Thanks to those who have already sent proposals in response to this CFP. As the 12 August deadline for proposal submissions approaches, we welcome others’ contributions to the following special volume of South Atlantic Review. Thanks for sharing the call with any colleagues who may be interested! (Glad to respond to questions off-list at the email addresses below.)

Saving English, World Languages and the Humanities: What and Who Should be Included in the Conversation?

Edited by E. Nicole Meyer, Professor of French & Women’s and Gender Studies, Augusta University and Christina R. McDonald, Institute Director of Writing and Professor of English, Virginia Military Institute

Changes to job security, faculty workloads and notions of what constitute student success proliferate. Add to this the general national decline in university and college enrollments that creates an urgent situation and the need to address it. A sudden turn to asynchronous online teaching added to students’ sense of isolation and distancing from their studies and their instructors. Moreover, the general devaluing of the humanities and associated skills raises concerns of how do we communicate our value to the public? What role can assessment play in making the case for the humanities? These and other factors impact the declining enrollments in English, world languages and humanities. In addition, Chat GBT, AI and online translators menace the value and existence of the humanities in yet another way. This Special Volume focuses on factors threatening English, French Studies and other World languages as well as Humanities programs with a view to exploring creative solutions. What and who should be included in this conversation? What needs to change? What should be preserved? What’s next?

We invite narratives, case studies, research, and other creative responses to our questions. Please submit a 250-350 word proposal and brief bio by August 12, 2023 to both editors: E. Nicole Meyer nimeyer and Christina R. McDonald McDonaldCR

Please label as “Special Issue on Saving Humanities” in your subject line of the email.

Deadlines [note—we
welcome early
submissions and
will begin
peer review of all submissions as they are received, however, we will only respond after the deadline. We do not anticipate extending any of the following
deadlines]:

Author’s ProposalDeadlinefor 250 to 300-word proposals: Monday, August 12, 2023

Editors’ Response to Proposals Deadline: Monday, November 6, 2023