Announcing: PWPA Hybrid Spring Meeting at Neumann University
Dear PWPA Members and Friends,
We are pleased to invite you to our hybrid Spring 2023 PWPA event on Friday, May 5, 2023, hosted by George Asimos, Neumann University’s Director of Writing Across the Curriculum. For this day-long workshop themed “Bringing Back the Joy,” we will focus on reaffirming our values and reinvigorating our programs in light of challenges posed by student disengagement and generative AI. No registration is required, but we do ask that you RSVP via this form if you are attending in person so that we have a head count for food and can accommodate dietary needs. Driving/parking directions for the event and the Zoom information are further below. While the spring workshop is free, and access to high-quality professional development and networking opportunities is part of our mission, we do hope that you or your institution can become a paying member to support our work and cover costs associated with events.
Schedule: Below is an overview of the day, and here is the full program and schedule. You are not obligated to attend all day, and we encourage folks to attend sessions that fit their availability and interests.
10:00-10:30: Coffee/Light Breakfast
10:30-10:45: Welcome/Opening Remarks--George Asimos, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, Neumann University
10:45-11:10: Generative AI: An Overview--Tiffany DeRewal and Leslie Allison (Rowan University)
11:10-12:00: AI in the Writing Classroom: Considering Strategies for Offense and Defense--Tara Moore (Elizabethtown College)
12:00-12:45: Lunch
12:45-1:05: Roundtable of Perspectives on Generative AI from WPAs and Faculty: Turning a Critical Eye on ChatGPT and on Our Discipline--Leslie Allison (Rowan University), Beth Knauss (Gwynedd Mercy University), and Amy Woodworth (Rowan University)
1:05-2:00 Open Discussion on Generative AI with PWPA Colleagues
2:00-2:15 Break
2:15-3:15 Lightning Talks: Fifteen-Minute Presentations on Engagement
- “It Takes a Village: Collaborating Across Campus to Remediate Underprepared Students,” Jessica See (York College of Pennsylvania)
- “How Do We Hook 'Em? A Game to Engage Our Students,” Joshua Barnes (York College of Pennsylvania)
- “A Collaborative Heuristic for Analog, Text-based, Group-oriented, Peer-led Teaching,” Bill Vargo (Drexel University, Cabrini University, and St. Joseph’s University)
- “Teachers from the Black Lagoon: Using Monster Theory for Student Engagement and Originality,” Val Balock and Joe Block (Rowan University)
3:00-3:45 PWPA Business Meeting--all are welcome!
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Driving and Parking Directions:
We will be meeting in the Student Multipurpose Hall in the John J. Mullen Communications Center, 02 13-016:001, Aston, PA 19014 (Google map). Parking is directly behind the building and will be marked with event signage on that day. There is a direct entrance from the parking lot into the center.
Zoom Meeting: https://rowan.zoom.us/j/82791393264?pwd=WTlPaGpMalA3SUpyVWR6VHZtUGRydz09
Meeting ID: 827 9139 3264
Passcode: 151476
Dial in: +1 267 831 0333
PWPA Membership:
We offer both institutional and individual memberships, making our work possible and events free! We have both downloadable membership forms/invoices on our websiteand a digital membership form; either works! Payments can be made by check (see remit to info on form), PayPal, or Venmo. Please make sure to submit both a membership form AND payment.
PayPal Account: @PhiladelphiaWPA
Make a payment at
paypal.me/PhiladelphiaWPA.
Venmo Business Account: @PhiladelphiaWPA
Make a payment to PhiladelphiaWPA on Venmo here
Again, this event is completely free and open to all writing program administrators, writing instructors, and related colleagues in the region. We are especially interested in meeting faculty from two-year colleges, minority-serving institutions, and those located in our wider regional geography beyond the Philly area: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Please share with colleagues at your own or other institutions, and
please RSVP through this form if you are planning to attend in person!
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to PWPA co-chairs Beth Knauss (knauss.e@gmercyu.edu) and Amy Woodworth (woodworth@rowan.edu) and/or our host George Asimos (gnasimos@gmail.com).
Best wishes,