Agenda for Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Conference on College Composition and Communication
Oregon Convention Center D131 l 1:30-5:00

1:30 – 1:40 Welcome and Introductions

1:40 – 3:40 Program: Panel Presentation and Discussion

• Malea Powell, Michigan State University
“Running the Numbers: Creating & Sustaining Diverse & Inclusive Programs”

I’ll use our programs most recent metrics — all quite good in traditional categories — to unpack the how, why, what, and at what cost contexts behind the numbers, mapping what kinds of human-driven practices and sustainable institutional structures provide the fuel that literally “runs” them while also maintaining a high level of diversity of student experiences and interests in a doctoral program. Ultimately, I’ll offer some data-driven arguments for the kinds of institutional, faculty, and graduate student attitudes habits that have to shift in order to maintain high performance numbers and sustain diversity inside such a program.

• David M. Rieder, North Carolina State University
“Strengths and Weaknesses of Numerate Thinking in an Interdisciplinary Program”

The Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media PhD program is an interdisciplinary program co-run by faculty in the departments of Communication and English at NC State University. On the English side, the program both supports programs (with TAs and RAs) and trains students in Rhet/Comp, WPA, and Technical and Professional Writing. In addition to these areas, the program supports and trains students in areas that are wide-ranging, from PR and Cultural Studies in COM to media studies, digital humanities, and linguistics in ENG. In our program, data is an essential means to several important ends, but, as an administrator, I’ve noticed a few constraints to numerate thinking. In an interdisciplinary context, the roles that data play do not always conform to conventional ends or expectations. In my presentation to the Consortium, I will focus on the following three areas: 1) the need to develop a nuanced approach to data due to interdisciplinary differences, 2) the representational limits of data with international recruitment, 3) the positive effects of data in strategic planning in an interdisciplinary context.

• Anne Ruggles Gere, University of Michigan
“Data, Big and Small”

o Big Data gets lots of air time, but what kinds of data do writing programs need? What are the best sources of data? And how can data be used most effectively? This presentation will take up these questions by considering the challenges of collecting data, the ways it can be used to shape material conditions, and the inherent limitations of data. This presentation will also provide time to solicit suggestions on ways that the MLA (which has devoted considerable resources to collecting and circulating data) might help address the data needs of colleagues in writing programs and other areas of writing studies.

Q&A and Discussion about “What are the types of Data PhD Programs Need?”

4:00 – 5:00 Business Meeting
Reminder: Please plan to attend the Doctoral Consortium in Rhetoric and Composition’s sponsored session, “Precarious Positions: Research Praxis and Knowledge Making across Contexts,” on Thursday, March 16, 2017, 10:30 – 11:45, F149 with Dr. Aimee C. Mapes (University of Arizona), Karen Lunsford (University of California, Santa Barbara), and Kenneth Walker (University of Texas, San Antonio).

Brief reports
o Updates about Website and Listserv: Amy C. Kimme Hea
o Treasury Updates: Amy C. Kimme Hea
o Letter about Data Storage: Kevin DePew
o Call for Nominations for Incoming Assistant Chair: Amy C. Kimme Hea
• Theme for 2018 Consortium Meeting and CCCC Panel: Carrie Leverenz
• Other Agenda Items from the Floor