Task Force Report... Re: Conference rates for academics

Thu Dec 7 15:41:05 MST 2006

Kathy, 

Thanks for supplying me with the quote of the day:  

How can we do our best job of preparing our students for quality,
productive work in technical communication when we can't attend the
conference?

The fact is, we are perceived as being only 10% of the membership.  So
we don't count when compared to advanced professionals needing hot
content (the new technologies).  While academics have always been
visible in STC, the fact is that there have always been hordes of
practitioners out there manifesting a growing dissatisfaction about the
association.  That dissatisfaction culminated in the transformation
initiative, which is now over. The transformation woke up the membership
and created communities, but didn't do what the Education Task Force
report did.  (see http://stc-ac.org <http://stc-ac.org/>  for a copy of
that report.  It and other reports are readily available at
http://www.stc.org/PDF_Files/0605_EducTaskForceReport.pdf )  

That report was a warrant to remake the most visible element of the
society:  the conference.  The conference was remodeled to be a
primarily educational event for advanced professionals (industry
practitioners.)  The report also included this:  "We recommend an
additional Fall conference, offering more strategic topics based on
needs and interests of members."  This conference, were it offered,
might address academic needs, but also might address other constituents,
such as independents.  At any rate, the big May conference is, at this
point, no longer a participant's event.  Only 21% of submissions were
accepted.  If this is down from, say, 50% last year, then does this mean
the conference will be shrunk by half? I don't think so.  I bet we see
another 30% or so (this figure was suggested in the report) comprised of
invited speakers.  (I was not invited, so the advanced professionals
won't be hearing about my research this year.  Dang!) I don't know how
many academics might be included in this group.  

I'm encouraged by the Director of Education's statement that, "...the
membership [of STC] represents a treasure trove of not only expertise in
technical communication, but the building blocks it takes to put an
education program together in the first place."
(http://www.stc.org/about/staff/staff09.asp)  I hope we don't leave the
membership behind in trying to market the conference to industry
practitioners. 

I'm also encouraged by your enthusiasm, and, frankly, if you see an
opportunity for leadership in proposing rate changes to STC, I'd say
email Hillary Hart, STC Academic Liaison. (hart at mail.utexas.edu) I think
she's carrying the torch of our concerns to the Board.  

Tommy

Dr. Thomas Barker

Manager, STC Academic Community

thomas.barker at ttu.edu <mailto:thomas.barker at ttu.edu> 

http://www.stc-ac.org <http://www.stc-ac.org/> 

The STC Academic Community serves STC members worldwide who work as
educators and researchers in colleges and universities.  These
responsibilities involve areas of curriculum design, current practices
in technical communication, research and research funding, and academic
workplace and professional issues.

________________________________

From: bounce-stc-ac-264184 at lists.stc.org
[mailto:bounce-stc-ac-264184 at lists.stc.org] On Behalf Of Kathy Rentz
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 6:44 AM
To: stc-ac
Subject: [stc-ac] Re: Conference rates for academics

(Sorry to add another voice, if you're sick of this topic.)

I haven't attended an annual STC meeting (though I do attend my local
chapter meetings) since the conference was held here in my hometown,
Cincinnati, several years ago--and I forked over the (to academics)
prohibitive registration fee just because I wanted to go and have my
students go (they did get "scholarships" then, based on working for the
conference, that, I think, enabled them to attend for $100 apiece).
Plus, since I didn't have to pay for a hotel room or food, I could
afford this conference.

I agree with an earlier commenter that we academics are in effect "being
killed off" as members of STC.  This is a sad and terrible state of
affairs.  In fact, it's a disgrace.  We academics turn out most of the
people to take the prof. com. jobs, but the exhorbitant (from our
perspective) registration fee effectively shuts us out of one of the
most important forums in our field.  How can we do our best job of
preparing our students for quality, productive work in technical
communication when we can't attend the conference?

I think STC needs to take into account that the practitioner and
academic employment situations are diifferent and offer a drastically
cut reg. fee for anyone who can provide evidence of being a full-time
educator or student (not sure what the policy for part-time adjuncts
should be).  Bottom line:  Do they want us, or do they not?  If they do
(and they should, for their own sakes and ours), they need not to shut
us out with high conference rates that only corporate sponsors can
afford.

I would be glad to work on a proposal, too, if someone else will take
the lead.  Any vounteers?!

Kathy Rentz

University of Cincinnati

	----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Jennifer L. Bowie <mailto:jbowie at gsu.edu>  

	To: stc-ac <mailto:stc-ac at lists.stc.org>  

	Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 9:37 PM

	Subject: [stc-ac] Re: Conference rates for academics

	Bonni, great idea. We should turn this discussion into a
proposal and plan of action. I would be interested in helping with this
next step.

