Announcing the 2005-2006 CCCC Research Initiative Projects

In late spring, the Conference on College Composition and Communication put out a call for projects for a research initiative to support new meta-analytical research by providing selected researchers funding of up to $5,000 and an opportunity for these researchers to gather to share ideas and receive advice.  This program aims to create an opportunity for researchers to bring together what the profession has already learned, through a variety of methodologies, regarding the teaching and study of composition, rhetoric, and literacy.  The purposes of these synthesis projects are (1) to articulate what is known about the teaching of composition at this moment in time, and (2) to provide a foundation for public policy discussions, large grant proposals, and future research.

Three grants were awarded for 2005-2006.  The recipients of these grants, who are listed below, will meet this fall at the NCTE Annual Convention in Pittsburgh to collaborate and discuss their research projects.  They will meet a second time in March 2006 at the CCCC Conference in Chicago to present some of their work.

CCCC Research Initiative Projects and Researchers

“Community Impacts of Service-Learning in Writing Courses”

Melody Bowdon, University of Central Florida, Orlando
Maggie Boreman, University of Central Florida, Orlando

“Large-Scale Second-Language Writing Assessment”

Beth Lewis Samuelson, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant
Mary Ann Crawford, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant
Susan Dyste, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant
Heidi Vellenga, Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Michigan
Judy Youngquist, Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Michigan
Diane Boehm, Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Michigan
Barry Alford, Mid Michigan Community College, Mt. Pleasant

“TYCA National Research Initiative”

Jody Millward, Santa Barbara City College, California
Leslie Roberts, Oakland Community College, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community College, Connecticut