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NCWCA Conference: Call for Proposals

Reflecting, Rewriting & Recovering

April 1, 2023 | University of California, Merced

Proposal Deadline Extended to February 3, 2023

As we emerge from the pandemic and adapt to the “new normal,” this moment has provided us with a space to consider the importance of reflection and rewriting in the process of recovering. For a writer, reflecting and rewriting are important parts of the writing process. And for those of us who work in writing centers, we understand the value of pausing and reflecting and of creating opportunities for writers to take a step forward by taking a step back to reflect and rewrite. This process of reflection and rewriting also applies to the work we do as tutors and consultants, as coordinators and directors, as faculty and staff and writing center professionals; we are constantly reflecting on our work and rewriting how we do it–and that process has never been more important than in the wake of the pandemic. As we engage in this recovery process, we have a unique opportunity to pause and reflect on our practices and pedagogies and to rewrite the stories of our work. 

For the 2023 NCWCA Conference, our first in-person conference in three years, we invite you to join us in a discussion of reflecting, rewriting, and recovering.

We encourage you to consider the roles of reflecting, rewriting, and recovering in conversations about how writing centers intersect with wellness advocacy, linguistic justice, disability justice, and/or antiracist pedagogies. In addition, proposals might consider the following:

  • How does reflection function in your tutoring process? In tutor training and/or faculty development? In your own writing process?
  • How can we use reflection as a way to re-see everyday moments as “moments of possibility” for creation and collaboration (Geller et al., 2007)?
  • How has your center rewritten itself in the wake of the pandemic? What are the implications of these new policies or procedures?
  • How is your center working to rewrite the “grand narrative” of writing centers (McKinney, 2013)? How have you engaged in the recovery process–as a writer, as a tutor, as a professional?
  • How has your center engaged in the recovery process at a programmatic level and/or an institutional level?
  • In what ways has the recovery process challenged/reaffirmed your vision of writing center work?

Session Formats

  • Engaged Learning Experience: Modeled after the CCCCs Engaged Learning Experience, these sessions are intended to create space for engaging in shared knowledge making and collaborative problem-solving. Proposals should identify a goal, outcome, or guiding question and outline the activities and/or discussions that participants will engage in during the session.
  • Individual Presentation: Individual presentations are 10-15 minutes in length and are focused on a specific topic or question. Individual presentations will be grouped into a panel by the conference committee; panels will allow time for Q&A.
  • Panel Presentation: Panel presentations consist of 3-4 individual presenters, each speaking for 10-15 minutes with time for Q&A at the end of the session. Presentations should be tied together by a common theme or guiding question.
  • Roundtable Discussion: Roundtable discussions typically begin with 10-15 minutes of context and/or introductory framing led by the facilitator(s), followed by a discussion among attendees. Proposals should identify an overarching question or goal for the discussion.

Submission Requirements

  • Names and contact info for all presenters/facilitators
  • 50-word max abstract (abstracts will be included in the conference program)
  • 250-word max description of session
  • Proposals Due: February 3, 2023, 11:59pm PST

Proposal Submission