Scholars in English departments across Canada have recently been wondering what to make of English and its futures.
These conversations have spanned the spectrum of things we do in English: research, reading, professional practice and employment status, public responsibilities, program design and administration—and, of course, teaching.
Meanwhile, in Alberta, the political, cultural, and economic context is putting pressure on departments to provide programs without replacements for retired colleagues, to cut budgets, and to attract and retain more students.
This gathering, coordinated by Sarah Banting (Mount Royal University) will foreground teaching and, in particular, the English Major as a degree program, scrutinizing its curricula, pedagogies, and outcomes. We will ask, urgently, essential questions:
What is at the heart of an English degree? What gives it necessary breadth, depth, and rigour? What—if anything—is core material that must be studied? What—if any—are the skills that our students must learn? Should it be called “English”? This two day hybrid conference runs 28-29 April 2022, at Mount Royal University and online.
For details and registration, please visit the website for English and the Humanities Here, Now.
Categories: Upcoming Events
