Author: ksuchor

The following resolutions were passed at the CCCC Annual Business Meeting held on Saturday, March 21, 2015, in Tampa.

Resolution 1

Whereas in the spirit of innovation and action, borne of her scholarship in digital rhetoric, technical communication, and computer-based instruction, Joyce Locke Carter has reimagined the CCCC conference as a diversity of venues and genres for individuals in the profession to share their scholarship and experiences with posters, Ignite presentations, and the Action Hub;

Whereas she has made herself accessible to conference presenters and attendees through active use of social media in order to make the processes for submission, acceptance, and engaged attendance more transparent, setting the bar for future conference chairs;

Whereas we all spent time with Joyce in her office as she delivered key information to us in her informational videos, speaking directly to each of us whenever there was a key deadline, process, or idea that needed to be translated or communicated;

Whereas we can see the tangible evidence of change in every conference space, we also have seen her everywhere; and

Whereas she has done all this work in a spirit of generosity, goodwill, and collaboration;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 2015 Conference on College Composition and Communication thank Joyce Locke Carter for her many contributions to us and to the profession.

Resolution 2

Whereas Dianne Donnelly and the Local Arrangements Committee have provided a comprehensive hospitality guide that includes a “bounty of treasures” for convention attendees about historical, cultural, and entertainment options in Tampa;

Whereas Dianne Donnelly and the Local Arrangements Committee have designed, developed, and published a robust hospitality website and Twitter account that includes more information and links to other resources above and beyond the published hospitality guide;

Whereas Dianne Donnelly and the Local Arrangements Committee have demonstrated a commitment to making the conference experience more accessible for attendees through the creation of an extensive accessibility guide, the provision of quiet space, gender-neutral restrooms, scent-free products; and many other ways for including all Cs members;

Whereas Dianne Donnelly and the Local Arrangements Committee have worked on behalf of CCCC’s membership to keep this conference economically accessible; and

Whereas throughout the conference Dianne Donnelly and the Local Arrangements Committee have been on the ground and across the conference site, working to welcome and assist attendees;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 2015 Conference on College Composition and Communication express our deep appreciation to Dianne Donnelly and the Local Arrangements Committee by applauding their energy and efforts.

Resolution 3

Whereas, according to the Coalition on the Academic Workforce 2012 survey, 34% of adjunct faculty teaching at four-year institutions nationally have masters degrees, while 39% have PhDs; and

Whereas on many campuses salaries differ for faculty holding masters and doctoral degrees, even though their workloads and courses are the same;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that CCCC support a study of writing programs to learn how non-tenure track faculty are compensated and valued differently based on their credentials.

The following resolutions and sense of the house motions were passed at the CCCC Annual Business Meeting held on Saturday, March 25, 2006, in Chicago.

Resolution 1: Honoring Akua Duku Anokye

Whereas Duku Anokye has enriched our field through her contributions to the study of orality and literacy practices and their cultural and historical influences;

Whereas she has kindled and rekindled our passion for composition studies and their implications for two-year colleges;

Whereas, in keeping with CCCC’s tradition of aligning community issues with urban and pedagogical missions, she successfully brought together participants from diverse schools and backgrounds;

Whereas she has reminded us of the importance of change;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 2006 Conference on College Composition and Communication honor Akua Duku Anokye for her leadership and tireless efforts on our behalf.

Resolution 2: Thanking Joseph Janangelo and the Local Arrangements Committee

Whereas Joe Janangelo and the Local Arrangements Committee have helped us to explore and appreciate the community, cultures, and coalitions of Chicago, a city of rich musical, literary, artistic, and intellectual history;

Whereas they have worked tirelessly to provide teachers from diverse institutions with a comfortable and welcoming space in which we can passionately debate the matters of importance to our professional and quite often personal lives;

Whereas they have invited us to involve ourselves in the complex rhetoric of the city of Chicago and how it intersects with what we do as writers, teachers, and scholars;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Conference on College Composition and Communication applaud Joe Janangelo and the Local Arrangements Committee for their hard work and enthusiasm in welcoming us to the City of Big Shoulders.

Resolution 3: On Academic Freedom and Tenure

Whereas the Colorado House of Representatives Education Committee has seriously considered legislation that intrudes upon the historical right of universities to set promotion, tenure, and employment processes and procedures;

Whereas despite tabling House Bill 1284, the legislative branches are still considering motions to limit tenure and academic freedom for reasons ranging from “insubordination” to “negative student reviews” to “poor student achievement” to any conduct an administration might deem “below standards of professional integrity”; and

Whereas groups have been pressuring other states to adopt legislation that would threaten the basis of tenure and, through broad and biased interpretation, endanger academic freedom; and

Whereas the Conference on College Composition and Communication has historically protested such reactionary and regressive laws;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Conference on College Composition and Communication will refuse to schedule national and regional events in any sate that passes legislation attaching tenure.

