Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 5 of The Illinois Commitment
Partnerships with Universities to Develop Community College Writing Teachers
College of DuPage
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
As an increasing number of students begin their college studies at community colleges with plans to transfer, it
is important to work with universities to ensure the quality of our core curriculum courses, especially writing,
which is a foundational skill for academic and professional success. In our partnership with universities,
students who are completing their graduate work in English and who have training in composition theory and
practice teach one class for us with close supervision and mentoring. The benefits are many: our students are
taught by interns who are up-to-date on the most current research, theory, and practice in composition studies.
The university interns are able to bring back to their institutions real-world experience to share with faculty and
fellow-students in preparation for teaching careers.
Description of the effective practice:
We work with graduate directors to identify students who are completing their Master’s programs, who have
had training in composition studies, and who have an interest in community college teaching. These students
often have prior teaching experience as well. We then interview prospective interns, review their vita and
transcripts, discuss their training, pedagogical approaches, experiences, etc., and our writing program objectives.
Prior to the start of the class, we meet with their university mentors as well because we work with them to
supervise the interns as they plan and develop their syllabi. We work with interns, discussing the most effective
approaches, helping them select texts and design a syllabus. When the term begins, we generally have regular
discussions with the interns about their classes, review graded papers, suggest ways of handling challenging
situations, etc. There are also classroom observations and follow-up discussions. When the term is over, interns
submit an extensive report to their graduate advisors, which we also receive. It discusses not only the
effectiveness of the course design, difficulties and successes, etc., but also suggestions about ways that College
of DuPage and the universities can work together even more effectively.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
We have been working with National-Louis University for the past year and have begun a partnership with
DePaul University. Because of the positive benefits of these partnerships, we have plans not only to continue
the internships but to explore other ways in which we can work together, such as invited lecture series and
writers’ workshops, etc.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
These partnerships have the following outcomes:
• They initiate conversations about best practices in teaching composition to growing numbers of students who
begin their academic careers at community colleges.
• They heighten our students’ awareness of university expectations, which helps ensure their success when
they transfer.
• They facilitate transfers to institutions participating in these partnerships.
• They develop a highly-trained pool of potential instructors for both part-time and full-time positions.
Contact Information
Name: Sheryl Mylan
Email: mylans@cod.edu
Phone: (630) 942-3262
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