Notable 1980s Events

Connors hired (1983)

UNH Conference

• NH School Boards Association Conference: Learning to Write, Writing to Learn (9/30/81)
• Center for Educational Field Services, Learning to Write, Writing to Learn (April 3, 1982) 
• UNH Conference, 1984: Relating Reading and Writing in the College Years, October 12-14, 1984 (see 1984-85 Annual Review p. 5 & 7)
• UNH Conference, 1986: New Directions in Composition Scholarship, Oct 10-12, 1986 (see UNH Fall Conferences Folder in 1980s)
• Connors, Linda Flower, Shirley Brice Heath, Andrea Lunsford, C.H. Knoblauch, Tate, Edward P.J. Corbett, Herrington, Schwegler, Selzer, Nancie Atwell, Berkenkotter, Enos, Graves (`)
• UNH Conference, 1987: Research in Composition (see 1985-86 Annual Review, p. 4)
• UNH Conference, 1988: Composition Scholarship Conference, Oct (Newkirk Annual Review, 1989)
• UNH Conference, 1989: October 28, 1989 (see 1989 Annual Review)
• UNH Conference, 1992: October 9-11, 1992

Doctoral Program in Reading/Writing

• This spring [1982] the group [Writing Process Lab) has also been working on a proposal for a doctoral program in Reading and Writing. (Carnicelli Annual Review, 1981-82).
• Mention of this in Tom's 1981-82 Vita
• Mention of first graduates in May 1988 (see Graves Letter to Palmer, 1987 in Newkirk)
• Tom lists his participation in an "interdepartmental committee to design a Ph.D. in Reading/Writing instruction, 1980-83)
• Proposal for program submitted to trustees for approval on 4/28/84 (Newkirk Annual Review 1983-84)
• Started accepting students 84-85 (see 1986 Memo to Stuart Palmer)
• See the Proposal, in folder 1980s/1982 Proposal for PhD. In particular, to help make the case for UNH's reputation, etc. see p. 7-9 of the proposal--VERY HELPFUL!)
• The core faculty for the program will be four persons from the Department of Education, three from the English Department, and one from the Psychology Department (it does not include Appendix C which tells who the people are) (Reading/Writing PhD Proposal)

PhD in Composition and Literature (1984)

• This fall I have also begun to work on the committees of the first doctoral students who are choosing the option to complete a dissertation in composition. (Newkirk Annual Review, 1981-82)
• In 1984 I worked with the Graduate Committee to establish the PhD in Comp and Lit and I have been heavily involved in all aspects of that program (Newkirk CV 1989)
• We would like to recruit new students for the option next year, so that the first two might come in the fall of 1986. (Doctoral Program Comp/1985 DePorte Letters)

New Hampshire Writing Program (grant won: 1980- ; first summer: 1981)

• (see Carnicelli Annual Review, 1982-83)
• a national program which attracted 122 teachers from 25 states and 6 Canadian provinces (Newkirk, 1987-88 vita)
• $150,000 grant from NEH. Two three-week summer institutes with follow-up visits to teachers (Newkirk's 1981-82 Vita) 
• $225,000 NEH (Newkirk's 1987-88 Vita)
• merged with Summer Studies program, begun by Donald Murray (Newkirk Vita 1989)
• After the first two years of the NEH grant the NHWP has been funded by tuition payments from participants and has in the past few years made a sizable contribution to the English Department's operating budget. (1989 CV)
• Ran as Tuition Course (grant ran out) for the first time in summer 1983 (Newkirk Annual Review 1983-84)
• 39 participants in 1983; hoping for 55 in 1984, first time ever national advertisement for the course--20 states, 6 provinces in Canada--"This far-flung and enthusiastic response to the program is one more indication of the reputation of UNH has as a leader in writing instruction" (Newkirk Annual Review 1983-84)
• Newkirk was involved in the Exeter Writing Project, out of Exeter Academy, and gained experience in running a summer program via his work there (Newkirk Annual Review, 1980-81)
• First year they receive 185 applications for 60 spots (Newkirk, Annual Review, 1980-81)
• Initially the program will include two three-week summer institutes, for teachers (K-12) and administrators. "The summer programs will deal with improving the participants' ability to write and with teaching them practical techniques for teaching writing." (Newkirk, Annual Review, 1980-81)
• UNH PR Announcement
• UNH Faculty Participants in first year of NEH seminar

Summer Studies Program

As of 1989 this is still running but apparently, see above, will be merged. I don't know much or enough about this program and when it began, etc. 

