Following a year’s worth of "town meetings" across the University and consultation with Rhetoric and Composition faculty in the Department of English, the Core Curriculum Executive Committee submitted the "Writing Literacy Document" to the Faculty Senate for its endorsement in March 1997. One of its proposals called for the development of a Writing Across the Curriculum program. After receiving endorsement from the Faculty Senate, the Writing Literacy Document was submitted to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost for discussion. At that time, it was agreed that the implementation of WAC at SIUC should proceed.
In AY 1997/1998, an Ad-Hoc Committee on WAC—chaired by the Director of the University Core Curriculum, Dr. A. J. Morey—met to formalize the proposal for implementation of WAC, concluding with a recommendation to the Provost that a Director of WAC be appointed.
In June 1998 and after discussions with the Provost, Dr. David Blakesley agreed to Chair a WAC Task Force (consisting of WAC Representatives from each College) during AY 1998-1999 while continuing to hold his present position as Director of Writing Studies in English. It was agreed that the WAC initiative would be best served by measured implementation, involving significant input from the faculty and representatives from each of the Colleges, including Academic Deans.
