I. Program Identification. Rationale. 1.1 Title of Proposed Graduate Certificate. 1.2 Departments Sponsoring the Certificate. 1.

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1 GRADUATE FACULTY COUNCIL DOC. NO. 908 Approved January 27, 2003 RECOMMENDATION OF THE GRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE AND THE FACULTY AND GRADUATE PROGRAM COMMITTEE OF THE COLLEGE OF LETTERS & SCIENCE TO ESTABLISH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND COMMUNICATION I. Program Identification 1.1 Title of Proposed Graduate Certificate Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing and Communication. 1.2 Departments Sponsoring the Certificate Department of English and Department of Communication. 1.3 College College of Letters and Science. 1.4 Timetable of Initiation Pending formal approval, recruitment of students will begin in Fall of 2002, with first applicants in Spring of 2003 entering the program in Fall of II. Rationale This proposed Graduate Certificate responds to the increasing demand for professional writers and communicators in business, technical communication, and many new areas related to information technology. The Society for Technical Communication, the largest such professional association with over 22,000 members, reports the following: Technical communication is now one of the fastest growing professions, and this growth has created a variety of career options. Technical communicators are writers, editors, artists, managers, educators, and video specialists employed in every industry, from automobiles to computers to finance. (Source: PubsNet Technical Communications identifies "Technical Writing" and "Instructional Design" as two of the fastest growing job areas in 2002 ( October 2002). This report confirms the 1998 U. S. News & World Report article which identified technical writing as one of 20 leading areas of professional employment (Avery, Dan, et al. 20 Hot Job Tracks, U. S. News & World Report, October 26, 1998: ).

2 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 2 Approved January 27, 2003 As the demand for writers and trainers to develop online documentation, computer-based training, and e-learning materials continues to grow at a steady pace nation-wide, business leaders at the 2001 Wisconsin Economic Summit II stated that although Wisconsin provides a good environment for future economic growth, the state does not have enough high tech workers. To start businesses the most important thing is people. We don t yet have a critical mass of high tech workers in Wisconsin (Joe Manning, Summit Leaders, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 28, 2001, page 2D). Many speakers at the Economic Summit suggested that the University of Wisconsin should be educating more technical workers, communicators, and leaders needed to develop the State economy. To address these needs and provide opportunities for UWM students, Milwaukee area professionals, and students across the U.S., we propose the creation of a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing and Communication. III. Institutional Context 3.1 Relationship to Mission of Institution This Certificate addresses the Department of English goals of providing instruction grounded in the English language and its effective use as a means of written communication and the Communication Department goals of helping students learn to communicate more effectively... in instructional, interpersonal, inter-cultural, group, organizational, and rhetorical settings ( and The interdisciplinary approach of the Certificate and its focus on the important field of professional communication and technical writing fulfills the UWM Graduate Course and Curriculum Committee s recommendations for providing participants with specialized knowledge and skills for professional advancement or career change as defined in Graduate Faculty Council Document No. 877 (1). By giving students both theoretical and practical knowledge in professional writing and communication, this Certificate serves the College of Letters and Science s purpose of preparing students for a successful career and helping build the intellectual and practical skills that are the mark of a truly educated individual: a comprehensive knowledge base, expertise in your field, and the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, solve problems and make decisions (College of Letters and Science Web Site, Introduction, With regard to the larger UWM institutional mission, the Certificate goals coincide with the Chancellor s Milwaukee Idea Initiative as stated in her recent Address to the Regents, which stresses the importance of producing better-prepared Wisconsin college graduates who can succeed in a highly technical global economy and a well-trained work force to help expand Wisconsin s economic base (