Resolution 4: Working Group on a National College Writing Examination

Whereas the College Entrance Examination Board and ACT have incorporated short impromptu essays into their respective college admission tests; and
 
Whereas the mandatory Writing Section of the widely used SAT Reasoning Test consists of 35 minutes of multiple-choice questions and a single 25-minute impromptu essay; and

Whereas the “NCTE Beliefs about the Teaching of Writing” by the Writing Study Group of the NCTE Executive Committee (November 2004) states that assessments of writing involve complex, informed, human judgment and should be designed by experts in the teaching of writing.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Conference on College Composition and Communication endorse the report of the NCTE Task Force on SAT and ACT Writing Tests, “The Impact of the SAT and ACT Timed Writing Tests” (April 2005), and share the concerns of the Task Force that these tests are negatively affecting the quality of high school and college writing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CCCC Chair appoint a Working Group on a National College Writing Examination.  This group will collaborate with other organizations for secondary and college teachers of writing as well as with college admissions officers, and consider the feasibility of piloting a national college admissions writing test that addresses the concerns of the “Impact” report.

Sense of the House Motions

S1. Whereas the NCTE Guidelines of Gender-Fair Use of Language address “the critical role language plays in promoting fair treatment of women and girls, men and boys,” and whereas the use of language that communicates implicit or explicit assumptions about sexual orientation demonstrates unfair treatment of women and girls, men and boys,

Be it resolved that CCCC encourage the development of an addendum to the NCTE Guidelines for Gender-Fair Use of Language regarding heteronormative/transphobic language use, encourage its adoption for CCCC publication, and encourage NCTE to adopt the addendum as a formal part of the official guidelines.

Visit the User’s Guide to CCCC for more information on organizational structure(s) and how CCCC members are involved.

Committees

CCCC accomplishes much of its work through the use of committees. It is because of committees that we have position statements, award programs, even a conference itself. We are always looking for potential committee members with expertise, energy, and collegiality.  Click here for a complete listing of the currently active committees, links to committee websites, committee governance information, and information on how you can get involved.

Constitution & Bylaws

The CCCC Constitution and Bylaws are the governing documents of the organization.  The Constitution was last updated in August 2022 and the Bylaws in 2023.

Elections

Click here for information on the CCCC Elections process, how you can get involved, nomination information, and the listing of election offices and their responsibilities.

Leadership

• Meet the current CCCC Officers and Executive Committee Members
• A complete listing of CCCC Chairs from 1949 to the present
• CCCC Officers and Executive Committee from 1994 to the present
• CCCC Executive Committee Handbook (2021–2022)

Resolutions

Click here for a listing of recent CCCC Resolutions approved at the Annual Business Meeting and rules and guidlines for submitting resolutions for the upcoming spring meeting.

Member Groups

CCCC has a number of Member Groups (including Special Interest Groups and Standing Groups) that hold meetings, sponsor panels and workshops at the Annual Convention, publish newsletters, and carry on other activities within the framework of the organization. CCCC is pleased to recognize such groups, encourages their existence and growth, and provides time, space, and appropriate publicity to foster their effective operation.  Click here for additional information on CCCC Member Groups.

The following resolutions and sense of the house motions were passed at the CCCC Annual Business Meeting held on Saturday, March 27, 2004, in San Antonio:

Resolution 1: Honoring Doug Hesse

Whereas Doug Hesse has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to students and teachers of composition and to developing ethical writers, readers, and discourses; and

Whereas he has always asked difficult questions and has helped us to understand why we should too; and

Whereas he has brought us a challenging program of presentations, workshops, and opportunities for conversation followed by San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 2004 Conference on College Composition and Communication thank Doug Hesse for inviting us to explore the ways we make composition matter to our students, institutions, and fellow citizens.

Resolution 2: Applauding Sue Hum and Linda Woodson

Whereas Sue Hum and Linda Woodson have organized a determined and gracious Local Arrangements Committee, which has warmly welcomed us to San Antonio and its fiesta lifestyle; and

Whereas they have invited us to enjoy the Riverwalk, local restaurants, and the cultural treasures of their city; and

Whereas they have continued the “Bring a Book” and “Send Supplies” projects, allowing conference goers to contribute to local literacy programs;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 2004 Conference on College Composition and Communication applaud and thank Sue Hum, Linda Woodson, and the Local Arrangements Committee for their hard work, enthusiasm, and hospitality.

