Department Policy and Governance

Departmental Policy Documents:

English Department Pattern of Administration [pdf]

Appointments, Promotion & Tenure: Criteria and Procedures for the English Department [pdf]

College of Arts and Sciences Resources and Contacts:

College of Arts and Sciences Intranet

Arts and Sciences Leadership

Policies and Procedures for All of Us

The English Department listservs are

Engrad (engrad@lists.service.ohio-state.edu), for graduate students
Engfac (engfac@lists.service.ohio-state.edu ), for tenured/tenure-track faculty and associated faculty
Englect (englect@lists.service-ohio-state.edu) for associated faculty only
Engsta (engsta@lists.service.ohio-state.edu), for department staff
Engemeri (engemeri@lists.service.ohio-state.edu), for emeriti faculty
Engchat (engchat@lists.osu.edu), for non-departmental business related conversations.

The department listservs are designed to support the research, teaching, and working functions and intellectual engagement of members of the department. The five listservs combined reach a broad and diverse audience of nearly 400 readers. The following recommended practices aim to help us use the listservs efficiently and respectfully as a shared online space.

Determine whether the listserv is the most appropriate medium for posing your question, concern, comment, or announcement. Could you write a direct email or stop by someone’s office to convey the information? If the information is only tangentially related to the department or unrelated to it, could you instead post your message through a non-business service, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter?
Include a descriptive subject line for your message.
For announcements that would benefit the entire department, include all five listservs (listed above). Narrow the audience of your message to fewer listservs when appropriate.
Announcements of personal publications should be submitted to our Research and Scholarship form for inclusion in our Research Publication Archive.
 If your message is intended for a specific recipient, email that recipient directly—even if the conversation began as a message to the entire listserv.
Please do not forward personal emails from another party without the sender’s permission.
The university allows employees to use its computing resources for minimal personal use that does not interfere with work. But users should “refrain from using those resources for personal commercial purposes or for personal financial or other gain.” For more information, see the university’s Responsible Use of University Computing and Network Resources Policy.
Consider that what you assert as a practice of free speech, humor, or opinion actually may create an unwelcoming or hostile environment for some recipients of your message. Do not assume that everyone shares your perspective.
The listserv will remain free of hate speech, including generalizations, mischaracterizations, and attacks on individuals or groups based on race, class, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, language(s), ability, religious belief, or veteran status.
Personal attacks are unacceptable on the listserv and sustained disagreements should be addressed discreetly.
The listserv and email communication through or to university accounts may not contain libel, infringe on copyright laws or invade employee or student privacy [pdf]. For more information, see Virtual Legality: An Overview of Your Rights and Responsibilities in Cyberspace.
Remember that because The Ohio State University is a public institution, email and listserv communications can be matters of public record.

Each faculty member, staff member and graduate student has a profile page (People page) in the English Department Directory.

If you need to create a profile for the first time:

Fill out a People page submission form
If you would like to have a profile photo on your People page, upload your photo separately to Opic. That image will automatically populate on your People page.

If you need to update your profile:

Email english.communications@osu.edu with any changes you'd like.
If you want to change your profile photo, please do so at Opic.
If your role in the department changes (e.g., you were a GTA and are now Associated Faculty), please check your profile page for errors and outdated information, and send updates to english.communications@osu.edu.

If you were a student staff member or graduate student, and have graduated:

Your People page will be taken down no more than a semester after you graduate.
You will receive an email reminding you that your People page will be taken down, and will receive information on other venues to create a professional profile.
For additional information on creating professional profile pages, see Professional Development Resources.

NOTE: Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, copying and printing services are not currently available through the English department in Denney Hall.

Copy Allowances

All faculty, staff and graduate students are given access to email, phones, computers and copiers upon arrival at Ohio State. For your convenience, the department has multifunction devices (scan/print/copy) located in Denney Hall rooms 421 and 572. For conservation purposes, all instructors are encouraged to utilize, as much as possible, Carmen for teaching and BuckeyeBox for research. To support teaching, research and service, the department has provided the following annual copy allocations:

Tenure-Track Faculty: 4,000

Associated Faculty: 750 per class assigned

Graduate Students: 2,500

Program Directors and Professional Staff receive an annual allocation sufficient to meet their administrative responsibilities. All copy allowances will be reset each year on July 1. Anyone exceeding the annual allowance will need to request more by emailing the Administrative Manager, Wayne Lovely (.9) a brief rationale (150 words or less) detailing the necessity and specific research, teaching, or business purpose for the additional request. If copy usage greatly exceeds the maximum allocation, the cost may be discounted from the individual’s travel/research allowance either in the current year or the following year.

Follow Me Printing and Copier Support

We now have access to Follow Me Printing, a service that allows you to send documents to the cloud and be released for printing at your convenience. Follow instructions for Xerox Printers to use the printer in 421 Denney Hall. You will need your BuckID to print and copy.