3 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 3 Approved January 27, Relationship to/impact on Other UWM Programs The only other related graduate certificate at UWM is the International Technical Communication Certificate, which also is sponsored by the English Department. The primary differences between the two certificates are: 1) the International Technical Communication Certificate has specific language and study abroad requirements unique to its program, and 2) all the courses in this Certificate in Professional Writing and Communication will be offered online through Web-based distance education, whereas several of the courses required in the International Certificate are not offered as distance courses. Several of the courses offered by distance education in this Certificate also may satisfy the requirements of the International Technical Communication Certificate, and these courses may be attractive to students living abroad who wish to take the International Certificate. Otherwise, the two certificates remain distinct and well differentiated because their admission and program requirements are different. We expect this Certificate to have no impact on other UWM graduate certificates, but it may be attractive as an enhancement to students in a wide variety of graduate programs. Since courses in this Certificate also form part of the English Department s MA curriculum and part of the Communication Department s MA curriculum, some students who apply to the Certificate in Professional Writing and Communication also may be interested in the English MA program or the Communication MA program. As a result, there will be two groups of students in the program: 1) The post-baccalaureate group includes students not enrolled concurrently in a UWM graduate degree program. These students will take courses in the Certificate program as graduate non-degree candidates." Later, they may transfer credits completed in the Certificate to a UWM graduate degree program, subject to the Graduate School transfer policy and the guidelines and approval of the graduate coordinators of the respective degree programs. 2) The graduate group includes students who wish to be enrolled concurrently in the Certificate and a graduate degree program. These students must apply for admission to both the Certificate program and to the graduate degree program of their choice. Students enrolled in the Certificate while also enrolled in a degree program, subject to the approval of the graduate coordinator of that degree program, may apply up to 6 credits completed in the Certificate as credits that also satisfy the degree program. Students who express an interest in a degree program will be directed to consult with the Certificate Coordinator and the coordinator of the MA program that interests them.

4 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 4 Approved January 27, 2003 IV. Need 4.1 Program Demand At the regional, national, and international levels, we expect the need for professional communicators, technical writers, and information technology professionals with good writing and communication skills to remain strong and continue to grow for several decades. 4.2 Target Population All of the courses in the Certificate will be available online through Web-based distance learning using Blackboard, , and Web-based resources. By appealing to students beyond the BA-level who seek professional training and education to advance their careers, this Certificate will fill a distinct need in the information and business economy. With delivery through distance education, the program will reach students throughout the nation who do not have access to graduate education in communication and professional writing. Unlike traditional certificate programs, this Graduate Certificate will be attractive to students who cannot afford the time to commute long distances to Milwaukee, thus appealing to untapped national and perhaps even international audiences. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that enrollments in distance learning programs at UW increased by nearly 50% in the last year alone: the barriers that have existed to distance learning have simply broken down so that a growing segment of the population across the nation has become comfortable with using computers to learn online. Many people even prefer distance education to face-to-face learning because they can do it from their homes or workplaces without leaving their jobs or families. UW officials expect to find increasing demand for e-learning, especially among older, working adults and others who want to attend the UW System but cannot physically be there (Scott Williams, E-learning enrollment at UW expands nearly 50%, Dec. 3, 2001, page 1A). In a national report, A Virtual Revolution: Trends in the Expansion of Distance Education, Thomas Kriger states that for U.S. institutions of higher learning, during the period between 1998 and 2002, distance education.... student enrollments are projected to increase from just over 500,000 to well over two million students, which constitutes a 400% increase in four years (American Federation of Teachers, Washington D.C., 2001, page 5). Clearly, the demand for distance learning is growing rapidly, but few distance education graduate programs exist or even have even been planned at UWM, especially in the humanities, to satisfy this growing demand. The Certificate is designed for post-baccalaureate graduate students (those enrolled for graduate credit, but not simultaneously enrolled in a graduate program) and graduate degree students (those enrolled simultaneously in a graduate degree program). Students are likely to be drawn from three different pools of individuals: First, we expect to draw recent UW-System graduates, as well as graduates from other colleges and institutions throughout the Midwest, who have baccalaureate degrees from

