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LAMBRIGHT: Central Michigan University needs to capitalize on its opportunity for a creative writing master of fine arts program

By Ben Lambright on March 29, 2011 10:15 pm in Columns / 8 comments

 

Medical schools make for great headlines.

But grandiose gestures aren’t always the best way to improve a university.

I’m not opposed to putting new tools in Central Michigan University’s academic toolbox, but there are issues if we are not using the tools we have to their maximum potential —­­­­ building a medical school while postponing the creation of a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is doing just that.

CMU has some outstanding creative writing faculty, faculty who were educated in the best creative writing programs in the country, faculty who have put down roots and want to stay at CMU for a long time.

They are writers like Matt Robertson, Jeffrey Bean, Robert Fanning and Darrin Doyle who have collectively published 7 books in 10 years and have helped to create an undergraduate program that has sent young writers to the best MFA programs in the country.

The professors were trained at the best creative writing MFA programs and the students are going to the best creative writing MFA programs; we should be taking steps to put the equation to work in CMU’s favor.

Such a program would have several benefits for CMU.

“We will raise the profile of our English Department and the entire university,” Doyle said. “CMU will be seen as a destination for writers.”

This also means more money for CMU. Some students will stay and others will flock to CMU as one of few options for a creative writing MFA in Michigan.

In fact, there are only three MFA programs in the state: University of Michigan (which accepts only a dozen or so students a year), Northern Michigan University, and Western Michigan University — which would leave CMU as the only creative writing MFA program in central Michigan and in a position to make a name for itself amongst limited competition.

The best part? All the things CMU needs to make this happen are already here. The professors are here. The students are here. The money is out there waiting to be made.

With all the pieces nearly in place, how long will it take CMU’s bureaucracy to solve the puzzle?

 

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  • Michmediaperson

    While I’m against the Medical School, this creative writing idea isn’t going to create jobs and get people ready for job openings in Michigan. With the limited amount of tax dollars available, we should be offering more programs in high tech, IT, health-related (not medical school), business, etc. So, we don’t have to bring in foreigners from India, the Phillipines and Parts Unknown to fill job vacancies throughout the state!

    Creative writing isn’t going to create jobs! Or, get students ready for tomorrow’s jobs!

    By the way, if the professors want it bad enough, why do they need any money? They teach what 2 courses a week and a couple hours in the office. Why don’t they volunteer their time to have a Master’s course in Creative Writing? Teach an extra course or two for free. Another 10 hours a week for class and office time still will be within the 40-hour work week. Without sounding like Nike, Just Do It!

  • http://twitter.com/adevenney Andrew D Devenney

    “They teach what 2 courses a week and a couple hours in the office. Why don’t they volunteer their time to have a Master’s course in Creative Writing? Teach an extra course or two for free. Another 10 hours a week for class and office time still will be within the 40-hour work week. Without sounding like Nike, Just Do It! ”

    You don’t have any idea what you are talking about, so maybe when you figure out how much work a professor actually puts in to a given week of the semester, you can come back and lecture people on gratis labor.

  • happyfamily

    You may be correct in saying that there aren’t a lot of creative writing jobs, but you’re also being too narrow-minded about other ways a person could benefit from such a degree. Creative writers tend to be competent communicators and deep thinkers, who are very capable of identifying problems and developing useful ways to solve them. That said, these skills are appreciated in MANY jobs, not just creative writing jobs. Maybe we need more creative writing majors to rescue the world from the pit of despair it’s currently falling into.

  • Michmediaperson

    Andrew, once a professor puts his or her power point presentation or lecture notes together, that’s good for the next 20 years. Find them in the file at 9:45 a.m. and off to class at 10 a.m.
    Let’s look at the history professor. Has World War II history changed in the last 20 years? Did Pearl Harbor not get attacked on 12-7-41? For the accounting professor, have debits and credits changed? Of course, not.
    I don’t see how any professor could possibly spend 40 hours focusing only on their actual two classes a week. If they are, they’re slow learners.

    I’d love to come to CMU and teach the professors on time management. Of course, I’ll bill my time to typical professor consulting fees.

    Anytime, Andrew. Anytime.

  • tiredprof

    Wow, Michmediaperson, you have obviously never taught. I am a science professor who has been teaching for 15 years at CMU. I spend ~4-5 hours preparing for each hour of time I spend in the classroom. There is constantly updating to do. To update my lectures and classroom and labroom activities, I must research the latest scientific literature, not only in my specific field of expertise, but also in general science. And then I need to figure out the best way to present this material (not just Powerpoints) in an understandable and interesting way. I strive to make original and hands-on assignments that will encourage students to learn the most up-to-date material and to critically think. I spend weeks away from my family taking students on field trips as part of my job (for example, this spring semester includes 15 total days away from campus leading field trips for my students). And teaching is defined as only ~1/3 of my formal job description. It’s not as easy as you think.

  • Anonymous

    You know what? You’re right. There’s no need for today’s college students to learn about 9/11 or the growing threat of radical sects of Islam or the advancement of gay rights. No need for future accountants to learn about Sarbanes-Oxley or for journalism students to consider the ethics of Rachel Maddow’s reporting. None at all.

  • guest

    Soooo in response to your arguments

    1. You care more about ratings then ethics?
    2. Your argument here is so limited you either chose not to address the argument you were responding to or just ignored it all together.
    3. Science and Technology move at such a pace that no one person could possibly keep up with all the developments. The mathematical argument you put forth is completely flawed. Dow chemical scientist work on one or two projects at time. Professors are expected to stay up on all the literature in their field. There is no logical basis for the math in your argument. It just sounds pretty.

    You need to learn how to think. You have an agenda and it clouds everything you that goes through your head. Find one of those terribly under-worked profs and ask for a lesson in logic.

  • Anonymous

    Why is this lunatic featured so prominently in the last few issues of CM-Life?

    If you’re going to a college in Michigan to get a job, you are in a small boat.
    If you think creative writing has no merit, you’re also an idiot.

    And you do sound like Nike.
    You sound like a corporate shill that doesn’t even know they are a corporate shill.
    You are a zombie and the best kind. You are a loud boisterous zombie that brings the status quo into every conversation.

    You are a weak human being