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WRITING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

The Writing Program comprises First-Year Writing courses, Advanced Writing in the Disciplines courses, and the Writing Center.

Director of the Writing Program: Laurie Nardone l.nardone@northeastern.edu
Director of the Writing Center: Kat Gonso k.gonso@northeastern.edu
Director of Advanced Writing: Cecelia Musselman c.musselman@northeastern.edu
Director of First-Year Writing: Kelly Garneau k.garneau@northeastern.edu
Director of Multilingual Writing: Qianqian Zhang-Wu q.zhang-wu@northeastern.edu

Assistant Director to the Writing Program, Nina Mouawad mouawad.n@northeastern.edu
Assistant Director to the Writing Center, Rachel McIntosh mcintosh.r@northeastern.edu

LEARNING GOALS

Rhetorical Practices

  • Students write both to learn and to communicate what they learn.
  • Students negotiate their own writing goals and audience expectations regarding genre, context, and situation.
  • Students formulate and articulate a stance through and in their writing.
  • Students reflect on their writing processes and self-assess as writers.

Engagement with Critical Perspectives

  • Students explore diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas–such as intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, class, language, and ability–in campus, societal, disciplinary, professional, or historical contexts.
  • Students engage in activities that help them understand and critique systemic inequity to foster a commitment to justice at Northeastern and globally.

Use of Sources and Evidence

  • Students generate and pursue lines of inquiry and search for, collect, and select sources that effectively support their writing projects.
  • Students effectively use and cite sources in their writing.
  • Students use multiple forms of evidence to support their claims, ideas, and arguments.
  • Students practice critical reading strategies.

Revision

  • Students provide feedback to their peers to help them revise.
  • Students revise their writing using responses from others, including peers, teachers, writing center tutors, and community members.

WRITING PROGRAM POLICIES

Security and Privacy in Online Learning
The Northeastern writing program strives to maintain your privacy while learning in online environments. For this reason, our instructors use one of Northeastern’s Learning Managements Systems: Canvas and Blackboard.

We also ask that all students in Writing Program classes must use their Northeastern email addresses to receive email from their instructors and to access sites for their writing courses. This policy ensures your emails will not mistakenly end-up in a spam folder and protects you against security attacks.

Minimum Grade Requirement to Pass a Writing Program course
A student must receive a grade of C or better in order to pass a required writing courses in the writing program (C is required for graduation). Any student earning a C- or lower will need to repeat the course in order to fulfill the writing requirement. The instructor makes the final decision with respect to any grade between A and C. Any student receiving lower than a C will be reviewed and signed off on by a committee of 3-6 Writing Program instructors or a writing program director.

If the university allows students to select the pass/fail grading option for writing program courses, students must receive the equivalent of a “pass” to fulfill the writing requirement.

Grade Appeals
Students who wish to appeal final course grades, should follow the policy outlined in the student handbook:http://www.northeastern.edu/osccr/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-2020-UG-Handbook.pdf

Attendance
According to the official Northeastern University Attendance Requirements, students have the right to a limited number of excused absences for conditions, including absences due to specific university-sponsored activities, religious holidays, military deployment, and jury duty.

Writing classes require regular engagement with the class materials and the instructor. In all courses, “attendance” refers to regular, ongoing participation in discussions, weekly posted work, and other assignments. Students must also maintain regular communication with the course instructor. We understand that occasionally access may be limited, but you should stay in contact with your instructor to let them know about any accessibility issues.

Please note that University Health and Counseling Services will not issue documentation of students’ illnesses or injuries.

Attendance in Hybrid NUflex Class. Hybrid NUflex classes offer a great deal of flexibility because they can be accessed remotely as well as on-ground. Unlike in online classes, however, students enrolled in Hybrid NUflex classes should expect to meet in their scheduled class sequences. Students should expect to spend time on preparation, synchronous class attendance, and assignments.

You may attend a Hybrid NUflex class in person or virtually; your semester may include a combination of these forms of attendance. If you are attending a Hybrid NUflex class virtually, here are some things to do before class begins:

  • To the best of your ability, find a location free from distractions to attend your class.
  • To the best of your ability, ensure that you have adequate internet capacity to complete assigned tasks, download materials, and participate online. If at any time you do not have adequate internet access, let your instructor know. (If you have a temporary technical problem, please call the Help desk at 617-373-4357, or email them at help@northeastern.edu.)
  • Gather materials (headset, pens, paper, textbooks).
  • Login early to test your camera and microphone.
  • Follow the guidelines for online etiquette and participation set by your instructor.
  • Your instructor will let you know whether a class is being recorded. Recording of classes, in whole or in part, is at the discretion of the instructor and with students’ permission.

Late Submissions of Written Work
Unless you have an accommodation provided by the Disability Resource Center that allows you extra time to complete an assignment or have discussed an extension with your instructor, you are expected to submit all materials by the assigned due date.

