Changing a curriculum is already stressful enough without finding new ways to create anxiety, discontent, and rancor. To provide a truly integrated liberal education, the author contends that educators must not only change their curricula--the courses they offer--but they must change what they do in the classroom, the kinds of papers and…

2009 is the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Naturally, historians are thrilled. But what about their discipline? Why and how might Lincoln matter to English studies? In this article, the authors reflect on Lincoln and his influence on English studies. They argue that Lincoln has played or can play an important role in the college English…

Originally published in a 1984 issue of "College English," Stephen North's article "The Idea of a Writing Center" has over the years been much cited in writing center scholarship. Even so, this scholarship as a whole did not proceed to gain much presence in "CE" and other broadly-oriented composition journals. Reconsidering North's piece, the…

A symposium in the November 2006 issue of "College English" addresses the question, "What should college English be?" In this article, the author presents his answer to this question--it should be a functional approach to English studies. By English studies he means everything that is done in English departments. Most English departments teach…

A former English department chairman looks back with optimism at the state of English education since 1930 and discusses how it might be of use in developing future curricula. (HTH)

Suggests that educational trends indicate that English departments should redefine faculty recruiting away from competing with other departments and toward competing with the other interests that seek public funding. (RS)

An outside evaluator can help an institution open up dialogue and bring about change by focusing the attention of top administrators, faculty, and students on goals seen as important by groups within the institution. Bringing in an outside evaluator to colleges and universities, English departments and writing programs, can be a touchy, often…

Discusses the process of external reviewing of faculty for tenure and promotion and lists the obligations of the institution requesting the review as follows: timeliness of notice, payment and working conditions, and protection following review. Mentions the reviewer's obligations. (AEA)

Suggests that genre and time-line college literature courses give way to thematic courses and cooperative courses within other departments. (FL)

Satirizes college English instruction, specifically "catchy" composition programs and the relevant grant awards and job placement of graduate students. (JM)

Discusses the state of English studies, focusing on the literary canon, literature and other disciplines, the function of theory, and the politics of literature. (MM)

Describes the joys and frustrations of serving as head of a university English department. (AEA)

Argues that composition cannot be taught apart from reading, that reading means only the reading of great writing, and that the teaching of reading and writing is best handled by people who have studied literature and created some themselves. Offers suggestions for the improvement of the undergraduate English curriculum. (FL)

Presents reasons for interested undergraduates to major in English and points out useful skills developed by English majors. Emphasizes the importance of English department involvement in the career planning of its students, and details the steps undertaken by the University of Massachusetts English department to help its students. (JM)

Applies the ruling strategies from Machiavelli's "The Prince" to the job of successfully holding the position of English department chairperson. (HTH)