South Central Writing Centers Association Hold Conference at U of A

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Co-chair of the conference Dana Blair (center), with Mohi Uddin and Forhad Kasem, two U of A grad students who presented papers at the conference.

The Business Communication Lab at the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the Office of Student Success Writing Studio hosted the 2024 Annual Conference for the South Central Writing Centers Association on the U of A campus from Feb. 29 to March 2.  

Eighty writing center directors, staff and tutors from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas attended the conference. The keynote speaker was Romeo García, assistant professor of writing and rhetoric studies at the University of Utah. 

The conference activities, including roundtables, special interest groups, workshops and individual and panel presentations, all centered on the theme “Demystifying the Center.” 

    
Abby Long received her award from Eric Camarillo, VP of SCWCA.

Sessions focused on practical strategies that directors, staff and tutors can implement in their respective centers, plus theoretical frameworks that could be applied across multiple settings. Specific topics covered included how generative AI platforms have affected writing center work, writing centers' varied roles in writing program administration and building rapport with various client/tutee groups.  

“We were incredibly grateful for the generous funding we received from the Walton College and the Writing Studio, without which this conference would not have succeeded,” said Ryan Sheets, director of the Business Communication Lab. “I am also thankful for the local support from the non-campus community, particularly Experience Fayetteville’s generous grant to pay for the opening reception at the Hilton Garden Inn.” 

A highlight of the conference was Writing Studio tutor Abby Long being honored as the 2024 SCWCA Tutor of the Year. Long is a senior childhood education major pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She was recognized for her impactful work and leadership at the Writing Studio, extending beyond the hundreds of students and her fellow writing consultants to benefit the broader campus community. 

Dana Blair, who recently served on the staff of the Writing Studio and nominated Long, noted that “Abby is always generous and helpful with students and proactive regarding ways to improve services at the studio further. I am so proud of Abby and am grateful she received this well-deserved recognition from the SCWCA.” 

“This conference was an excellent opportunity to hear from institutions across the state and region. The chance to network, learn from and collaborate with those who attended will help us tackle some of the most challenging issues writing centers face,” said Liza Vammen, associate director of the Business Communication Lab. 

Conference co-chairs were Dana Blair, Ryan Sheets and Liza Vammen. Conference proceedings and presentation abstracts can be found on the SCWCA website.

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