	My apologies if one of my emails today sent several times. I was
obviously having email issues (some server thing I think) and did not
intend to send out that email more than once. I cringe at the added
anger this may have caused some of our listserv readers. My apologies.

	Jennifer

	Jennifer L. Bowie, Ph.D.

	Assistant Professor of English 

	Georgia State University

	-----Original Message-----
	From: bounce-stc-ac-319563 at lists.stc.org
[mailto:bounce-stc-ac-319563 at lists.stc.org] On Behalf Of
Bonni_Graham at scantron.com
	Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 4:02 PM
	To: stc-ac
	Subject: [stc-ac] Re: Conference rates for academics

	I, too, am adjunct faculty. I teach at two universities (well,
OK, two UC campuses: Riverside main campus and San Diego Extension). I
haven't asked them to send me to the conference. UCR might (although I'm
covered anyway, so I won't ask), because I teach through the Engineering
College, and they're just so pleased with themselves for having a tech
comm class that they can hardly stand it. They'll get over it, I'm sure.
<G> 

	I'm fortunate enough to a) be speaking and b) have built going
to the STC conference into my job offer (one of the advantages of
working for an education company is that they believe in education). 

	I'm liking the discussion that's going on. There are some good
ideas here, and some excellent points. Now maybe we should turn one or
more of them into a proposal? It's easy to say "someone" should do
"something", but STC, like our colleges, has limited resources and has
to choose where to spend them. Without proposing a specific and concrete
plan of action, we're not going to get any further with this... 

	b 

	Bonni Graham
	Corporate Training/Professional Development: Product
Documentation
	Phones: In San Diego: x5261 * Direct: 619-578-5261 * In Irvine
x2534 * cell: 858-349-9488
	email: Bonni_Graham at Scantron.com
	IM: esotericabjg at yahoo.com 

alida.franco at sybase.com 
Sent by: bounce-stc-ac-319633 at lists.stc.org 

12/05/2006 12:47 PM 

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Subject

[stc-ac] Re: Conference rates for academics

	I have read all of the comments posted for the last three days
and I feel
	that one group is missing from the mix. That group is adjunct
faculty
	members. Are there any other members of the Academic SIG that
fall under
	this category?

	I am a practioner in the industry but also teach a class in
Usability
	Testing in the department of Technical Communications at a local
4-year
	college. I was brought in to teach the course because of my
experience in
	the field.

	In answer to the question that was posed... I will not be able
to attend
	the conference. There are no monies at the college to provide
professional
	development to adjunct faculty members, and I have been unable
to make a
	business case to my employer for my attendance at the Regional
or National
	STC conferences, much less be recognized by my contribution to
the
	profession and my company by teaching the class I do.

	Alida Franco
	Technical Publications
	Sybase, Inc. (Englewood Office)
	303 409-8644
	251-8644 Speed Dial

	            "Barker, Thomas"

	            <thomas.barker at tt

	            u.edu>
To 
	            Sent by:                  "stc-ac"
<stc-ac at lists.stc.org>     
	            bounce-stc-ac-277
cc 
	            406 at lists.stc.org

Subject 
	                                      [stc-ac] Conference rates
for       
	            12/02/2006 02:25          academics

	            PM

	Colleagues,

	I'm attaching Lloyd Tucker's note about conference rates for
academic
	members of STC.  I'd like to start a discussion about these
rates on this
	list.   Lloyd Tucker is the new Director of Education on the STC
Office
	Staff.  The policy is

	I guess my first question would be:  How many of the academic
practitioners
	on this list think that they could take advantage of this rate
opportunity?
	Other questions:  What is the value proposition here?  Is it the
students
	or the professor?

	The larger issue is how will academics participate in the
industry-oriented
	conference that is now planned as the new model. According to
the
	Knowledge-based Governance survey STC conducted in November, 74%
of
	respondents (n = 993) to the question, "In your opinion, where
should STC
	be focusing its efforts to build relationships?" said "academic
	institutions."  Do you think this policy represents a
significant step in
	that direction?

	Your thoughts?

	TB

	Dr. Thomas Barker
	Manager, STC Academic Community
	thomas.barker at ttu.edu
	http://www.stc-ac.org

	The STC Academic Community serves STC members worldwide who work
as
	educators and researchers in colleges and universities.  These
	responsibilities involve areas of curriculum design, current
practices in
	technical communication, research and research funding, and
academic
	workplace and professional issues.
	(See attached file: Academic Conference Rates.pdf)---
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