April Writing Conference (1982-87)

• These were regional conferences for classroom teachers attended by over 250 teachers each year (Newkirk CV, 1987-88)
• Mention again in Newkirk 1989 Annual Review
• "The Teaching Writing Conference" April 11, 1987 (Newkirk Annual Review 1986-87)
• Organized by the Center for Educational Field Studies, March 1984 (Newkirk Annual Review 1983-84)

Elliot Fund Grant

$300,000 Grant Proposal for the improvement of writing instruction in Freshman English  (1982-84) (Newkirk 1987-88 Vita)

MA Papers/PhDs

In my first years I did supervise five MA papers (Barry Moers, Margot Page, Donna Rubin, Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater, and Ian Mackenzie).

I have been the major advisor for three completed dissertations (Rick Branscomb, Lorri Nelson, and Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater), I am currently the major advisor for three others (Ann Vibert, Sherrie Gradin, Donna Rubin). I have been on the dissertation committees for three completed dissertations (Cindi Gannett, Ruth Hubbard, and Brenda Miller). And I am currently serving on the committees of Petty Murray, Judith Fueyo, and Meg Peterson. 

I also serve as major advisor to the following students who have not begun dissertation work: Amber Ahlstrom, Tom Romano, Dan Ling Fu, and Robin Lent. (Newkirk 1989 CV)

Dissertations Chaired (1989): Lorrie Neilson's, Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater, Donalee Rubin; all have been accepted for publication, all are from the Reading/Writing program (Annual Review, 1989)

Dissertation Committee Membership (1988): Ruth Hubbard and Brenda Miller (Newkirk Annual Review 1988-89)

First three Reading/Writing PhDs are: Ruth Hubbard, Brenda Miller, Lorri Neilsen (Newkirk Annual Review 1988-89)

In general, I feel that the Education is well ahead of the English Department Comp/Lit option. Their students are better read, more active participants in national conferences, and capable of producing better work. We have real work to do here. (Newkirk Annual Review 1988-89)

The first dissertations from this department have been successfully defended. I directed Rick Branscomb's dissertation and served on Cinthia Gannet's committee. I am directing Donna Rubin's dissertation in this department. (Newkirk Annual Review 1986-87)

Writing Process Laboratory

This year I was the interim director of the Writing Process Laboratory. This job entails handling requests for research information, requests for workshops and visitors who want to look at the data collected during the two years of Graves' study. I have, for example, spent considerable time with scholars from McGill University, SUNY Albany, and from several Australian universities. [...] I have also coordinated meetings of the Writing Process Laboratory, a group of faculty interested in reading and writing. (Newkirk Annual Review, 1980-81, p. 4)

Courses

English 710/810 offered for the first time (1979/80)--designed as an introductory course in the teaching of writing and English 817 became an advanced seminar in the teaching of writing. (Newkirk Annual Review, 1979-80).

NEH WAC Proposal (1983) -- see 1983 WAC Proposal

Amazing Number of Graduate Applications for 1986 (helps make the case for reputation section)--see Grad Applications for 1986 Memo in 1986 Memo on Grad Stats

Also see Gary Lindberg Folder in 1980s folder--don't forget what he says in his annual review doc.

Hires:

Andrew Merton (?)

Thomas Newkirk (1977)

Robert Connors (1984)--see Carnicelli Annual Review, 1983/84)--The search committee found the best young compositionist in America--R.J. Connors

1986-87 & 1987-88: Newkirk was apparently involved with searches during these years as well.

Pat Sullivan (1988) (Newkirk Annual Evaluation, Year?)