Founded in 1983, the Northeast Writing Centers Association (NEWCA) is a regional affiliate of the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA). Members include administrators and staff of writing centers and persons interested in writing centers. NEWCA membership consists of, but is not limited to, individuals from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Announcement on annual conference:
Because of COVID-19 disruption, NEWCA does not plan to have an in-person conference in the 2021 – 2022 academic year. In lieu of a conference, we will host monthly free programming for peer and professional writing center practitioners. There are also a set of fine online conferences including NCPTW (November 11- 13th), SWCA (February 10 – 12th, 2022), and CWCA (May 25 – 28th, 2022). NEWCA members are also welcome to facilitate a tutor hour or practitioner hour, simply contact the Co-Presidents, Genie Giaimo and Cyndi Roll.
Spring 2022 Events
NEWCA-Sponsored Lecture and Workshop Series on Labor Studies. Stay tuned for more details!
Storytelling as Activism Speaker Series Events (Hosted by ECWCA and MSU). Ongoing events Fall and Spring semesters. Free and open to NEWCA members! RSVP Here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rim87QZrBf15KRFGXdPS5FHrw8ma0AKNSd93k4JsLJ8/edit#heading=h.gdl96zjn9a5p
Fall 2021 Events
NEWCA Board Meeting, December 15, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., ET.
Writing Center Practitioner’s Virtual Conversation (Hosted by Dr. Meaghan Elliott Dittrich and Cyndi Roll, UNH): Check-In and Share Around, November, 3, 11:00 a.m., ET – 12:00, ET. Come join us for the second writing center practitioner meeting of the year. We will gather to check-in, share, and learn from each other as we navigate yet another pandemic semester. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. ALL writing center and writing program administrators in the Northeast (and beyond) are welcome to join us. Register Here: https://unh.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMlduqqpzIqHdJ_-KdkAb_wn833bRPanBzv
NEWCA Tutor Conversation Hour, October 13, 2:30 – 3:30, ET. Please join us for a discussion of tutoring styles and strategies for adapting your approach to meet the individual needs of writers. Hosted by the University of New Haven Writing Center tutors. Register here: https://unewhaven.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtf-2hpjkoHNK9YeNW8t3yJMdgTRVQHMwP
NEWCA Board Meeting, October 13, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., ET.
RMWCA Anti-Racism Workshop: September 29, 1:00 – 2:30 Mountain Time/3:00 – 4:30, ET. This three-part webinar focused on creating anti-racism and inclusion statements for our writing centers. At the final workshop (9/29), we will hear from a WPA who had to deal with push back against such a statement at the University of Washington, Tacoma, Dr. Asao Inoue (now of Arizona State University). Dr. Inoue will discuss how writing centers can effectively respond to pushback, along with the development of UWT Writing Center’s ground-breaking anti-racism statement. NEWCA members are welcome to join, please contact Dr. Lisa Bell for more information!
Writing Center Practitioner’s Virtual Conversation: Check-In and Share Around: September 8. Come join us for the first writing center practitioner meeting of the year. We will gather to check-in, share, and learn from each other as we navigate yet another pandemic semester. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. ALL writing center and writing program administrators in the Northeast (and beyond) are welcome to join us.
(NEW LAST YEAR) NEWCA Tutor Conversation Hours. This is an opportunity for tutors from writing centers in our region (New England and New York) to come together (over Zoom) for an hour of informal conversation on any topic they choose. (No prep necessary!) Tutors choose a topic and host the conversation hour. For more information, and to propose a topic, contact NEWCA leadership!
Past Events:
Writing Center Administrators Virtual Conversation: Budgeting & Staffing Concerns: April 12 2021, 2-3pm. This is a chance for WC administrators to share concerns and strategies about budget crises and staffing issues in our current context. Co-hosted by Amanda Fields, Director of the Central Connecticut State University Writing Center, and Meaghan Elliott Dittrich, Director of the Connors Writing Center at the University of New Hampshire.
Spring ’21 NEWCA/ECWCA Book Club: The Northeast Writing Centers Association (NEWCA) is partnering with ECWCA for a Book Club! We’ll be reading The Things We Carry: Strategies for Recognizing and Negotiating Emotional Labor in Writing Program Administration (https://upcolorado.com/utah-state-university-press/item/3869-the-things-we-carry) edited by Courtney Adams Wooten, Jacob Babb, Kristi Murray Costello, and Kate Navickas. You can receive a discount on the book with the code SMLLBLKBS ordered through Utah State UP (use the link above).
Virtual Conversations about Writing Center/Library Collaborations: January 21, 2021. Over the past few years, Kate Tirabassi & Elizabeth Dolinger worked to merge library’s research services with the writing center’s services at Keene State College, resulting in a newly named Center for Research & Writing. During this virtual conversation, we shared some lessons learned through our integration, offered a writing prompt, and talked together in small and large groups. We look forward to ongoing conversations between library and writing center faculty/staffs interested in doing similar work.
Zoom Recording: If you were unable to attend the January 21st session, but would like to view it, please click here for the Zoom recording.
Reconsidering the Concept of “Communities of Practice,” R. Mark Hall: March 4, 2021, 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Zoom Recording + Audio/Chat Transcripts: https://keene.zoom.us/rec/share/eXQOM9PXTutXGvCZU3utwprOWODVOedFG8OW8SiVO8JA9GiSIAceXfMv9h5pp9zS.WZfAIN2fg6gqPS3w
Kaltura Link to Recording + Live Caption Transcript: https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/420171/uiconf_id/33137141/entry_id/1_8r1bdf6p/embed/dynamic#t=00:04
Writing Center Administrators’ Virtual Conversation: Reflecting on Fall, Looking Toward Spring, January 15, 2021 2-3pm: This was an informal opportunity to talk with colleagues about how things went for our centers this Fall and what goals/challenges we’re facing this Spring.
Fall 2020 Events:
December 15, 9-10am: NH WC Administrators’ Book Club: Claude Steele’s Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do. Contact Molly Parsons at Molly.Parsons@keene.edu for more info!
November 24 12-1pm: Tutor Conversation Hour: Building Rapport & Writer Confidence, hosted by Keene State College Center for Research & Writing’s tutor Sarah Flynn.
November 9: 3pm: Conversation Hour for NH & NY Tutors: Diverse Learning Styles and Remote Consulting, hosted by Sabrina Siegal, Plymouth State University.
2020-2021+ Announcement:
In lieu of our annual f2f Spring conference, NEWCA is planning several opportunities in the coming months for writing center staffs to connect virtually. We will host free webinars, conversation hours with tutors/administrators/state representatives, book club meetings. We will also continue to share new resources, as we have with research and need-based funding opportunities for writing center staff in the NEWCA region. Watch this space and our Facebook and Twitter pages for news updates and upcoming events!
Northeast Writing Centers Association 