Academic Integrity
Northeastern University is committed to the principles of intellectual honesty and integrity: the Northeastern Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy may be found at http://www.northeastern.edu/osccr/academic-integrity-policy/

The Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSSCR) website (http://www.northeastern.edu/osccr/) provides extensive information on student conduct, the disciplinary process, and the range of available sanctions. All members of the Northeastern community are expected to maintain complete honesty in all academic work, presenting only that which is their own work in tests and assignments. In writing program classes, this definition of plagiarism applies not only to borrowing whole documents, but also to borrowing parts of another’s work without proper acknowledgment and proper paraphrasing or quotation. We will discuss effective and responsible use of sources throughout the semester.

Respecting Diversity
Writing program instructors seek to foster inclusive learning environments and cherish our students’ multilingual funds of knowledge. That means, we respect differences in learning as well as cultural differences that arise during classroom interactions. We expect students in writing program classes to respect diverse perspectives.

We respect any privacy concerns students may have, regarding joining classes remotely from overseas, country/region-specific accessibility issues, English language difficulties, and culturally informed genre styles. If you are a multilingual student and have specific concerns and questions, contact Professor Qianqian Zhang-Wu, Director of Multilingual Writing, at q.zhang-wu@northeastern.edu

Collection of Student Work for Program Assessment
Your instructor may be asked to submit one or more samples of your writing to the Writing Program Assessment Committee for the purpose of program assessment. Student work is randomly selected and used solely for the purpose of program-level assessment. Looking at student writing from a programmatic perspective helps us improve our program. Student writing collected for this purpose is never circulated outside the Writing Program for any reason. We report only aggregate data to those outside the program; no teachers or students are identified in these reports. If you have any questions or concerns about our program assessment, feel free to contact Professor Laurie Nardone, Writing Program Director, at l.nardone@northeastern.edu.

Technology Assistance
Canvas is Northeastern University’s Learning Management System (LMS). For technology issues, please call the Northeastern HELP desk (617-373-4357) or email them at help@northeastern.edu. For Canvas Help,

COVID-19 UNIVERSITY RESOURCES and POLICIES

Masks and Physical Distancing
Because of the necessary distancing imposed by COVID-19, we will have fewer occasions on
campus to create and enjoy in-person spaces for learning and growth. In order for us to preserve
the opportunities offered by class meetings, students and instructors in the classroom must at all
times follow the mandatory campus protocols for COVID-19 safety, including:

  • Masks must be worn by students and instructors in classrooms and all other buildings;
  • Six feet of distance must be maintained between persons;
  • Students may come to class each week only on the days indicated by their Student Hub plan;
  • Students must adhere to campus self-monitoring and testing protocols and should not come to class if they have any symptoms of illness.

For the sake of all our safety, if you come to class without a mask, your teacher will direct you to the closest building where you can obtain one, after which you may return to class. If you are not able or willing to wear a mask, you may not be present in the classroom. If you come to class on a day on which you are not scheduled to be in the classroom, your teacher will ask you to leave. In the unlikely event that any member of the class is unable or unwilling to comply with these mandatory safety precautions, the class will not be able to take place.

Online Resources During COVID-19
Following are student resources for this period of remote learning.

The links below contain updated information on Northeastern’s Response to COVID-19.

WRITING PROGRAM and UNIVERSITY RESOURCES

The Writing Center
The Northeastern University Writing Center offers free and friendly tutoring and for any level of writer, including help with conceptualizing writing projects, the writing process (i.e., planning, researching, organizing, drafting, and revising), and using sources effectively. During the spring semester, the Writing Center will be remote, providing online only services via our tutoring platform WCOnline (details on how to register and use WCOnline here). The Writing Center will offer online appointments during the Summer I and II semesters from May 17 to June 24 and July 12 to August 22. To make an appointment, or learn more about the Writing Center, visit our website at
https://www.northeastern.edu/writingcenter, or email WritingCenter@northeastern.edu. For writing tips and updates about the Writing Center, follow us on Facebook at NUWritingCenter and Twitter @NU_Writes.

Peer Tutoring
The Peer Tutoring Program offers a wide range of tutoring services to meet the academic needs of the undergraduate students by providing FREE peer tutoring in many of the introductory level courses including NUpath. The goal is to create synergy among students, faculty, and tutors where the student’s personal and academic growth and development is a priority. Students can book one-on-one or small group tutoring sessions through myNortheastern on the Self-Service page under TUTORING.

The Peer Tutoring Program will be offering tutoring online. Students can still request tutoring through myNortheastern on the Self-Service page under TUTORING. The online sessions will be generated through GoBoard. Now that The Peer Tutoring Program will be online, hours will also be more flexible.

If you are in need of academic assistance, contact the Peer Tutoring Program. For more information see https://undergraduate.northeastern.edu/peer-tutoring/ or email peertutoring@northeastern.edu.