For students:

Instructions for students to download and use Follow Me Printing [pdf]

For faculty and staff:

UniPrint Faculty and Staff instructions for using Follow Me Printing

For assistance with the department copiers, please contact the front desk staff in 421 Denney Hall in person, by phone (614-292-6065) or by email.

Copy Requests

Copy requests may be submitted using the copy request log at the front desk of 421 Denney Hall. Copy requests will be fulfilled within 48 hours. With the goal of adhering to copyright/fair use best practices coupled with managing the workload of the front desk staff, copy limits have been set to a limit of 20% of a publication.

OSU now has an email fax gateway, meaning that you can send and receive faxes without having to be in the office. OCIO has published a Knowledge Base article about the email fax gateway, but the pertinent details are below.

Receiving a fax

Faxes received at our departmental fax number — 614-292-7816— will be automatically delivered to english.admin@osu.edu, and a staff member will then forward them to the appropriate recipient. (We recognize that faxes may include confidential personal information, and we will take the same care with these email-faxes as we have always taken with traditional paper faxes.)

Sending a fax

You can send a fax yourself, with no need to go through department staff, by composing an email to <ten digit fax number>@fax.osu.edu, with no spaces or punctuation, e.g.: 6145555555@fax.osu.edu.

The To: and From: addresses and the subject become the cover page, the body of the email becomes the second page, and any attachments follow. The accepted attachment formats are not yet specified in the Knowledge Base article, but Word docs and PDFs are probably supported.

Please note that faxes sent through the gateway arrive from a generic OSU number; if you anticipate needing a return fax, you should note our departmental fax number — 614-292-7816— in the email body.

The Department of English recruits and selects the most qualified individuals for open positions. In all cases, recruitment and selection activities are guided by a commitment to diversity.

Hiring Guidelines

Committment to Diversity
Representation
Process

For hiring information specific to certain segments of the department, see the pages linked below:

Associated Faculty Guidelines

Graduate Students: Workload Policy for Graders and Recitation Leaders

Visiting Scholars

The beginning/end of the year/term is a good time to review your records for your old records for disposal, etc. The University Archives office has some great resources to support this: the OSU General Records Retention Schedule (see Student Records) and the “Paper and Bytes” training (see below). To aid in the destruction of sensitive documents, we have a locked document/material destruction bin conveniently located in the main office (421 Denney Hall).

Paper and Bytes: Policies, Best Practices and Resources for Managing Ohio State Records

As a public institution, Ohio State must comply with laws governing public records. Effective compliance can only be achieved through proper records management. This instructor-led virtual workshop will help participants become more knowledgeable about policies, legal requirements and best practices concerning the retention, management and disposition of records in their care. Participants also will learn practical tips and techniques for managing email and organizing electronic records.

Contact »

Service and Committees

Scott DeWitt, Director of Writing and Information Literacy (WIL)
Amanpal Garcha, Vice Chair
Elizabeth Hewitt, Chair
Jennifer Higginbotham, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Marcus Jackson, Director of Creative Writing
John Jones, Vice Chair of Writing, Rhetoric and Literacy (WRL) and Director of Digital Media Studies
Beverly Moss, Director of English 2367
Margaret Price, Director of Disability Studies Program
Jacob Risinger, Director of Graduate Studies
Christa Teston, Director of Business and Technical Writing

Sara Crosby, Marion
John Hellmann, Lima
Jamison Kantor, Mansfield (Spring 2026)
Daniel Keller, Newark

Directors Committee

Elizabeth Hewitt, Chair
Wayne Lovely, Senior Manager of Business Operations
Amanpal Garcha, Vice Chair
John Jones, Vice Chair for WRL and Director of Digital Media Studies
Jacob Risinger, Director of Graduate Studies
Jennifer Higginbotham, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Marcus Jackson, Director of Creative Writing

Writing Program Directors Committee

Christa Teston, Writing Program Directors Coordinator

Columbus Directors

Christa Teston, Director of Business and Technical Writing, Coordinator
Scott DeWitt, Director of Writing and Information Literacy (WIL)
Ashleigh Hardin, Associate Director of Writing and Information Literacy (WIL)
Yanar Hashlamon, Coordinator of Professional Writing Minor
Beverly Moss, Director of English 2367
Christa Teston, Director of Business & Technical Writing

Campus Liaisons

Daniel Keller, Writing Program Administrator, Newark campus
Allison Kranek, Manager, OSU Writing Center
Susan Lang, Director of the Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing
Chris Manion, Writing Across the Curriculum Director, Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing
Ben McCorkle, Writing Program Administrator, Marion campus
Andrew Kinney, Writing Program Administrator, Mansfield campus

Executive Committee:

Elizabeth Hewitt, Chair
Amanpal Garcha, Vice Chair
Dan Keller, Regional Faculty Representative
Leslie Lockett, Professor
Christa Teston, Professor (Hannibal Hamlin, alternate)
Tommy Davis, Associate Professor
Lauren Squires, Associate Professor (Joe Ponce, alternate)
Brad Dubos, Assistant Professor
Corinne Sugino, Assistant Professor
Simone Drake, CCE Committee
Kathleen Griffin, Staff Representative (Jameson Gower, alternate)
Shaun Russell, Associated Faculty Representative
EGO Steering Committee, Graduate Student Representatives

Area conveners

Old and Middle English: Drew Jones
Renaissance Literature: Chris Highley
18th-century British Literature: David Brewer
19th-century British Literature: Clare Simmons
American Literature before 1900: Elizabeth Renker
20th-21st c. Literatures: Jesse Schotter
U.S. Ethnic and Postcolonial Literature: Adélékè Adéẹ̀kọ́ (Course Director 2281)
Critical Theory: Ethan Knapp
Creative Writing: Marcus Jackson (Course Director, English 2265, 2266, 2267, 2268, 3465, 3466, 3468, 3662)
Digital Media Studies: John Jones (Course Director, 2269)
Disability Studies: Margaret Price (Course Director, 2277, 4597)
Film and Popular Culture Studies: Jared Gardner, convener (Course Director, 2264, 2463, 2464, 3372)
Folklore: Merrill Kaplan (Course Director, 2270)
Language and Linguistics: Galey Modan (Course Director, 3271)
Narrative and Narrative Theory: Jim Phelan
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Lily Sheehan
Writing, Rhetoric and Literacy: John Jones

Additional course directors

English 1110.01/.02: Scott DeWitt
English 2367 (all decimalizations except .02 and .06): Beverly Moss
English 2367.02: Jennifer Higginbotham
English 3304, 3305: Christa Teston
English 4150, 4189: Yanar Hashlamon
English 5191, 5193, and 6700: Margaret Price

Citizenship & Justice Theme : Jim Fredal (2276), Beverly Moss (3000), Lauren Squires (3011.01 and 3011.02), Beth Hewitt (3310), Karen Winstead (3264), Susan Williams (3395, 3595)

Health & Wellbeing Theme: Margaret Price (2277, 3031), Beverly Moss (2367.06), David Ruderman (3161), Karen Winstead (3264), Jim Phelan (3361)

Lived Environments & Sustainability Themes : Beverly Moss (2367.07S, 2367.08, 3020), Liz Weiser (3019), Jared Gardner (3350, 3360, and 3340), John Jones (3022.02)

Traditions, Cultures, and Transformations Themes: David Brewer, Luke Wilson (3260, 3262); Merrill Kaplan (3262)

REGD Foundation: Corinne Sugino (2176), Luke Wilson (2221), Beth Hewittt (2281,2282, 2381, 2581)

Course Director Procedures [pdf] (opens in a new window)296.67 KB

Associated Faculty Coordinators:
Frank Donoghue
Susan Lang
Luke Wilson

Graduate Placement Officers
Jonathan Buehl
Brad Dubos

Language Proficiency Coordinator
Galey Modan

Lord Denney's Players Creative Director
Sarah Neville

MA Advising Meeting Coordinator
Jake Risinger

Nationwide Graduate Student Fellowship Program Coordinator
Jonathan Buehl

Parliamentarian
Jim Fredal

Procedures Oversight Designees
David Brewer (junior POD)
Clare Simmons (senior POD)

Study Abroad Coordinator
Chris Highley

Interdisciplinary Program and Center Directors

Director of American Indian Studies, Elissa Washuta
Director of Asian-American Studies, Pranav Jani
Director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Chris Highley
Director of the Center for the Study and Teaching of Writing, Susan Lang
Director of Disability Studies, Margaret Price
Director of Global Arts & Humanities Discovery Theme, Wendy Hesford
Director of Medical Humanities & Social Sciences and MHSS Minor, Jim Phelan
Director of the Mershon Center, Dorothy Noyes
Director of Popular Culture Studies and Pop Culture Minor, Jared Gardner
Director of Project Narrative, Jim Phelan
Director of Scandinavian Studies, Merrill Kaplan
Director of the Women’s Place, Andreá Williams

Annual Review Policies

Information from the College of Arts & Sciences on Promotion & Tenure

Chair of Promotion & Tenure Committee: Drew Jones

Annual Review Timeline for Assistant Professors, AY20-21 (for CY 2020)

February 1: Deadline for 4^th year review materials.
February 19: Deadline for annual review materials from those not doing 4^thyear reviews.
Please follow the submission instructions established by Drew in his emails, and reach out to Drew with any questions.