Resolution 3: Honoring Kathleen Blake Yancey

Whereas Kathleen Blake Yancey has given us access to the organizational conversations of the Conference on College Composition and Communication through her chair’s weblog and has introduced many members to “blogging,” just as she recently introduced many of us to the digital portfolio; and

Whereas she has challenged us to reconsider what we mean by “composing,” suggesting that we think of writing as “interface” in response to the current “moment”;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the 2004 Conference on College Composition and Communication honor Kathleen Blake Yancey for her leadership, tireless efforts on our behalf, and longstanding commitment to rhetoric and composition.

Sense of the House Motions

S1. The intentional manipulation of public discourse for political and commercial purposes has intensified in recent years.  In light of this, we urge NCTE to sponsor a national reading and writing assignment for fall 2004 on Orwell’s 1984 for colleges, high schools, communities, and libraries.  In support, the NCTE should create resources, forums, and websites for student, teacher, and community projects.

S2. Whereas the U.S. war in Iraq has brought needless deaths and economic degradation to both countries, and the exaggeration and untruths used to justify the war are tactics that teachers of communication in a democracy must condemn, the CCCC calls for an immediate end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

S3. Be it resolved that the CCCC opposes the trend of eliminating first-year writing courses without the input of the faculty who teach those courses.

S4. Be it the sense of this house that CCCC express its profound opposition to changing the U.S. Constitution to define marriage in a manner that abridges and/or diminishes the civil rights of any American.

PDF: All Research Centers 1966-2010 |  View Research Centers 1962-1967 on the Web | View Research Centers 2000-2010 on the Web |

Hiring and Evaluation

• Best Practices in Faculty Hiring for Tenure-Track and Non-Tenure-Track Positions in Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (April 2016) full statement,  Conference on College Composition and Communication
• ADE Statement of Good Practice: Teaching, Evaluation, and Scholarship, Associated Departments of English

Preparation

• Characteristics of the Highly Effective Two-Year College English Instructor in English (2012), Two-Year College English Association
• Preparing Teachers of College Writing [November 2015 (replaces the 1982 CCCC “Position Statement on the Preparation and Professional Development of Teachers of Writing”), Conference on College Composition and Communication
• TYCA Guidelines for Preparing Teachers of English in the Two-Year College, Two-Year College English Association

Working Conditions

• Principles for the Postsecondary Teaching of Writing (October 1989, Revised November 2013, Revised March 2015), Conference on College Composition and Communication
• Working Conditions for Non-Tenure-Track Writing Faculty (April 2016), Conference on College Composition and Communication
• Statement on Dual Credit/Concurrent Enrollment Composition: Policy and Best Practices (November 2012), Conference on College Composition and Communication
• ADE Guidelines for Class Size and Workload for College and University Teachers of English: A Statement of Policy, Association of Departments of English, Modern Language Association
• ADE Statement on the Use of Part-Time and Full-Time Adjunct Faculty, 1992
• MLA Recommendation on Minimum Per-Course Compensation for Part-Time Faculty Members, Modern Language Association, 2017
• MLA Statement on the Use of Part-Time and Full-Time Adjunct Faculty Members, Modern LAnguage Association, 1994
• MLA Statement on Academic Freedom (2009), Modern Language Association
• MLA Recommendation on a Minimum Wage for Full-Time Entry-Level Faculty Members Portland Resolution, Council of Writing Program Administrators, Guidelines for Writing Program Administrator Positions, 1992
• Indianapolis Resolution, CCCC Labor Caucus and the Community of Writing Studies signatories
• Position Statement on the Status and Working Conditions of Contingent Faculty, National Council of Teachers of English, 2010
• TYCA Executive Committee Statement on Concurrent Enrollment, Two-Year College English Association 2012
• Position Statement on the Status of, and Equity for, the Field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, 2008
• Position Paper on Equitable Treatment for Part-time, Adjunct, and Contingent Faculty, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, 2006
• Position Statement on Academic Staffing, Associated Federation of Teachers
• Standards of Good Practice in the Employment of Professional Staff in Higher Education: Empowerment and Voice, Associated Federation of Teachers
• Standards of Good Practice in the Employment of Full-Time non-tenure-Track faculty: Professionals and Colleagues, Associated Federation of Teachers
• Standards of Good Practice in the Employment of Part-Time/Adjunct Faculty: Fairness and Equity, Blueprint for Quality, Associated Federation of Teachers

Collected Policy Statements from Multiple Disciplines

• CAW Member Policy Statements and Resolutions

In 2016, at the meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication in Houston, TX, a series of resolutions were approved regarding the material conditions of teaching writing in college. One of the approved resolution read as follows:

Whereas the contingent status of an increasing cadre of writing instructors is seemingly entrenched in our institutions; and Whereas advocates for contingent writing faculty often need support on an ad hoc basis; BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Conference on College Composition and Communication dedicate a liaison for contingency issues (e.g., fair labor standards, unemployment insurance claims, legal issues related to hiring/nonrenewals).