International Tutoring Center
The International Tutoring Center (ITC) provides current Northeastern University international students with free, comprehensive English language and academic support. The ITC includes English as a Second Language Tutoring (ESL), Language and Culture Workshops, and Reading Workshops. For more information on available workshops and tutoring opportunities please visit https://cps.northeastern.edu/academic-resources/global-student-success/international-tutoring.

Snell Library
Snell library access is limited to current Northeastern University students, faculty, and staff with a valid Husky ID. For library resources, see the following link for ways to contact librarians, access resources, and for the most recent library news: https://library.northeastern.edu/accessing-northeastern-university-librarys-resources-and-services

Disability Resource Center
The University’s Disability Resource Center works with students and faculty to provide students who qualify under the Americans With Disabilities Act with accommodations that allow them to participate fully in the activities at the university. Ordinarily, students receiving such accommodations will deliver teacher notification letters at the beginning of the semester. Students have the right to disclose or not disclose their disabilities to their instructors. For more information about the DRC, go to http://www.northeastern.edu/drc/.

WeCare
WeCare is a program operated through the Office for Student Affairs. The mission is to assist students experiencing unexpected challenges to maintaining their academic progress. WeCare works with students to coordinate among university offices and to offer appropriate on and off campus referrals to support successfully resolving the issue. WeCare also provides information to faculty and staff to identify Northeastern resources and policies to help students succeed.

The WeCare program is located in the Student Affairs Office in 104 Ell Hall. For more information see https://studentlife.northeastern.edu/we-care/. Call 617.373.4384 or email wecare@northeastern.edu.

Mental Health Resources
In addition to existing mental health resources available through Northeastern’s University Health and Counseling Services (https://www.northeastern.edu/uhcs/counseling-services/), Northeastern has added Find@Northeastern, which is a “24/7 mental health support” and can be reached at 1-877-223-9477. For more information see https://www.northeastern.edu/uhcs/find-at-northeastern/. The service also makes available 5 free counseling sessions per Fall and Spring semester.

Title IX Protections and Resources
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects individuals from sex or gender-based discrimination, including discrimination based on gender-identity, in educational programs and activities that receive federal funding.

Any NU community member who has experienced such discrimination, sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, coercion, and/or sexual harassment, is encouraged to seek help. Confidential support and guidance can be found through University Health and Counseling Services staff and the Center for Spiritual Dialogue and Service clergy members. For reporting options and clarity on confidential and non-confidential options, please see Boston Campus Resources and Reporting Options.

Faculty members are considered “responsible employees” at Northeastern University, meaning they are required to report all allegations of sex or gender-based discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator. For additional information and assistance please see the Title IX page.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLISHING

NU Writing is an online journal that publishes compositions made in First-Year Writing and Advanced Writing in the Disciplines, courses that are part of Northeastern University’s Writing Program. NU Writing helps students to find a wider audience for their compositions and to experience publishing, both by learning about the submission and review process and by participating on the journal’s board. Compositions published in NU Writing are alphabetic and multimodal—written in verse or prose, or composed in multiple modalities, such as image and sound. NU Writing welcomes traditional essays as well as texts from alternate genres: for example, poems, photo-essays, digital narratives, and films. All currently matriculated students who have taken, or are taking, courses in the Writing Program are encouraged to participate, by submitting a composition or serving on the journal’s board or both.

Any undergraduate may submit a composition made in First-Year Writing or Advanced Writing in the Disciplines if she or he is enrolled at Northeastern University at the time of submission. For more information visit http://www.northeastern.edu/writing/nu-writing-journal/ Any questions may be emailed to the Assistant Director to the Writing Program.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We recognize these lands as the traditional homelands of the Mashpee Wampanoag and the Aquinnah (a-QWIN-ah) Wampanoag, among many other indigenous peoples.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of 2,600 enrolled citizens located on Cape Cod is also known as the People of the First Light. They have inhabited present day Massachusetts and Eastern Rhode Island for more than 12,000 years. After an arduous process lasting more than three decades, the Mashpee Wampanoag were re-acknowledged as a federally recognized tribe in 2007. In 2015, the federal government declared 150 acres of land in Mashpee and 170 acres of land in Taunton as the Tribe’s initial reservation, on which the Tribe can exercise its full tribal sovereignty rights.” (https://mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/)

We recognize the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, MA. “The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) received Federal Acknowledgement as an Indian Tribe in 1987, creating a government-to-government relationship with the U.S. federal government. Currently 1364 citizens are enrolled, of which 319 live on Martha’s Vineyard and 98 live on tribal lands in the Town of Aquinnah and the remainder live throughout the U.S.A.” (https://www.wampanoagtribe.org/)

The New England area includes many more indigenous peoples and their nations, such as the Nipmuc and Massachusett, the Pequot (PEE-quot), Mi’kmaq, Mohegan, Penobscot, and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (hoe-dee-no-SHOW-nee) to name a few. In recognizing these lands as the original homelands of indigenous peoples, we acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land on which we gather.