OFD Offering In-person and Remote Writing Accountability Circles for Faculty this Fall

The Office of Faculty Development (OFD) will launch five semester-long writing accountability circles (WACs) for faculty this September. Each session will be led by an OFD Scholarly Writing Fellow and will be offered either in-person or remotely via Zoom.

A writing accountability circle (WAC) is a small group of colleagues who meet weekly to write and share their progress on individual writing projects. WACs are intended for faculty who are committed to participating

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in a semester-long writing group and are willing to support other members in their self-identified writing goals. Each facilitated session offers dedicated time and support.

OFD writing accountability circles are open to all UMass Amherst faculty: clinical, extension, lecturers, librarians and tenure track. Faculty should complete the Fall 2022 Writing Accountability Circle Interest Form by Tuesday, Sept. 6. Notifications will be sent no later than Monday, Sept. 12. Most groups are limited to seven members and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fall Writing Groups for All Faculty and Librarians:

Mondays, 3:30-5 p.m.

First session: Sept. 19; 10 sessions through Dec. 5 (no session on Oct. 10 and Nov. 21)  

Facilitator: John Kingston; professor, linguistics, College of Humanities and Fine Arts

Location: The first session will be held in person at which time WAC members will determine as a group whether to continue in-person or remotely.

Tuesdays, 9:30-11 a.m.

First session: Sept. 20; ten sessions through Nov. 29 (no session on Nov. 22)

Facilitator: Sophie Horowitz, scholarly writing fellow; associate professor, philosophy, College of Humanities and Fine Arts 

Location: In-person

Wednesdays, 10-11:30 a.m.

First session: Sept. 21; ten sessions through Nov. 30 (no session on Nov. 23)

Facilitator: Kimberley Geissler, associate professor, health promotion and policy, School of Public Health and Health Policy 

Location: Zoom

Fall Writing Group for Latinx Bilingual/Multilingual Faculty and Librarians:

Tuesdays, 9-11 a.m.

First session: Sept. 27; ten sessions through Dec. 6 (no session on Nov. 22)

Facilitator: Isabel Espinal, librarian, W.E.B. Du Bois Library

Location: Zoom

Fall Writing Group for Department Heads and Chairs:

Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon

First session: Sept. 29; ten sessions through Dec. 8 (no session on Nov. 24)

Facilitator: David Mednicoff, associate professor and department chair, Judaic and Near Eastern studies, College of Humanities and Fine Arts    

Location: Zoom