5 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 5 Approved January 27, 2003 diverse undergraduate areas such as business, languages, English, computer science, library and information science. These students are ready to begin advanced work in graduate courses that combine the specialized knowledge from their undergraduate degrees with graduate work in writing and communication. The communication and writing skills they gain in this Certificate program will enable them to explore advanced career paths or continue graduate work toward a graduate degree objective at UWM. Second, students who already have a BA and are employed in the information economy often desire to add educational value to their existing degrees and workplace experience by developing their communication skills. They may not be ready to commit to an M.A. or Ph.D. program, but a graduate certificate focused in communication and writing gives them advanced learning that they can apply readily in their workplace careers. Such students look to certificate programs to fulfill employee development commitments in their chosen career path. They often cannot leave their jobs and family commitments for school schedules that require long hours of commuting and attending classes, but they frequently have good access to computer technologies for online learning. Furthermore, their employers will often fund their entire educational cost for a post-baccalaureate certificate related to career development needs. This audience is ready-made for on-line, distance education. Third, graduate students enrolling in the English or Communication Department s graduate program, or other UWM graduate programs, may have an interest in taking the courses offered in this Certificate program Estimated Enrollment Formatted: Bullets and Numbering In the first year, we expect to enroll about 15 students. In subsequent years, we estimate that enrollments could increase to 30 to 45 new students per year. V. Program Description and Evaluation 5.1 Description The program will be jointly offered by the English Department and the Communication Department, both of which have graduate programs with strong national and international reputations. As an interdisciplinary certificate, the program will require students to take courses from both the Communication Department and the English Professional Writing Program.

6 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 6 Approved January 27, 2003 The goal of the Certificate program curriculum is to produce graduates with exceptionally strong writing and communication skills through the study of theory and practice in the following interrelated areas: technical writing, information development, and document design; communication across organizations and technical operations; communication across cultures and international boundaries; user interface design; Web site design and Internet rhetoric; Web-based learning, instructional design, and e-learning systems; online help and tutorial systems; project management and client requirements documentation; usability testing, evaluation, and measurement; and technical skills (such as JavaScript, XML, VBScript, and SGML). Students will specialize in these areas through individual projects required in the course work. All courses in the program stress the ability to turn theory into practice, critically evaluate communication content and contexts, analyze audience needs, work in teams, manage tasks and projects, and solve communication and writing problems. All of the courses will be available through online, Web-based distance education. 5.2 Program Curriculum and Requirements To achieve the program goals, students will complete 15 credits of course work (five 3-credit courses). The certificate will be awarded when students achieve the following: complete 9 graduate credits from in required Certificate courses in English; complete 6 graduate credits from a choice of Certificate courses in Communication; and earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the courses that apply to the Certificate. Required Courses in English, 9 credits. The following courses will be offered every year as essential components of the professional writing program in English and are required courses in the Certificate program: 1. Advanced Professional Writing (English 708/435, 3 credits)* This course is essential for developing students professional writing skills, especially their ability to manage large and complex projects. Students in this course learn how to diagnose and solve their writing problems through an analysis and understanding of the writing process. Through audience analysis, organization, editing, and document design assignments, students also receive intensive review of their writing as well as exposure to

