Writing Center open house kicks off Diverse Learning/Teaching week

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
September 21, 2012

Information on supporting and instructing a diverse student population will be the subject of the Writing Center’s first Diverse Learning/Diverse Teaching Week Oct. 1-5.

The week’s programs are funded by Texas State’s Office of Equity and Access and the Department of English.

The Writing Center will kick off the week with an open house 2- 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, on the first floor of the Academic Services Building-North. Refreshments and door prizes will be provided.

“The Writing Center is hosting an open house in part to showcase our beautiful new space,” said Director Nancy Wilson, “but also to provide the Texas State community with the opportunity to meet the Writing Center tutors and learn more about the many ways in which the Writing Center supports writing instruction and diversity on this campus.”

During the open house, the Writing Center will also sponsor two resource fairs on the first floor of ASBN—one for veterans/active service students (4-5 p.m.) and one for students registered with the Office of Disability Services (5-6 p.m.). During these resource fairs, support staff and community leaders will be on hand to discuss special programming and resources available to these students.

Tuesday-Friday, Oct. 2-5, the Writing Center Diverse Learning/Diverse Teaching Lecture series will take place in ASBN 108. Four speakers will address best practices for working with individuals with cognitive/learning and physical disabilities.

“We are so fortunate to have some of the most important scholars in the field of Disability Studies participating in this effort,” Wilson said. “I am personally looking forward to learning how I can be a more inclusive and effective teacher.”

Writing Center tutors are committed to helping students at all levels and in all majors to improve their writing. To schedule a free 25-minute or 55-minute tutoring appointment, visit the Writing Center’s website at http://.writingcenter.txstate.edu. Students may also meet the tutors in person at the open house.

For more information, call (512) 245-3018, or stop by the 1st floor of ASBN.

RESOURCE FAIRS
Veterans/Active Service
Monday, Oct. 1, 4-5 p.m.

Terry McDowell of the Military Veteran Peer Network, Caitlin McCrory and Jason Coates of the Texas State Veterans Creative Writing Workshop, and Writing Center tutors will be on hand to discuss resources and special programming available to Veteran/Active Service students at Texas State.

Office of Disability Services
Monday, Oct. 1, 5-6 p.m.

Texas State and Writing Center staff, including ODS representatives, will be on hand to discuss specialized educational amenities for ODS students, including library resources, adaptive technology, and tutoring services.

DIVERSE LEARNING/DIVERSE TEACHING LECTURES

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 3-4 p.m.
Inclusion and Access: Peers as Resources in the Composition Classroom
Guest Speaker: Alyssa Crow, lecturer in the Department of English

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2-3 p.m.
Dis-abling Pedagogy: Toward Accessible Teaching
Guest Speaker: Rebecca Raphael, professor of philosophy and NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities

Thursday, Oct. 4, 4-5 p.m.
"Disability and the Adult/Non-Traditional Student"
Guest Speaker: Matthew Eichler, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational, Workforce and Leadership Studies

Friday, Oct. 5, 4-5 p.m.
Thinking “Universal Design” in Pedagogy and Instructional Technology
Guest Speaker: Neil Hadder, Texas State senior lecturer in anthropology