Dear Colleagues:
On July 24th, 2026, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) announced its decision to “de-charter” the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC)—the professional home for many in and across writing, rhetoric, and composition studies. There will be many paths forward, some with larger and established organizations. But this moment also presents an opportunity for us to talk, share, and ideate from the ground up about who “we” are, what we do, what we need, and what the world needs from us right now.
We are writing to invite you to participate in a regional sensemaking event where instructors from across the tri-state area (SW Ohio, SE Indiana, and Northern KY) can gather to discuss needs and plans for the future of rhetoric, composition, and writing studies. This is one of many regional events happening around the country. RSVP here.
The model for our work comes from change theory and design thinking, among other approaches to bottom-up ideation and change. Work from this regional session will be compiled along with ideas from other regional sessions around the country on the WAC Clearinghouse Repository. The goal is to initiate grassroots ideas for future structures, organizations, and activities that will support writing teachers and researchers.
Everyone who identifies as a writing or rhetoric teacher is welcome to attend, across every level and institution type.
We hope you will join us—and please share this invitation with interested colleagues.
Sonja Andrus, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash
Tyler Branson, University of Cincinnati
Alex Evans, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash
Bethany Hellwig, University of Cincinnati
Mandy Olejnik, Miami University
Psyche Ready, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash
Elizabeth Wardle, Miami University
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 7th
Time: 1-5pm
Location: Voice of America Center 7847 VOA Park Dr, West Chester Township, OH 45069 OR virtual via zoom at the same time (the online and in person sessions will happen simultaneously but distinctly so that we can use each modality to their greatest benefit).
RSVP here
These sessions will include active brainstorming and conversation in small and large groups to take up the following tasks and questions:
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Map out what we think the field is, what it does, what it studies, what it teaches, who it serves or includes, etc. (write, draw, etc)
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Debrief: Do we agree? Are there a few different buckets?
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Who are all the members of our field and what do they do? Where do they work? Where is the teaching and studying of writing happening? Who are the people represented in these different maps?
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Where have you been participating in the various orgs and work of “this field” however you define it? Why?
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What do you most need from a professional organization?
Elizabeth Wardle
University Distinguished Professor
Howe Distinguished Professor of Written Communication
Director of Howe Center for Writing Excellence
Miami University (OH)
liz
Check out my latest book: Writing Rediscovered: Nine Concepts to Transform Your Relationship with Writing