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English Department Meeting: Apr. 11, 2022

English Department Meeting Information

“Go forth! Be brave! Be proud! Be true!”

  • IUP English Professor Jane E. Leonard (1840-1925)

Image result for jane leonard iup

Thanks

  • Thanks to Loughlin Pagnucci who helped Gian decorate for the Think Spring English event
  • Thanks to John Branscum, Jean Nienkamp, and Gloria Park who joined Gian at the Think Spring English event
  • Thanks to Dan Weinstein who helped Gian meet high school students considering IUP at the IUP Open House on Saturday April 9
  • Thanks to Dan Weinstein, John Branscum, Brian Carpenter, and Tony Farrington who all have met with high school students who are prospective IUP English majors

Transitions

  • Matt Vetter has decided to step out of the CAL Program effective at the end of the Spring 22 semester
  • Dan Weinstein has been re-elected to continue serving as BA Program Director through Spring 25
  • Mike Williamson has been elected to serve as the next L&C Program Director when Veronica Watson’s term ends in Spring 23

Agenda Items

1. Fall 2022 Updates

  • Common Hour: MWF 11:30 a.m-12:30 p.m.
  • Department Meetings: Mondays 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  • Fall Pause: Oct. 24-25 (No IUP classes)
  • IUP In Session But Online If Possible: Nov. 21-22 Mon./Tue.
  • IUP Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 23 Wed.-Nov. 27 Sun.; No IUP Classes

2. Increasing Challenges

  • Our job as faculty continues to grow more difficult
  • We continue to receive little support
  • We continue to have responsibilities piled on top of us
  • Not having a department secretary also has made things extremely difficult for us all

3. One Piece of Good News

  • There is enough money in the budget to cover a conference registration fee for up to $300 per person
  • Fill out a travel voucher and send it to Gian to be signed and sent on
  • Any conference from this academic year (Sum. 22-Spring 22 is fine)
  • If you are not presenting at a conference this year, Gian will cover up to $100 in books related to teaching/scholarship
  • Identify the books you want and email Gian with titles and Amazon links
  • Book orders would need to be identified by Friday April 15
  • For this year, the reimbursement will be for either 1 conference registration or 1 set of professional books
  • Thanks to Reena Dube, Editor-in-Chief of Studies in the Humanities, who is has provided me with additional funds to help cover some of these costs

4. PCEA 2021 Conference @ UPJ May 20-21, 2022

  • In addition to the other conference support mentioned above, Gian will also cover the registration fee for any faculty member or English graduate student who wishes to attend the PCEA 2021 Conference
  • The conference will take place at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown campus from May 20-21, 2022
  • English Professor Michael Cox of UPJ with assistance from Mike Williamson (who on top of everything else he does is Editor-in-Chief of Pennsylvania English for PCEA) has planned a great conference
  • Gian is PCEA President and John Marsden and Mike Williamson both serve on the PCEA Board of Directors
  • For more information: https://www.pcea.online/2020-conference

5. David Linton Guest Lecturer

  • IUP English Alum Dr. David Linton will be here this week
  • Please encourage your students to attend his talks
  • David Linton Informal Meeting with Students: Tuesday Apr. 12 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Leonard 114
  • David Linton Lecture: Wednesday Apr. 13 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. in Leonard 114
  • Dr. Linton is a potential donor, so please encourage students to attend the talk
  • Thanks to Mike Williamson and Melanie Holm, our Myth Collaborative Co-Directors, who are  coordinating David Linton’s visit

6. Enrollment Issues

  • We will discuss what to course of action we should take regarding LSE enrollments
  • We also need to discuss caps for English major courses
  • Gian has asked the LSE Committee (Chaired by Bryna Siegel Finer) to provide the department with guidance on how to teach writing classes that are 35 students or larger
  • Gian has asked our English APSCUF Representatives (Matt Vetter and Todd Thompson) to pursue how we file a grievance over hiring practices that have prevented English from getting any Temporary Faculty or Teaching Associates

7. 2022 English Programs Membership DRAFT Policy

  • There were 2 major changes suggested to the Programs Membership Policy Proposal:
  • Delete all language related to the Dean except for program removal being in the Dean’s area of authority
  • Drop the idea of Affiliate Program members which is not needed at this time
  • Program Directors will continue to work to get coverage for needed courses as best they can
  • DRAFT Policy Document

8. Teaching Associates

  • Some departments got TA’s and some did not
  • Gian has contacted APSCUF about this discrepancy
  • APSCUF is working on a state level grievance regarding the issue

9. English Elections

  • The English elections slate for 2022-2023 is pretty much full
  • English Elections Committee: Brian Carpenter and Tanya Heflin
  • Nominees for English APSCUF representative are still needed
  • Please email Tanya to volunteer
  • This election will take place soon via Qualtrics

10. IUP English T-shirt Order

11. Writing Contest Judges Needed!

  • Dan Weinstein still needs volunteers to help judge the writing contest
  • Please email him to help out

Announcements

  • If anyone has announcements, we will use the last few minutes of the meeting to cover these