WRITING and COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE

The Writing and Communication Committee (WCC) is a group of Brittain Fellows and other LCC faculty members who examine and debate issues relevant to Georgia Tech`s Writing and Communication Program. The WCC recommends policies, plans projects, and completes tasks vital to the program`s operation and development.


Rebecca Burnett, Director of Writing and Communication, chairs the committee, and Andrew Cooper coordinates. Each year, the Brittain Fellows elect at least four from their number to serve, and Ken Knoespel, Chair of the School of Literature, Communication and Culture (LCC), recommends at least four additional representatives from the LCC faculty.


Most of the WCC`s work gets done in subcommittees, which are often chaired by Brittain Fellows. Subcommittees do work that affects units on campus beyond the Writing and Communication Program, so subcommittee chairs often invite Georgia Tech faculty, administrators, and staff outside of LCC to join them.


2008-2009

During the 2008-09 academic year, the WCC involves seven subcommittees:


  • Assessment Subcommittee: This subcommittee is developing methods and materials for assessing the learning and teaching of WOVEN communication.Chair: Melissa Meeks

  • E-book Subcommittee: This subcommittee is improving the customized textbooks, both print and electronic, that support WOVEN communication in and beyond English 1101 and English 1102. Chair: Andrew Cooper

  • Handbook Subcommittee: This subcommittee is creating a handbook for Brittain Fellows that explains the courses, policies, and practices that inform their experiences at Georgia Tech. Chair: Andrew Cooper

  • Intellectual Property Subcommittee: This subcommittee is investigating the Writing and Communication Program`s policies and practices that affect the intellectual property of both students and instructors. Chair: Stacy Lavin

  • Mentoring Committee: This subcommittee coordinates the Brittain Fellows Mentoring Program, providing each incoming Brittain Fellow with two mentors to help acclimation into the intellectual and social communities of Georgia Tech and Atlanta. Co-Chairs: Matt Paproth and Paulette Richards
  • R&D Lab Committee: This subcommittee manages the Writing and Communication Program's R&D Lab, a place for curricular, client, and scholarly materials development and testing. Chair Dan Vollaro

  • Special Events Committee: This subcommittee coordinates the many Writing and Communication events available to Brittain Fellows and the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture, including the Colloquium, Speakers, Symposium, and a variety of social and cultural events. Chair: Kathryn Farley

  • Symposium Committee: This subcommittee coordinates the many Writing and Communication events available to Brittain Fellows and the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture, including the Colloquium, Speakers, Symposium, and a variety of social and cultural events. Chair: Danielle Lawson

  • Technical Communication Subcommittee: This subcommittee is reviewing plans for an undergraduate minor in Technical Communication. Chair: Ty Herrington

  • Website Subcommittee: This subcommittee is continuing to improve the Writing and Communication Program`s website. Chair: Olin Bjork

  • World Englishes Subcommittee: This subcommittee is addressing the diverse Englishes that are spoken at Georgia Tech from around the world. Chair: Jo Anne Harris


2009-10 WCC Membership

Rebecca Burnett (chair), Andrew Cooper (coordinator), Shannon Dobranski, Olin Bjork (third-year rep), Jo Anne Harris (first-year rep), Danielle Lawson (at-large rep), Melissa Meeks (Assessment Chair), Candice Welhausen (first-year rep)