Writing Prgm Admin as Rsrchr

Although the WPA's contribution to writing faculty development and curriculum development is widely recognized, less well-known is the important role research plays. The aim of this collection is to develop that understanding as well as help others identify additional opportunities for significant intellectual work.

The essays in this collection describe inquiry that has been conducted by WPAs whose writing programs are the sites of both research and application. Part I describes and conceptualizes specific research projects conducted by WPAs, providing a detailed picture of the richness and complexity of administrative research. In Part II, the contributors raise and reflect on issues about WPA research in general, drawing on concrete experiences of particular WPAs and specific writing programs.

Irwin Weiser is Professor of English at Purdue University, where he directed the developmental writing program and serves as Director of Composition. Weiser teaches introductory writing, a practicum for new composition teachers, graduate courses in composition research, WAC theory and practice, and writing assessment.

Shirley K Rose is Associate Professor of English at Purdue University, where she has recently completed a term as Director of Composition. Currently, she serves as Assistant Head of the English Department, mentors teaching assistants in the introductory writing program, and teaches graduate courses in writing program administration. She has published essays in College English, College Composition and Communication, WPA: Writing Program Administration, Journal of Teaching Writing, Rhetoric Review, and Journal of Language and Learning Across the Disciplines.