Macey Baird || The Daily Mississippian
When Robert Cummings returned to his alma mater last summer, he was prepared to initiate sweeping changes within student writing at the university.
As founding director of the Center for Writing and Rhetoric (CWR) at the University of Mississippi, he has already instituted a “campus-wide self-improvement plan” that consists of freshmen composition course
makeovers, augmentation of the existing writing program and formation of a funding program for faculty members.
Since his arrival from Columbus State University, Cummings has peformed research and met with people across campus to prepare for his supplementary objectives.
“The big idea is to combine everything in one place associated with writing,” he said.
Cummings’ peers praise him for his genius and work ethic with the project.
“Dr. Cummings is an expert and innovator in his field,” Stephen Monroe, liberal arts college assistant dean and Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) coordinator, said. “He understands best practices in the teaching of writing. We are fortunate to have his leadership.”
The CWR is an important unit in the five-year Quality Enhancement Plan, which is a reaccreditation program that must meet requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
“The university’s QEP focuses on improving student writing. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and alumni participated in choosing this topic,” Monroe said. “Again and again, writing was the number one concern.”
Cummings spearheaded four curriculum committees designed to strengthen freshman English courses.
Each committee has four open forums in which members discuss class material, possible improvements, progress and ways to enhance the training and support of current teachers.
He said the committees have constructed proposals for change for English 101, English 102 and Liberal Arts 102 so they will be “tidied up” to ensure everyone is working toward the same educational goals.
Each class will have five outcomes that students must master by course completion.
The committees have also added English 100, a course with a smaller number of students per class that will carry the same credit.
“This class will be for students who want more time and attention to focus on writing,” Cummings said. “The levels of engagement are higher.”
He has also planned a new placement system for incoming freshmen.
He proposes a submitted essay before their first semester that would allow the CWR to offer suggestions for improved writing skills and proper course placement.
Cummings said these revisions will be implemented in the piloted 2010-2011 courses that will be a segue to permanent improvements in the 2011-2012 school year after evaluations and tweaking.
Since adding 20 tutors to the program, Cummings said the center has seen a dramatic increase in student participation.
The tutors do everything from helping a student find a topic or respond to an assignment to reading over work to make sure the information and style is adequate, Cummings said.
“A fresh pair of eyes looking over your work is key,” he said.
He recently published “Lazy Virtues: Teaching Writing in the Age of Wikipedia,” and the coauthored volume “Wiki Writing: Collaborative Learning in the College Classroom.” He has also had various journal articles, book chapters and essays published.
The writing center, located in the J.D. Williams Library, improves student writing in all disciplines.
The center is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
For more information about the center call 662-915-1989 or e-mail [email protected].
