Faculty Writing Retreat

For the past two years, the Center for Writing and Faculty Enrichment have collaborated to offer a three-day Faculty Writing Retreat at the end of May at College Camp on Wilson Pond.

The Faculty Writing Retreat this year runs May 29-31, 2018, 9 a.m-4 p.m., at College Camp.

Semesters are busy with teaching so it can be a struggle for faculty to fit writing into their daily routines. The Faculty Writing Retreat is designed to help faculty get their summer writing project (and writing routine) off to a good start. Extensive research in writing studies tells us that being around peers who are also writing can help faculty to get substantial work done. This retreat offers dedicated time for faculty to write in a quiet, comfortable, and supportive environment, surrounded by colleagues who have made the same commitment to work on their writing.

The Faculty Writing Retreat, held at Keene State College Camp on Wilson Pond, includes intensive writing time, opportunities for goal-setting and feedback, and conversations with faculty scholars at Keene State College. Thanks to funding from a Faculty Enrichment Grant, the Faculty Writing Retreat provides coffee/tea, breakfast, and lunches each day for up to 15 faculty participants.

Tentative daily schedule of the three-day Faculty Writing Retreat in May:

• 9:00 a.m.: Group meets for light breakfast and goal sharing.
• 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Individual writing time.
• 12:30–1:30 p.m.: Group reconvenes for lunch, goal check-in, and conversation.
• 1:30–3:30 p.m.: Opportunities to convene small writing groups for feedback or return to individual writing time.
• 3:30–4:00 p.m.: Group reconvenes to report progress, celebrate successes, and plan for the following day’s work.

How to apply and deadline

A call for applications is announced via a campus-wide e-mail in March of each academic year.

This year, interested faculty should apply by sending an e-mail to Kate Tirabassi, Center for Writing Director (ktirabassi@keene.edu) by Monday, April 16, 2018. Participants will be notified no later than Friday, April 20, 2018. The e-mail application should include the following:

1. Faculty name, position, and department
2. A description of your writing project and project status (i.e., early planning, drafting, ready for feedback, etc.)
3. A description of how the Writing Retreat would help you move your project forward.

For more information, contact Kate Tirabassi, Center for Writing Director (ktirabassi@keene.edu).