Outreach Materials

Guest Facilitator Invitation

Good afternoon,

WPA-GO’s Mentoring Committee would like to invite you to participate as a guest speaker and facilitator of our newly designed summer workshop series!

These workshops are designed for both professionals and students who are interested in and/or participating in writing program leadership. We’ve included some context and design information below, including how you will be asked to participate.

Context: Today, WPAs are faced with innumerable wicked problems that have historically harmed our most underprivileged stakeholders. These problems require deep (co)reflective and engaged social action. In brief, these workshops will be designed:

1. to help facilitate (co)mentoring and networking opportunities

2. to complicate and develop our values in and understanding of WPA work, and

3. to support and embody real world WPA problem solving and decision making in process 

Workshop Design & Your Role as Invited Guest: We would like for you to attend three (3) workshops that will take place once per month this Summer (2024) between June - August. Exact dates to be decided in collaboration with invited guests. Here’s an overview of the workshop plan:

• Workshop #1 (60 minutes): Via the sharing of stories and experiences, you will be asked to speak on the values that guide both your mentorship and administrative work as a WPA. In essence, you will be asked to surface why you do the work that you do. Workshop attendees will then be asked to share back what resonates with them based on what they hear. Attendees will be asked to come with questions to ask you; we will also prepare some questions. There is nothing you need to prepare ahead of time for this session.

• Workshops #2 & #3 (120 minutes each): You will be asked to prepare one (1) brief anonymized case study summary (e.g., in the form of “What would you do?”) for one of either the 2nd or 3rd workshops. This case study should address a problem, question, and/or decision you are currently facing in your work that you would like to use the workshop space to help unpack, problematize, and gather insight on. Attendees will be split into groups to discuss. Invited guests will each be assigned to one small group to help facilitate their discussions and takeaways. 

What Will You Get for Participating? By participating as an invited guest at these workshops, you will get the opportunity to

• Engage in Professional Development

• Network and Practice (Co)Mentoring

• Reflect on Values & Work Experiences

Thank you for taking the time to read our invitation. If you are interested in serving as a guest speaker and facilitator, or if you have any questions, wonderings, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to WPA-GO’s Mentoring Committee Chair directly at bursc021@umn.edu. 

We look forward to hearing back from you!

Public Invitation

WPA-GO's Mentoring Committee invites you to our first ever Summer Workshop Series -- Transforming Together: Co-Navigating the Work of WPA.

These workshops are designed to provide a space for graduate students and professionals to discuss, problematize, and continue cultivating a literacy for writing program leadership. We are excited to welcome Drs. Iris Ruiz, Kristi Costello, and Ashley Beardsely as well as graduate WPAs Ethan Voss and Brie Fleming as guest facilitators.

Registration is entirely free, and there are three exciting sessions to attend -- one in June, July, and August -- though we recommend attending as many as you are able.

Please check out our homepage for more information and to register, or you may contact Cody Bursch at bursc021@umn.edu with questions.

Registration Form

WPA-GO's Mentoring Committee invites you to our first ever Summer Workshop Series dedicated to professionals and students who are interested in and/or participating in writing program leadership.

Today, WPAs (e.g., FYW, WC, WAC/WID directors) are inundated with wicked problems that have historically harmed our most underprivileged stakeholders. Even so, in order to temper burnout and cynicism, WPAs must also leverage their ability to recognize and cultivate joy in and with their work.

Navigating these problems and cultivating joy require deep (co)reflection and engaged social action. These workshops, then, will consist of working with one another to discuss contemporary problems, to problematize contexts, to identify values and principles, and to cultivate joy in our work.

Participants will be asked to attend three [3] virtual workshop sessions once-per-month. But if you are unable to attend all three, please still sign-up!

• Session #1 (June 10th, 1 PM - 2 PM CST): Mapping WPA Experience (60 mins)

• Session #2 (July 1st, 1 PM - 3 PM CST): Collective Problem Solving (120 mins)

• Session #3 (August 5th, 1 PM - 3 PM CST): Transformations & Takeaways (120 mins)

A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Participation is entirely free and will take place online over Zoom. All we need is your name, preferred email, and institutional affiliation!

Email: ___________

Name: ___________

Pronouns (NA if prefer not to say): __________

Institutional Affiliation (e.g., University of … ): _________

Which sessions will you be most likely to attend? (Select all that apply.)

• Session #1 (June 10th, 1 PM - 2 PM CST): Mapping WPA Experience (60 mins)

• Session #2 (July 1st, 1 PM - 3 PM CST): Collective Problem Solving (120 mins)

• Session #3 (August 5th, 1 PM - 3 PM CST): Transformations & Takeaways (120 mins)

Exit Slip [linked at the end of each session]

Please use this form to reflect on your time at our [1st; 2nd; 3rd] session of the summer. Your responses will help us better understand how you are experiencing our workshops -- even if you are not planning on attending future sessions!

You will be asked to review the Jamboard as part of the exit slip. The slide deck is also available.

Your emails will not be collected and your answers will remain anonymous.

[Question 1] What motivated you to participate in the workshop today?

[Question 2] Take a moment to review the Jamboard [linked above in the exit slip description] and any notes you might have taken. What is at least one [1] experience, thought, and/or feeling that you will takeaway from the session today?

[Question 3] Our workshops are designed with three objectives in mind:

1) to cultivate community (or future community);

2) to problematize and problem-solve;

3) to identify and articulate personal and professional values.

During the session, what noteworthy moments or experiences did you have that most supported your engagement with any of the above three objectives?

[Question 4] As you think about your experience with virtual workshops, what is something we could start doing or add that would improve participants’ experiences?

[Question 5] We really appreciate you taking the time to fill out this exit slip. Is there anything else you’d like us to know?