Call for Proposals (2018)

The 2018 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

on College Composition and Communication (CCCC):

Theme: Inclusive Composition Practices, Processes, and Pedagogies

Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA | Friday May 25, 2018

The 2nd Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference on College Composition and Communication is seeking proposals that address the conference’s broad theme: Inclusive Composition Practices, Processes and Pedagogies. As part of the national conversation about inclusive teaching, we seek presentations that explore various approaches to inclusivity in the writing classroom.

According to Anastasia Liasidou (2012), “Inclusive education reflects values and principles and is concerned with challenging the ways in which educational systems reproduce and perpetuate social inequalities with regard to marginalised and excluded groups of students across a range of abilities, characteristics, developmental trajectories, and socioeconomic circumstances.” In planning this conference, we are defining inclusivity in the classroom as a conscious affirmation of all people regardless of their culture, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disabilities, marital status, legal status, race, nationality, religion, and/or socioeconomic status. We hope to foster a bias-free environment in our classrooms by bringing attention to issues of equity and justice for faculty, staff, and students.  We seek presentations about composition practices, processes and pedagogies that challenge us think more critically about these values and beliefs.

This intentionally broad interpretation of inclusivity might include (but is not limited to) the following sub-themes:

Proposed sub-themes may include:

• Strategies for Engendering Inclusive Classroom Discussion
• Navigating Complex Social or Political Issues
• Activism in the Composition Classroom
• Inclusive Lesson Planning and or Course Policies
• Inclusive Course Design/Universal Course Design
• Inclusive Faculty Development Practices
• Teaching extraverted and introverted students
• Creating Equity through Alternative Literacies
• Providing for Special Needs of All Kinds
• Empowering Minority Student Voices (LGBTQ+, Muslim, undocumented, incarcerated,etc.)
• Intersectionality and Critical Pedagogy
• Fostering Inclusion and Diversity in Online Courses
• Social Justice/Inclusion as Course Theme or Focus
• Creating Inclusive Assignments
• Teaching Undocumented Students
• Fostering Inclusivity in Writing Centers

Proposal Deadline

Proposals are due by Friday January 26, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. (EST)

Presentation Formats

We seek proposals for presentations that will engage the audience through discussion and/or active participation. Presentations may be in the following formats, but we encourage unique formats as well:

• Individual or Small Group: Individual and small group presentations will be 25 minutes, including discussion. Please be mindful that audience participation is a conference goal.
• Panel: Groups of 4-6 presenters will submit one proposal around a stated theme. It is the expectation of the conference organizers that the panel participants will include their own Chair (who will introduce the participants, frame the issue, and maintain awareness of time). Panels will be 50 minutes.
• Unique Format: Alternative proposals that may not necessarily fit into the above listed categories might include workshops, multimodal/multimedia presentations, or performances. Please specify 25 or 50 minutes or if you could do either time frame.

Proposal Submission

Please submit using THIS LINK.

Contact Information  

For further information, please contact Jessica Gordon at jbgordon@vcu.edu

Conference Co-Directors:

·      Jessica Gordon, Department of Focused Inquiry, Virginia Commonwealth University

Liasidou,A (2012) Inclusive education and critical pedagogy at the intersections of disability, race, gender and class. Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies, 10, 1, 168-184.