7 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 7 Approved January 27, 2003 both the theory and practice of technical communication. The course includes discussions with professional technical writers and tours or overviews of technical publishing companies or departments that produce documentation for worldwide audiences. 2. Rhetoric, Writing, and Information Technology (English 709/436, 3 credits)* This course is an advanced workshop-seminar that combines the best principles of writing clear, concise prose with issues of designing user-centered documents for global, international, and culturally diverse audiences. The course covers audience analysis, page design, integration of visuals, theories of modular and structured documentation, online documentation, help systems, Web-document design, instructional design, and usability. It includes peer editing and collaborative projects in which student teams will do research on issues, factors, and principles that will enable them to design Web sites for diverse clients. 3. Advanced Project Management for Professional Writers (English 710/437, 3 credits)* This course develops proficiency in analyzing rhetorical situations and applying that knowledge throughout a project's evolution to (1) establish realistic, context-sensitive goals for their projects, (2) design documents to fulfill those goals and appeal to both reviewers and end users, (3) conduct a variety of tests to evaluate whether early attempts have fulfilled project goals, and (4) use test results to guide revision and editing decisions. The course focuses on rhetorical and task analysis, project planning and management, document design, and text evaluation. Throughout the course, students work both individually and collaboratively on original documents (such as flyers, brochures, and pamphlets), and they evaluate early versions of texts created by professionals in organizations and students in other courses. Students will use computer programs for project management, document design, usability testing, and online editing. Students who within the past five years have successfully completed courses equivalent to these required English courses may, with the approval of the Certificate Coordinator, substitute alternate English graduate courses. *Note: CAR forms for English 708, 709, and 710 have been approved by the English Department and College of Letters & Science for these new courses and have been forwarded to the GCC. Pending approval by the Graduate School, the English 708, 709, 710 courses will eventually replace Graduate credit for English 435, 436, 437 U/G courses, respectively. Until the new courses are established and offered on a regular basis, on a case-by-case review, students taking 435, 436, 437 for graduate credit may substitute those courses for 708, 709, 710 where appropriate. Assuming approval of the CAR forms, we hope to offer 700-level courses in the Graduate Certificate program starting in When enrollments justify offering the 700-level courses on a regular basis, we hope to eliminate the Graduate credit offerings on the 400-level courses.

8 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 8 Approved January 27, 2003 Required Courses in Communication, 6 credits selected from the following list. Students, in consultation with the Certificate Coordinator, will take 6 credits (2 courses) selected from the Communication courses listed below. The Department offers these courses regularly. 1. Designing and Developing Communication Training Interventions (Commun 627, 3 credits) This course teaches theory and methods used in designing and developing communication training programs for profit and nonprofit organizations. Students will design and develop communication training materials. 2. Managerial Communication (Commun 710, 3 credits) This course is designed for organizational communication practitioners. The course surveys the analytic and implementation skills necessary for effective management of communication processes. 3. Studies of Communication in Organizations (Commun 810, 3 credits) This course surveys the theory and research on communication processes that constitute and maintain organizations. Topics include communication and networks, managerial hierarchy, power, and organizational culture. 4. Seminar in Mediated Communication (Commun 813, 3 credits) This advanced course focuses on theory and research pertaining to relationships between human communication processes and interactive technologies. 5. Seminar in Small Group Communication (Commun 823, 3 credits) This course examines the theory and current research in small group communication, including the methods, applications, and problems of small group communication. 6. Seminar in Programs of Adult Communication (Commun 827, 3 credits) This course examines current and prospective avenues of communication offerings for adults. Focus on content of adult programs in the academic and non-academic community.

9 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 9 Approved January 27, 2003 Typical Student Schedule. Although each schedule will be tailored to the student s needs and approved by the Certificate Coordinator, the annual plan in Figure 1 is typical. Fall Semester I FIGURE 1: TYPICAL STUDENT SCHEDULE English 708/435: Advanced Technical Writing (Alred), 3 credits. Commun 827: Seminar in Programs of Adult Communication (Johnson), 3 credits. Spring Semester II English 709/436: Rhetoric,Writing, and Information Technology (Van Pelt), 3 credits. Commun 823: Seminar in Small Group Communication (Meyers), 3 credits. Summer Semester III English 710/437: Advanced Project Management for Professional Writers (Spilka), 3 credits. The program s curriculum structure will follow these guidelines: 1. Courses will be offered regularly in the English and Communication Departments so that students can complete 15 credits within one year (two academic-year semesters and one summer term). 2. Each year, students applying to the program will be encouraged to progress through the curriculum as a unified cohort, taking the same courses in a regular sequence. This will promote peer solidarity, collaboration, and an interlocking curriculum of courses and projects that reinforce and build upon one another. 3. In special cases, when students have taken courses similar to a required course or are otherwise unable to take a required course, they may, with approval of the Certificate Coordinator, substitute an independent study or another graduate course for the given requirement.

