Council of Writing Program Adminstration Guidelines for
WPA/WAC/Writing Center Job Descriptions
The following list of Writing Program Administration duties is adapted from “The Portland
Resolution,” a set of guidelines for Writing Program Administration Positions adopted by the
Council of Writing Program Administrators in 1992. If you are applying for a WPA position
anywhere in the United States, make sure you read the whole resolution, and use it as the basis
for constructing your contract.
 Scholarship of Administration:
o Remain cognizant of current developments in teaching, research, and scholarship
in rhetoric, composition, and program administration
o Pursue scholarship of teaching and curriculum design as part of the essential work
of the WPA
 Teaching:
o Teaching a for-credit graduate course in the teaching of writing
o Grading student papers
o Studying new teaching pedagogies
o Reading and reviewing new teaching materials
o Holding student office hours
o Conducting student conferences
 Faculty Development and Other Teaching:
o Designing or teaching faculty development seminars
o Training tutors
o Supervising teaching assistants and writing staff
o Evaluating teaching performance: observing and evaluating TAs and adjunct
faculty in class; reviewing syllabuses and course policy statements; reviewing
comments on student essays and grading practices
o Preparing workshops and materials, conducting workshops, and conducting
follow-up meetings
 Writing Program Development:
o Designing curricula and course syllabi
o Standardizing and monitoring course content
o Serving on or chairing departmental committees on writing
o Initiating or overseeing WAC programs
o Developing teaching resource materials/library
o Interviewing and hiring new faculty and staff
o Selecting and evaluating textbooks (which may include establishing and
supervising a textbook committee; maintaining a liaison with the bookstore;
ensuring that orders are properly placed)
 Writing Assessment, Writing Program Assessment, and Accountability:
o Coordinating assessment and placement of students in appropriate writing courses
o Administering writing placement exams and diagnostics (this may include
creating and testing an appropriate instrument, acting as second reader for
instructors, notifying the Registrar and instructors of any change in placements)
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o Administering competency, equivalency or challenge exams
o Creating, or having access to, a database of information on enrollments, faculty
and student performance
o Administering student evaluations of teachers
o Evaluating data on student retention, grade distribution, grade inflation,
enrollment trends
o Reporting to supervisors, chairs, deans, etc.
o Conducting program reviews and self-studies
Registration and Scheduling:
o Determining numbers of sections to be offered
o Evaluating enrollment trends
o Staffing courses
o Monitoring registration
Office Management:
o Supervising writing program office and secretary and staff
o Supervising maintenance of office equipment and supplies
o Managing writing center staff
Counseling and Advising:
o Arbitrating grade disputes and resolving teacher and student complaints, such as
placement, plagiarism, grade appeals, scheduling problems (which may include
acting as liaison with the appropriate office)
o Writing letters of recommendation for graduate students, adjuncts,and tutors
Articulation:
o Coordinating writing courses and instruction with other academic support services
(e.g., study skills center)
o Coordinating with English as a Second Language programs
o Coordinating with remedial/developmental programs
o Coordinating with high school (AP, CLEP, concurrent enrollment) programs
o Coordinating with English Education programs
o Revising and updating any publications of the writing program
o Discussing the writing program with administrators, publishers' representatives,
parents, prospective students
Coordinating Graduate Student Development
o Teacher training
o Visiting Professor Series and interactions
o Administering proficiency exams and/or Comps exams
o Serving on Committees on Studies and Dissertation committees
o Direct Mentoring
o Support of new ABDs in job searches
Director of Rhetoric & Writing (Fall 2008; Updated Fall 2010)
 Coordinates with Director of Core Writing
 Collaborates with R&W Faculty
 Reports to Department Chair
Scope (oversight):
 Rhetoric & Writing Courses (upper division & graduate)
 R&W Program Development (BA & MA level)
 Advising (R&W Undergrad & Grad)
 R&W Program Assessment
 Outreach (Interdepartmental, CAPS/Writing Center)
 WAC Program Development
 WAC Resources & Professional Development
 TA Development (coordinated with Director of Core Writing)
 R&W Faculty Development
 R&W Lecturer Mentorship
 R&W Course Scheduling
 R&W (WAC & CRS) Budget Management
 R&W Meetings (Coordination)
 Member of Graduate Studies Committee (R&W Graduate Admissions)
 WAC Outreach (University & Community)
 CAPS/Writing Center Tutor Training & Liaison
 WAC Alliance Faculty Advisor
 R&W Graduate Student Professional Development (Research & Travel)
 R&W Graduate Student Recruitment and Mentorship
 National Outreach, Recruitment & UNM Profile (Professional Development: CCCC,
WPA, RSA, IWCA, WAC)
 Mentor new R&W tenure-line faculty (assistant-associate professors);
 Supervise and mentor lecturer-line faculty.
Rhetoric & Writing/WAC GA (1) Duties:
 R&W/WAC Newsletter (each semester)
 R&W & WAC website content management
 WAC Week/WOW Support
 WAC Alliance Liaison
 Writing Center Liaison
 Secretary to university-level WAC Advisory Committee
 Online WAC support (departmental writing intensive course models & materials)
 TA/Faculty Development Program Support
 TA Orientation Support
 CAPS Orientation Support
 Weekly R&W Director Meeting participation