This fall brings the launch of an exciting new initiative,
the Ashland University Research and Writing Community (AURWC), a program
created and facilitated by Dr. Sharleen Mondal, Assistant Professor of
English. The AURWC trains
participants to learn, practice, and receive support and accountability in
developing habits that are empirically proven to improve faculty research and
writing productivity, work/life balance, and teaching efficiency and
effectiveness. While the fall
pilot program serves only faculty, if the pilot is successful, the program will
be expanded to serve graduate students and undergraduates working on long-term
writing projects. This means that both
faculty and students at Ashland who participate in the AURWC will receive small
group support and individual coaching to achieve their writing goals,
furthering Ashland’s “accent on the individual” philosophy and providing a core
community of other scholars and writers, reducing isolation in writing and
increasing the likelihood of a productive and rewarding writing
experience.
Dr. Mondal developed the AURWC as follows: with the generous
sponsorship and financial support of Ashland University Provost, Dr. Frank
Pettigrew, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Dawn Weber, Dr.
Mondal participated in a national program, the National Center for Faculty
Development and Diversity’s Faculty Success Program (or “faculty boot camp”),
in Fall 2012. The following
semester, with the support of Ashland University’s Professional Discipline
Experience Grant and in collaboration with the Faculty Development Committee,
Dr. Mondal developed a similar program to the Faculty Success Program, tailored
to the specific needs of Ashland University. During the grant period, Dr. Mondal consulted with Dr. Kerry
Ann Rockquemore, President of the National Center for Faculty Development and
Diversity, to get feedback on the AURWC modules and to receive training in how
to facilitate and coach such a program.
Late in the spring 2013 semester, the AURWC call for applications went
live and the pilot program’s participants were selected.
Four faculty members across colleges at
Ashland University are currently participating and the program has been
publicized through a recent presentation Dr. Mondal delivered at Faculty
College; if the program is successful, current participants can be trained as
future coaches and the program can expand into multiple small groups of faculty
and students.
The AURWC is one of many examples of initiatives developed
by English Department faculty who are committed to supporting both faculty and
student scholarship, and who are passionate about developing opportunities for
researchers and writers to thrive in their academic
careers while experiencing the joy of truly being part of a scholarly community.
