This year's Instructional Excellence Retreat, to be held May 13-15 at Watts
Bar Resort,  will focus on oral communication.  The retreat leader is
Tamara Burk,  an experienced teacher and workshop leader.  Our Chancellor
will also participate in part of the presentations.

Professor Tamara Burk is on leave this year from The College of William and
Mary, where she developed and directs the Oral Communication Program.
Currently at Hamilton College in New York as the Emerson Visiting
Distinguished Scholar for Faculty Development, Tamara is also an Associate
Professor of Communication Studies.  In her current role, Professor Burk is
offering a regular series of faculty seminars and workshops focused on
incorporating oral communication into courses.  Dr. Burk has a wealth of
experience in working with faculty across disciplines who are developing
pedagogical strategies and instructional methods related to oral
communication. She has served as a program and faculty development
consultant for Mount Holyoke College, The University of Richmond, Mary
Washington College, and Chesapeake College (among others), as they designed
and developed their "communication-across-the-curriculum" programs.

The retreat will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening, May 13, and conclude
at noon on May 15.  There is no charge for room and board, but you must
provide your own transportation to and from Watts Bar.  If you have
questions or need more information, you may contact Fran Bender in the
English Department or Tom Bibler in the Teacher Preparation Academy.
Please e-mail your reservations to Fran Bender ([log in to unmask]).

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Fran Bender
English Department
UT-Chattanooga
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