Structured as writing time with opportunities for individualized feedback, these 5-day retreats are an opportunity for faculty and staff to make extraordinary progress on a long writing project -- or several shorter ones. Writing center representatives will facilitate the retreats and be available to provide feedback to participants. 

We'll provide a work station, light snacks, and plenty of coffee and tea; you bring the materials you'll need to be productive on your writing project and your own laptop. Patrick Johnson, Director of the Writing Center, will be on hand to provide feedback if you'd like a personal consultation about your project.

Meet with a small group of your colleagues from across campus to share drafts of your writing for feedback. For more information, feel free to contact us with your questions and/or requests. 

Click here to view our Scholarly Writing Initiatives for Faculty & Staff flier for details. 

The mission of the Writing Center is to meet not only the needs of students, but those of all writers across the university. In order to attract a strong community of faculty/staff writers, we offer a number of services for use in their classrooms and with their own writing. If you're interested in joining up for the up-coming faculty retreat, please email Lisa Gullo at [email protected]. Space is limited, so reach out as soon as you can.

• Patrick Johnson, Director of the Fred Meijer Center for Writing will facilitate the retreat.
• The Center recommends bringing a laptop; however, limited desktop computers are available for use.
• The Center will provide writing resources and goal-setting activities to keep you focused.
• The Center will ensure you are well nourished and alert by providing snacks and drinks throughout the day and lunch at noon.
• Participants are expected to spend the full retreat day on writing or writing-related activities and join other participants for lunch each day.

• An optional Inventory planning sheet for the retreat; helps some writers make plans for what they want to accomplish each day. 
• Participants gather their ideas and materials and show up ready to write. 
• Guides, online and bookshelf resources, as well as other writing support are available throughout the retreat. 
• Each retreat day ends with reflection on individual writing goals and accomplishments.
• Participants tell us what they think of the retreat through our feedback form.

And here are some links to great pieces about writing as a faculty member:

• "Retreating Into the Center: Supporting Faculty and Staff as Writers," by Ellen Schendel, published in Writing Lab Newsletter.
• "Writing Group as Sanctuary," by Lisa Botshon and Eve Raimon, published in Chronicle of Higher Education.