Renuka Uthappa

Taught "Introduction to College Writing" and "College Writing and Inquiry" to first-year students, many of whom were the first in their families to attend college. Developed scaffolded lesson plans that helped students of all levels comprehend complex material. Maintained office hours designed to be a safe place for struggling students to ask for and receive personalized assistance. Provided an empathetic ear to students undergoing crises outside of the classroom and referred them to the appropriate campus resources. Developed grading evaluation rubrics by which to assess student writing. Conferenced with all students one-on-one to help them identify their writing issues and take the initiative to solve them.

Provided a safe and comfortable environment for temporary residents/clients of a small facility that houses people who have recently left psychiatric lock-down and need a place where they can stabalize before returning to the larger community. Did initial intake paperwork and procedures for new clients. Reported any issues of concern arising during the intake procedure. Ensured clients' safety and comfort by listening and comforting during times of crisis, moderating inter-client disputes, cleaning, and preparing home-cooked meals. Worked as part of a care team which included a house manager, a psychiatric nurse, a social worker, and a peer support specialist. Paid very close attention and followed all rules while dispensing the daily medications that were a part of each client's care. Tailored my overall approach to each client based on an assessment of their individual personalities and needs.

Taught first-year compostion and first-year public speaking classes in Adrian College's CORE department. Created lesson plans designed to help students meet the department's learning outcomes. Used my office hours as a safe space where struggling students could get help. Developed and taught an Honors course called "Disability, Rhetoric, and Power," the first ever disability studies course at the college. Helped a small group of students begin to organize a mental health outreach and support club. Served as an academic advisor for first-year students. Participated in policy discussions as a member of the Honors Advisory Committee and the Disability Issues Advisory Committee.

Same responsibilities and achievements as noted in the Adjunct Professor position noted above, but the classes taught were "Introduction to College Writing" and "Introduction to Public Speaking"

Taught several sections of Honors Service Learning, a class in which students volunteered at local non-profit agencies and wrote in conjunction with their work. Did outreach to recurit agencies to partner with the service learning program and maintained regular communication with agency liasons. As a member of the English Department's Community Writing Task Force, contributed to the development of the community engagement based writing program noted above. As a member of the English Department's Assessment Committee, contributed to development of a plan by which to produce large-scale, end-of-the-semester assessments of one assignment in each of three composition courses. Participated in two of those assessments.