As a call to action to the CCCC Executive Committee, then-chair Joyce Locke Carter said that the organization was [and then to the quote]

…finally able to act upon a suite of proposals that originated in the Indianapolis Resolution—designed to make the CCCC more responsive to labor issues in the discipline. The room where it happened was our annual business meeting, held on the last day of the Houston Convention. A key starting point to these interconnected resolutions was the creation of a liaison for labor issues, and I have named Holly Hassel and Keith Rhodes as our inaugural liaisons. Together with these liaisons, I have been working with the Labor Caucus, as well as the proponents of those resolutions, to craft the means and mechanics of the rest of the resolutions.

With the establishment of the Labor Liaison, CCCC is taking steps to work toward the requests and goals outlined in the Indianapolis Resolution:

• We call upon disciplinary and professional organizations such as NCTE/CCCC, ADE, MLA, RSA, and CWPA to consolidate and publicize the numerous extant professional standards documents on one user-friendly, accessible website; and where appropriate to revise or update those standards.
• Draw explicit attention to the reality that material conditions are teaching and learning conditions–that current labor conditions undervalue the intellectual demand of teaching, restrict resources such as technology and space to contract faculty, withhold conditions for shared and fair governance, and perpetuate unethical hiring practices–as the central pedagogical and labor issue of our times.
• Create a clearinghouse of information about how disciplinary professional statements such as CCCCs ‘Principles for the Postsecondary Teaching of Writing,’ NCTE’s ‘Position Statement on the Status and Working Conditions of Contingent Faculty’ and CWPA’s ‘Portland Resolution’ have amply codified best practices for reasonable and equitable working conditions, and where appropriate are in need of updating; how innovative teachers and administrators have made compelling, forceful, and successful arguments to help their institutions improve working conditions for all faculty.
• Offer more material and professional support and opportunity for the creation, publication, and dissemination of quantitative and qualitative research into the impacts of the labor system on the teaching and learning of writing.
• Consider research into labor and its effects on teaching and learning with the same intellectual weight and scholarly respect as other subjects in our field.

Why join CCCC? Your annual membership fee of $75 includes

Opportunities for professional growth…

• Subscription to the respected journal, College Composition and Communication, and also get free online access to current and past articles.
• Discounted rates for the CCCC Annual Conference and the NCTE Annual Convention.

And sharing your voice…

• You’re eligible for nomination to CCCC committees, which produce publications and position papers in the interest of the English and composition and rhetoric profession.
• Choose to also join the Two-Year College English Association (TYCA), which responds to concerns of educators at two-year colleges and coordinates seven regional conferences.
• Take part in the discussion with access to web resources and online communities maintained by CCCC and NCTE.

Join today!

Use the online form to join NCTE then choose College Composition and Communication as your journal—with your subscription, you’re automatically a CCCC member.

Trace Daniels-Lerberg, editor of FORUM, welcomes you to submit essays related to the teaching, working conditions, professional life, activism, and perspectives of non-tenure-track faculty. Faculty and scholars from all academic positions are welcome to contribute. Of special interest are research, analyses, and strategies grounded in local contexts, given that labor conditions and the needs of contingent faculty vary greatly with geography, institutional settings, and personal circumstances.

Essays should address theoretical and/or disciplinary debates. They will go through the standard peer review and revision process. For further information please contact Trace Daniels-Lerberg at trace.daniels@utah.edu.

Submit your work electronically to trace.daniels@utah.edu. Put the words “FORUM article” in your subject line. Submissions should include the following information:

• your name
• your title(s)
• your institution(s)
• home address and phone number; institutional address(es) and phone number(s)
• if applicable, venue(s) where submission was first published or presented previously

Editor
Forum is currently between editors, and the next editor will be announced soon. Until then, please send submissions and inquiries to the Forum production office at ttiller@ncte.org.

Editorial Board
Nona Brown, University of Utah
Peggy Kulesz, University of Texas at Arlington
Brian Whaley, Utah Valley University

Production Editor
Tom Tiller, NCTE

Permissions
permissions@ncte.org

Director of Publications
Colin Murcray, NCTE

FORUM Homepage