2008-2009 Speaking Intensive Program

TO: UMW Faculty

FROM: Anand Rao, Speaking Intensive Program Director (ELC Dept., x1546)

Welcome back! As you start working on your fall schedule and course syllabi, I wanted to let you know about some of what the Speaking Intensive Program (http://www.umw.edu/cas/speaking/default.php) has to offer for the coming year:

SI Faculty Workshops: Over the summer, we hosted two faculty workshops on class discussion, where faculty started to develop materials that you can use in your classes. I will be working to complete some of this work and make it available to you on the SI Program’s website, and will host a workshop to discuss these materials and their use (including evaluation forms, handouts for students, etc). I will also be scheduling workshops on evaluating student presentations, handling students’ communication apprehension, as well as how to prepare a course as Speaking Intensive. Hope you can join us for one or more of these workshops.

New SI Course Proposal Deadlines: Interested in having your course designated as Speaking Intensive? Your students are, and we are happy to help. The proposal forms were revamped last year, and are now easier to process than ever. The forms are just one page long, and include just the information the committee needs to make the designation. Proposals for courses to be taught in Spring 2009 are due on September 19, 2008; proposals for courses to be taught in Summer 2009 are due on November 5, 2008; and proposals for courses to be taught in Fall 2009 are due on January 23, 2009. See the proposal forms linked above for specifics, and feel free to contact me, or anyone on the SI Committee, for assistance in preparing your proposal.

The Speaking Center : Dr. Esther Yook, Speaking Center Director, and the Speaking Center consultants are available to help you with your SI course assignments. Contact the Speaking Center at x1347, or go to the Center's website at http://www.umw.edu/cas/speaking/speaking_center/default.php . The Speaking Center will again host a series of afternoon workshops for students (and faculty) this fall- look for announcements in September.

2008-2009 Speaking Intensive Committee

Jessica Locke (Assistant, MDFL - 2009)

Shara M. Voisard (Assistant, MDFL - 2009)

Joella C. Killian (Professor, BIOL - 2010)

Kristin R. Moon (Assistant, HIST - 2010)

Mindy Erchull (Assistant, PSYC – 2011)

Jose Sainz (Associate, MDFL – 2011)

Esther Yook (Director of the Speaking Center – ex officio)

Anand Rao (Director of the SI Program – ex officio)