Dear SI participants,
I’d like to second Brad’s and Paula’s welcome to this year’s IWCA Summer Institute (SI). This is my third year of involvement with the SI. In the summer of 2006 I was a leader at Stanford University’s SI. And then last summer Oregon State University’s Center for Writing and Learning, which I directed, hosted the 2007 Institute. It’s a real honor to be co-chairing this year’s SI with Brad and Paula.
Some of you may not know that Brad and Paula, working with the IWCA Board, came up with the idea of the first SI and co-chaired it in 2003 at UW Madison—so this summer the Institute is “coming home,” as it were. The basic structure that Paula and Brad created for the 2003 SI was so successful that it’s provided the model for all subsequent Institutes.
This year’s SI is an opportunity for me to “come home” again to UW Madison. I spent a year in Madison in 1969-70, and though I was only there one year I have such strong and positive memories of the university. (And, yes, I was there during all the VietNam war protests—which were equally memorable.) I’m pretty sure that the rooming house where I lived during my one year in Madison is (or was) right across the street from the Pyle Center, where we’ll be meeting. I can’t wait to see if it’s still there! And I also can’t wait to have some of that amazing UW Madison ice cream!
Mainly, though, I’m looking forward to our time together. The SI’s that I’ve been involved with have been among the most professionally rewarding experiences of my entire career. It’s amazing how quickly participants and leaders get to know each other. There’s constant learning—and also constant fun—which in my book is the perfect combination.
See you in about a month in Madison!
Lisa
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The Writing Center Summer Institute Website
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The Writing Center Summer Institute Website
The Writing Center Summer Institute Forum (for 2008 institute participants only)
The Writing Center Summer Institute Flickr Photo site
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4 comments:
Lisa, Brad, and Paula, and SI leaders/participants:
I'd like to add my thoughts about the SI--as I've said many times since I came home from Corvallis last year, the IWCA SI was the single most rewarding professional development experience I've had since I started working in writing centers some fifteen years ago. The networking opportunities and one-to-one discussions with the field's leaders are invaluable, especially for those of us who are somewhat isolated on our campuses. The SI leaders last year worked us hard, and I'm confident in saying that I don't think a single participant failed to fully appreciate how valuable that hard work would be in the short term and in the long term.
My advice to the 2008 SI participants is to be a little selfish. What I mean is to take advantage of the combined wisdom by getting to know Paula, Brad, Lisa, and the SI leaders, and ask questions that are specific to your situation or relevant to your research/teaching/writing center focus. Finally, make sure you talk to every one of the 54 other participants because in a group that size, it's easy to meet 5 or 6 people and stick with them the entire week.
--Christopher Ervin, SI 2007 Alum
This comment goes out to all of our Summer Institute participants! Everyone here in Madison is getting *very* excited to welcome you -- expect a red carpet and tons of smiles (well, maybe the carpet, but DEFINITELY the smiles). We're so glad you'll be spending a week with us this summer!
Until July,
Melissa Tedrowe
Associate Director
The UW-Madison Writing Center
And I'm excited to be there, too! Just as Chris said from a participant's perspective, from my perspective having had the opportunity to be a leader at the first two SIs, it's been the most powerful writing-center related experiences I've had. And Madison is beautiful, too.
Neal Lerner
Hi all. I just wanted to mention how productive the SI was for me, resulting in one collaborative book review and one peer-reviewed journal article. I encourage others to take advantage of the SI to boost their scholarly productivity.
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