About the Howe Writing Initiative
"Knowledge may not be quite enough, especially with the explosion in communications.
The ability to write and speak clearly is the mark of an educated professional."--Kate
Ronald, The Howe Professor
The Howe Professorship in Written Communication was established by Roger
and Joyce L. Howe in 1996. The first Howe Professor, Kate Ronald, joined the
faculty at Miami University in the Fall of 1996. She teaches in the English
department and works with faculty in the School of Business to integrate writing
fully into disciplinary learning.
This professorship is a testament to the Richard T. Farmer School of Business
Administration's commitment to graduating students who are thoroughly prepared
for the challenges of business in the 21st century. Endowed by generous alumni,
and supported by the faculty, the Howe professorship illustrates the faculty's
willingness to think in broad interdisciplinary ways that mirror the challenges
of modern professional settings. The Howe writing initiative also enacts the
reciprocal relationship between knowledge and action. Many schools and universities
hear complaints about student writing and the burden of teaching writing;
few do much about it. With the Howe professorship and writing initiative,
Miami University's School of Business now has a method for action and a real
hope for change.
One of the most important and exciting outcomes from the Spring semester 1997
is the newly-adopted plan for integrating writing across the entire School
of Business curriculum. Professor Ronald worked with the Committee on Oral
and Written Communication, who drafted this plan; the Committee presented
it to each department in January and February, received extensive and challenging
feedback, revised and brought it back to the faculty who approved the plan
at their final meeting in May. The committee members were Kevin McNeilly (Marketing),
Chair; Hugh Hoyt (Accounting); Rick O'Connell (Decision Sciences); Kay Snavely
(Management); Lynette Unger (Dean's Liaison). They are to be commended for
their tenacious and imaginative work. This plan shows that the faculty has
made a serious and long-term commitment to improving writing instruction,
and with this plan, we have a strategy for working together rather than simply
talking or hoping (or complaining). Please examine the resulting plan for
integrating writing into our curriculum.
Current Howe Initiative News:
Howe Assistant, Meredith Love will be improving
on this site throughout the year. We expect to add to our current resources
for students, faculty, and business professionals. Please feel free to stop
by when you're near Upham 19 (529-1581) or Laws 14 (529-8296). Our office
hours for spring semester are: Meredith Love (19 Upham) Monday 10:00-12:00,
Thursday 11:00-1:00; Moira Miller (19 Upham) Tuesday 9:30-11:30, Thursday
9:00-10:00; Connie Kendall (14 Laws) Wednesday 10:00-12:00, Thursday 12:00-2:00.
Also, be absolutely sure to read Kate's Column. We are currently accepting
proposals for guest columns and have published a recent guest column by Tim
Melley, English Department. If you are interested, please drop us a note at
ronaldkj@miavx1.muohio.edu.
More about the Howe Initiative: