Welcome (digitally) back! Though it probably goes without saying, we envision that life this semester will be challenging across the board between COVID resurgences and ongoing rebellions for Black lives. We’re going to do our best to offer some modified programming this semester—all 100% online—that will allow folks in the CWS community to discuss, learn, and grow with each other.
We’re still working out many of the programming details for this semester, especially since we plan to be coordinating digital events with guests across time zones. As of now, we don’t have many concrete dates or times to share. But described below is a sketch of what you can hope to see this fall term.
CWS Welcome Back Event
Our first event of the semester, slated for Wed., September 2 from 12.30p-1.30p, is a social community event. CWS grads, faculty, and staff will meet online to check-in about the center’s Fall programming and, afterward, socialize a bit through structured and unstructured activity.
CWS Brownbags
Unlike in years past, CWS Brownbags will be held on varied dates and times this semester. While we recognize this might be more difficult to plan for, we want to do our best to accommodate the shifting schedules of our presenters.
Our first brownbag event of the semester—to be held on Thursday, September 10 at 12.00p—will feature CWS Director Paul Prior discussing our graduate student writing studies concentration. Be on the lookout later this week for a separate announcement with Zoom meeting information.
We’re hoping to have a range of CWS alums, graduate students, and faculty share their work-in-progress during additional brownbags this term, so be sure to stay tuned for more forthcoming details .
Graduate Research Forum
A number of CWS graduate students will tentatively be presenting their graduate research forum (GRF) talks this fall. Each CWS grad is required to present a GRF talk, which focuses on their dissertation research, as a part of fulfilling the writing studies concentration for their degrees. We’ll share more information about these talks in the coming weeks.
Social Justice Praxis Reading Group
Meetings are currently scheduled on an ad-hoc basis. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 at 2.00p. Contact lpmiddl2@illinois.edu for access to readings and meeting information.
CHAT Chat Reading Group
CHAT Chat meetings are also scheduled on an ad-hoc basis. Contact kovanen2@illinois.edu for for access to readings and additional meeting information.
Writing Across Media Instructor Meetings (for present instructors of WAM)
- Friday, September 11 from 1.00p-2.30p
- Friday, October 16 from 1.00p-2.30p
- Friday, November 13 from 1.00p-2.30p
- Friday, December 11 from 1.00p-2.30p
SIIP Team Meetings (for CWS students working on SIIP / WAE project)
Every Wednesday from 11.00a-12.00p
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Finally, while we'll post this schedule on our CWS website, feel free to access a Google Calendar readout of this schedule by following this link. If you use Google Calendar and prefer to see all of your events more spatially (and/or don't want to plug in individual events to your own digital calendar), this might be a helpful option for you.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns about any of this programming. Hope everyone’s staying safe to the best they can, and wishing you all the best of health.