Annual Review Timeline for Associate and Full Professors, AY20-21 (for CY 2020)

January 20: The assistant to the chair will send a call for annual review materials via email. Blank annual activity report will also be attached. Faculty will submit materials via email to Megan.
February 19: Deadline for annual review materials, as well as partner requests from Associate Professors, sent via email to the assistant to the chair.
By February 26: Associate Professors and Full Professors are matched by the Chair; Associate Professor materials sent by Megan to their review partners via email.
April 16: Draft letters of Associate Professors due to the assistant to the chair.
Summer 2021: Finalized letters will be sent to all Professors from the assistant to the chair.

In 2011 the English Department instituted some new policies that have already improved our ability to support the (qualitatively and quantitatively) tremendous workload carried by our Associated Faculty in the classroom, specifically by way of teaching observations and annual reviews.

FAQs about Teaching Observations and Annual Reviews:

When should you arrange for a teaching observation?

Please arrange for a teaching observation in every course that you are teaching for the first time in the department of English at OSU.
If you are only teaching courses in which you have been observed before, please arrange for one teaching observation every three years, in a course of your choice. For example, if you are observed in 2017, you are next required to be observed in 2020.
When you feel like you could use feedback or additional documentation for your professional portfolio. Even when you’re not required to have an official observation, it can be arranged for a faculty member to visit your class.

Who should perform your teaching observation?

Faculty in associated fields are already expecting to be approached about scheduling observations, so please don’t hesitate to contact them directly. Alternatively, if you are planning to go on the job market, consider asking a faculty member who is familiar with your research, so that person can address both your teaching and research in the same letter. If you are uncertain about whom to ask, or if you would like someone else to make the initial contact with a potential observer, e-mail one of the on-duty Associated Faculty co-coordinators for assistance.

What does a teaching observation consist of?

Once arrangements have been made, you send your observer a copy of the syllabus and make accessible any reading materials or worksheets that you think it would be useful to have during class. The observer will write up a short description and evaluation of your instruction on that day, perhaps along with comments about your syllabus or other materials you shared. The observer should share a draft of this write-up with you, and ask you to correct any factual errors (such as the date of the observation or the number of students enrolled in the class), before submitting it electronically to the Co-Coordinators of Associated Faculty and to the assistant to the chair.

When you approach a potential observer to request an observation, you are encouraged to remind them that an observation write-up for an Associated Faculty member does not have to be as elaborately detailed as an observation that will be used for Promotion and Tenure purposes. The write-up does not need to include a step-by-step account of everything that goes on in the classroom; it should be about 1-2 pages and include a summary of strengths and weaknesses, including unusually excellent teaching that should be taken into account when Honors classes are being assigned and award nominations are being made, as well as difficulties that might be remedied by utilizing the services of the Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning or other means of support.

What is an annual review?

Like all faculty, you will be asked to submit a dossier to the department once a year. These materials will be turned in to an account that will be set up on Box. The dossier will consist of the previous calendar year’s records of your teaching and your students’ evaluations along with a CV, any observation letters that have been generated, and a brief summary of one set of discursive evaluations. The Co-Coordinators of the Associated Faculty will then summarize the information in an annual review letter.

You are only required to have an in-person annual review meeting every third year. However, if you find an in-person meeting valuable, you can request to schedule one with a Co-coordinator to discuss the contents of the dossier. You also may request that the Chair of the English Department be present at that meeting as well.

A letter based on this meeting will be generated for your file. The letter will be used within the department when hiring and renewal decisions are made and may be consulted by the scheduler as well.

Annual review letters as well as other personnel materials, such as letters of commendation, will be kept in a departmental personnel file. You may access this file at any time by making a request of the Chair and assistant to the chair.

When does the dossier need to be assembled?

At the beginning of spring semester, you will receive an e-mail containing detailed instructions about how to assemble your dossier, how to schedule your review meeting (if needed that year), and the information for submitting materials to Box. Review meetings can take place through the end of April. If you have not received your discursive evaluations from the previous semester at the beginning of the following one, please let the co-coordinators know so that they can help track them down.

Peer Teaching Observation Resource Group

Adélékẹ̀́ Adéẹ̀kọ́
David Brewer
Jim Fredal
Beth Hewitt
Susan Lang
Sarah Neville
Jesse Schotter
Elizabeth Sheehan
Luke Wilson
Karen Winstead

Departmental and University Graduate Student Information and Policies

The Graduate School website houses information on Graduate Associate appointment dates, benefits, and pay schedule.

*The website linked above includes information on graduate associate access to the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS). If you would like to opt out of OPERS, you must fill out the OPERS Exemption Request form within the first 30 days of employment.

[pdf] - Some links on this page are to Adobe .pdf files requiring the use of Adobe Reader. If you need these files in a more accessible format, please contact english.communications@osu.edu.