Date: April 6, 2009
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, April 6, 2009 – Representatives from area community colleges and universities met at Governors State University recently to learn how student writing skills can be improved and incorporated in all areas of study. The workshop was the third in a three-part series, which brought together educators to develop and implement the best writing practices available in their classrooms to serve their students better.
Dr. Elaine P. Maimon, President of GSU and pioneer of Writing Across the Curriculum, an innovative program which changed how writing was taught at all levels of education, led the workshop.
“The basis of writing is fluency,” explained Dr. Maimon. “Writing is not learned once and for all. It is a complex and continuous process.”
Attending the workshop were educators representing programs at DeVry University, Joliet Junior College, Kankakee Community College, Prairie State College, South Suburban College, St. Xavier University, and GSU.
“Writing within a student’s discipline increases fluency. Students write more effectively when writing about what they know,” added Dr. Maimon.
The Writing Consortium and workshop series are sponsored by the South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium (SMHEC), which comprises 13 member colleges and universities to achieve greater effectiveness in providing higher education to the region. The Writing Consortium was established last year in response to an initiative by GSU Writing Center Coordinator, Dr. Becky Nugent and the interest of area colleges and universities.
“In an effort to improve student writing, we have looked at Illinois Learning standards for high school students and how they impact college students and at how each of our member institutions teach writing composition,” explained Genny Boesen, Executive Director of the SMHEC. “We were pleased that Dr. Maimon was able to lead this final workshop as she is an expert in teaching writing.”
Area educators will have the opportunity to learn more about teaching writing at a special class offered this summer at GSU. “Illinois Writing Project – Methods for Teaching Writing” will be taught from June 8 through June 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., to help educators learn how writing happens and how to help their students become effective writers. For more information about this graduate level, two-credit course, call (708) 534-6979.
