

Applications should include two documents: a letter of introduction that includes a statement of teaching philosophy and a CV that includes a list of references. Please send electronic applications attached in MS Word or PDF format to: Dawn McCann, dmccann@unca.edu using the following file naming conventions: lastname_CV.doc or lastname_letter.pdf.

UNC Asheville is the designated liberal arts institution in the UNC public university system and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. We encourage applications from traditionally under-represented minorities. UNC Asheville is committed to increasing and sustaining the diversity of its faculty, staff, and student body as part of its mission and its commitment to excellence in the liberal arts.

UNC Asheville is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

UNC Charlotte Center City Building, 320 E. 9th Street, Charlotte 28202

http://centercity.uncc.edu/

Rooms 506 & 806

10:00 -11:30     Teaching Writing: Professional Development in First-Year Writing Instruction – Roundtable Discussion

11:30 – 1:00      Lunch: Executive Board meeting and Logo Contest (Vote for submitted logo designs for Carolinas WPA!)

1:00 – 2:00       What Are We Reading? Shared Discussions*

2:00 – 3:00       Collaborative Grant** & Proposal Writing:

* If you have a favorite article on rubric design, forward the information to Lynne Rhodes at lynner@usca.edu so that she can make copies available to the group ahead of discussions.

**  Bring ideas and / or drafts of proposals for CCC, SAMLA, WPA, etc.

** If you come with a team from your institution, time can also be spent on writing  with your team for internal or competitive grant to follow up on Wildacres 2012.

Online registration opens Friday, February 3rd. Register for $25 and bring a colleague for free.

At-large North Carolina Representative:

two-year term (Jan. 1, 2012 – Jan. 1, 2014): Patrick Bahls, UNC Asheville

At-large South Carolina Representatives:

one-year replacement term (Jan. 1, 2012-Jan. 1, 2013): Jeremy Jones, Charleston Southern

two-year term (Jan. 1, 2012 – Jan. 1, 2014): Amy Mecklenberg-Faenger, College of Charleston

More details about the meeting will be circulated as February nears.