Back to the Current Issue
From Vision to Reality
Creating a new emphasis
for the Professional Writing Minor
By Robert Ambrose
Given UCSB's dedication to academics, you would think that creating a few writing courses would be easy. It isn't. It has taken six years to create and implement the Professional Writing Minor's third emphasis. The Business Communication emphasis is finally here.
Meeting the Demand
It all started years ago when the Writing program's directors and 109EC faculty realized the growing demand for theory-into-practice business classes. Although students could take writing courses, their desire to further their writing abilities was never satisfied. For example, many students who took Writing 109EC were introduced to business writing and had the opportunity to enhance their entrepreneurial abilities, but were not given the option to learn more advanced material.
In response, courses like Writing 110EC, an expansion of 109EC business writing principles, were created. As 110EC classes were offered, writing directors and 109EC faculty became increasingly conscious of the powerful communication skills 110EC students were developing. With Dr. LeeAnne Kryder leading the way, the Writing faculty began to consider a new emphasis in business communication for the professional writing minor.
Filling Out the Paperwork
It sounded like good idea to many people in the Writing department but they wanted to take this idea to the students. In an opinion poll given to 109EC classes, students reported their desire for a new writing minor with emphasis on professional communication.
But, hurdles still needed to be climbed to create this new minor. Given the budget constraints of the Writing program, Dr. Kryder and other lecturers knew developing a third emphasis required a long and rigorous process with the college bureaucracy.
Looking Towards the Future
Numerous years, several meetings, and a business proposal later, the Writing Program is getting its first look at its vision. Dr. Kryder is leading nineteen accomplished student writers into a series of courses where they will be polished into tip-top writing shape. Her goals for students are simple: fine-tune current writing skills, learn new writing techniques, and develop realistic expectations of the workplace.
Although it has taken six years to create this emphasis, the hard work is not over. Several obstacles still remain for this fledgling program. It still lacks enough money to provide students with a lab facility and a budget to create professional-grade publications.
Nevertheless, Dr. Kryder's commitment is already reflecting in her Business Communication students. Portfolios are growing, skills are being refined, and students are becoming more confident about their post-graduation aspirations. There is no doubt that this long-cherished vision will shape current and future students into successful professionals.