10 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 10 Approved January 27, Admission Requirements and Procedures Students must have completed a baccalaureate degree with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and must submit the following materials with their graduate school application: a portfolio of writing samples; two letters of recommendation from persons knowledgeable about applicants recent academic or work experience; a statement of purpose that identifies applicants knowledge of workplace communication practices and business operations, professional experience, and basic undergraduate course work in business writing, technical writing, and communication; and a statement describing applicants access to and operational knowledge of online communication technology, including a PC or equivalent computer system with Internet access and other applications sufficient to participate in the program s online learning activities. The Certificate Coordinator will ask all participating faculty members in the English and Communication Departments to review the applicants materials for admission purposes. These faculty members will submit their evaluations of the applicants materials to the Coordinator, who will make a recommendation to the Graduate School for each applicant s admission to the program. Applicants must declare their intent to pursue the Certificate before completion of six credits in the Certificate sequence. 5.4 Exit Requirements Students must complete all requirements for the Certificate within 3 years of initial enrollment and earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to receive the Certificate. 5.5 Allowance for Transfer Credit With consent of the Certificate Coordinator and subject to the Graduate School transfer policy, students who have completed equivalent graduate courses at other institutions within the last five years may transfer up to three credits into the Certificate program.

11 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 11 Approved January 27, Certificate Conferral The Certificate will be awarded upon completion of the mandated credits. Concurrent completion of any other degree program is not required. The Certificate Coordinator will inform the Graduate School when a student has completed the Certificate program and will provide the student s program of study, certifying that the courses meet the Certificate requirements. 5.7 Program Administration The Certificate Coordinator, appointed by the Professional Writing and Communication Advisory Committee, will administer the Certificate program. The Advisory Committee shall consist of all of the program s participating faculty members. It shall assist the Coordinator in curricular development and review, student advising, and review of applicant admissions materials. The Program Coordinator will manage the program business and make final decisions about all administrative, procedural, and policy matters pertaining to the Certificate and shall report to and consult with the Advisory Committee as he or she deems necessary. 5.8 Participating Faculty Participating faculty members include the following: Professor Gerald J. Alred (English) Assistant Professor David Clark (English) Professor John R. Johnson (Communication) Associate Professor Edward A. Mabry (Communication) Professor Renee A. Meyers (Communication) Assistant Professor Graham Smart (English) Associate Professor Rachel Spilka (English) Associate Professor William V. Van Pelt (English) VI. Resources and Cost Implications Additional funding required for this program will be minimal. There will be, of course, some costs to advertise the program, but we hope to keep these costs low by using the Web as one of our primary advertising strategies. All faculty members that are needed to teach the Certificate courses are now on the payroll. The required Communication courses are already offered on a regular basis, while the required English courses are now regularly offered as 400-level U/G courses (English 435, 436, 437). Assuming the approval of the CAR forms, we will add 700-level graduate versions (English 708, 709, 710) of the 400-level courses to the English curriculum. The conversion of the 400-level courses to 700-level courses simply

12 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 12 Approved January 27, 2003 requires formalizing the existing graduate requirements in the courses as the primary course requirements and completing the CAR forms by the Fall of With existing support from the College of Letters and Science, all the courses required in the Certificate will be available as online, Web-based, distance education courses before the Fall of A Distance Education Fee will be charged as an additional fee for enrollment in the online, Web-based distance courses. VII. Graduate School Bulletin Copy Graduate Certificate Program in Professional Writing and Communication The Graduate Certificate Program in Professional Writing and Communication is designed for students who wish to pursue professional careers in technical writing, communication, corporate training and instructional design, or user interface and Web-document design. Admission Students must have completed a bachelor s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and must submit the following materials with their graduate school application: a portfolio of writing samples; two letters of recommendation from persons knowledgeable about applicants' recent academic or work experience; a statement of purpose that identifies the applicants knowledge of workplace communication practices and business operations, their professional experience, or basic undergraduate coursework in business writing, technical writing, and communication; and a statement describing the applicants access to and operational knowledge of online communication technology, including a PC or equivalent computer system with Internet access and other applications sufficient to participate in the program's online learning activities. Applicants must declare their intent to pursue the Certificate program before completion of six credits in the Certificate sequence. Credits and Courses Students must complete 15 credits of course work as outlined below. The Certificate will be awarded when students achieve the following:

13 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 13 Approved January 27, 2003 complete 9 credits in required courses in English; complete 6 credits from a choice of courses in Communication; and earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the courses that apply to the Certificate. With the consent of the Certificate Coordinator and subject to the Graduate School transfer policy, students who have completed appropriate courses for graduate credit at other institutions may transfer up to three credits into the Certificate Program, provided that the courses were completed within the last five years with a grade of B or better. Required Courses in English, 9 credits. Students will take 9 credits selected from the following required English courses: Advanced Professional Writing (English 708) or Professional Writing (436)* Rhetoric, Writing, and Information Technology (English 709) or Writing for Information Technology (English 436)* Advanced Project Management for Professional Writers (English 710) or Project Management for Professional Writers (English 437)* [ * Pending Graduate School approval of CAR forms for new course numbers 708, 709, 710, students will be directed to take 708, 709, and 710.] Students who within the past five years have successfully completed courses equivalent to these required English courses may, with the approval of the Certificate Coordinator, substitute alternate English graduate courses. Required Courses in Communication, 6 credits. Students, in consultation with the Program Coordinator, will take 6 credits selected from the following Communication Courses: Designing and Developing Communication Training Interventions (Commun 627) Studies of Communication in Organizations (Commun 810) Seminar in Mediated Communication (Commun 813) Seminar in Small Group Communication (Commun 823) Seminar in Programs of Adult Communication (Commun 827) Students who intend to enroll in both the Certificate program and a graduate degree program must apply for admission to both the Certificate program and to the graduate degree program of their choice. With the approval of the graduate coordinator of the student s graduate program, up to six credits completed in the Certificate also may satisfy graduate program requirements. Students not concurrently enrolled in a UWM graduate degree program later may transfer credits completed in the Certificate to a UWM graduate degree program, subject to Graduate School transfer policy and subject to the guidelines and approval of the graduate coordinator of the respective degree program.

14 Graduate Faculty Council Doc. No. 908 p. 14 Approved January 27, 2003 Students seeking admission to the Certificate and to graduate degree programs are advised to seek the advice of graduate coordinators of each program. Time Limit A student must complete all requirements for the Certificate within 3 years of his/her initial enrollment. Works Cited Avery, Dan, et al. 20 Hot Job Tracks, U. S. News & World Report, October 26, 1998: Manning, Joe, Summit Leaders, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 28, 2001, page 2D. PubsNet Technical Communications, "Hot Jobs: Technical Writing and Instructional Design," October 8, Kriger, Thomas, A Virtual Revolution: Trends in the Expansion of Distance Education, American Federation of Teachers, Washington D.C., 2001, page 5. The Society for Technical Communication Web Site, September 1, UWM College of Letters & Science Web Site, Introduction, September 1, UWM Department of Communication Web Site, September 1, UWM Department of English Web Site, September 1, UWM Graduate Faculty Council, Recommendation Of The Graduate Curriculum Committee To Establish Policies And Procedures For The Development, Structure, And Review Of Graduate Certificate Programs, Graduate Faculty Council Document No. 877, February 18, Williams, Scott, E-learning enrollment at UW expands nearly 50%, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 3, 2001, page 1A). Zimpher, Nancy, Address to the Regents, UWM Milwaukee Idea Web Site, September 1, 2002.