Writing Center Construction Begins

Area of the LRC closed off for construction this summer

Construction on the new PCCC Writing Center has begun. The center will be located within the Learning Resource Center (Library).

There will two spaces. The large space will be the main center where students will meet with tutors and large group sessions will be held. The Center will have tables and chairs that allow easy reconfiguration for multiple uses. The Writing Center Administrator's office will be within this space, while the Coordinator will have an office outside the center.

A smaller adjoining room will be for small groups, workshops and 1:1 sessions.

Both rooms will have desktop computers, document cameras, audio and projectors for presentations.

The Center is projected to open in September 2008.

Our First Writing Initiative Faculty Institute

Professor Mitnick responds to a question.

Our first annual Writing Initiative Faculty Institute was held June 9-12, 2008. The four-day institute was hosted by The Writing Initiative with the targeted audience of faculty and support staff who will be directly involved in developing the Writing Intensive courses that are at the center of the Initiative.

Though only three courses are scheduled to launch as Writing Intensive this fall, we invited 23 faculty members who have been involved with writing on campus and have shown an interest in developing a WI course in the future.

Through a combination of hands-on and informational sessions by the Initiative,  PCCC staff and guest speakers, we hoped to inform and prepare faculty for the curricular redesign and implementation of Writing Intensive GenEd courses.

Professor Nesius discussing eTutoring protocols.

We surveyed attendees about the sessions and here are the results that received a 25%+ response, in order:

MOST USEFUL SESSIONS

1. LibGuides
2. Using Rubrics
3. Creating assignments
4. Using media
5. eTutoring
6. WebCT
7. Creating rubrics
8. WI requirements
9. Holistic scoring
10. ePortfolios

TOPICS REQUIRING ADDITIONAL TRAINING

1. LibGuides
2. Media sources
3. ePortfolios
4. Creating assignments
5. Writing in the disciplines


The clear winner in popularity was the use of LibGuides. They are one of the technology tools we plan to use with Title V courses, but they are just one tool in that effort and like other tools, they certainly have usefulness for the larger PCCC community. They are a good example of aspects of the grant that we are able to financially support that should help the academic community at large.

Who Is Required To Take WI Courses?

Beginning with the incoming class of fall 2007, students who enroll at PCCC and intend to obtain an A.A. degree are required to take--and pass with a "C" or better--two writing-intensive courses prior to graduation.

Beginning with the incoming class of fall 2009, students who enroll at PCCC and intend to obtain an A.S. degree will be required to take--and pass with a "C" or better--two writing-intensive courses prior to graduation.

Beginning with the incoming class of fall 2009, students who enroll at PCCC and intend to obtain an A.A.S. degree will be required to take--and pass with a "C" or better--one writing-intensive course prior to graduation.

Transfer students to PCCC may have waived one of the two WI courses required for graduation.