Faculty gather for first statewide symposium on first-year writing effectiveness

Thirty University of Alaska writing faculty members from across the state, including those from community campuses, are working to maintain best practices for student persistence and retention as they address future challenges.

The first quinquennial Statewide Symposium on Effectiveness in First-Year Writing was held at the University of Alaska Anchorage on Sept. 27-28. This event brought together educators and stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving first-year writing programs and explore innovations in teaching and learning practices.

Writing faculty from nine campuses (Anchorage, Matanuska Valley, Homer, Kodiak, Fairbanks, Kuskokwim, Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka), gathered in Anchorage to complete the goals of six thematically-focused working groups, to build relationships and draft proposals to align our courses and programs, increase student access and success, and institute the best, most effective practices to support increased retention and graduation rates. UAF participants included Sarah Stanley, Jennifer Tilbury, Chris Miles, Ryan Henderson, and Elle Fournier.

The symposium focused on first-year writing courses by reviewing student learning outcomes and exploring writing assessment practices. Discussions also highlighted dual-enrollment program models, the creation of open educational resources, and the role of AI in academic integrity. The in-person collaboration was designed to build trust and learn more about how our writing courses serve a diverse student demographic across a vast geography.

The event made room for faculty to follow through on the work they started in the spring semester and opened space for faculty to explore synergy among various groups.

The event was sponsored by the Faculty Alliance and the Faculty Initiative Fund, which is now accepting proposals for AY25 through Nov. 4, 2024.