Hey Will,
Here's my input.

Strengths:
- Professors who are writers, not just academics or scholarly writers.
- Classes bypass the prose aspect of writing and delve into structure.  That's good because it teaches us at the level we need to be taught.  We've all been wowing our teachers since middle school, and we now need to go beyond impressing the teacher to learning in-depth things about writing.
- Independent study classes.

Weaknesses:
- I think the biggest weakness is the misconception that writers just need an empty room and we'll be fine.  Before we can get more resources, books, guest lectures, etc, there must be a change in the attitude about the program from the guys in charge about the needs of the students.
- Not enough faculty.  Not enough classes.  Not enough diversity within faculty knowledge - nonfiction?  literary fiction?
- (From what I've observed) graduate and undergraduate classes that are too similar.
- Discontinuity of classes depending on which professor teaches that class in any given semester.

Opportunities:
- Grad program one of a small number in the US (compared to creative writing programs).
- Established program.  Well-known university.  Big fancy new building.  All equal great opportunity for growth.
- Relationships with publishing houses and such for internships.

Threats:
- Apathy - Relying on inertia to grow and develop the program.

All that to say, I feel like I'll leave in December knowing more than when I began and being more prepared to write and publish than before.
Hi from New Zealand, by the way.
Sarah

----- Original Message -----
From: William Prescott <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, May 17, 2007 2:29 pm
Subject: Re: [pwa-l] strengths and Weaknesses of the PW program
To: [log in to unmask]


> Lauren,
>
>  Thanks so much and do keep in touch if you approach the deans again.
>
>
>  Best,
>
>  Will
>
>  [log in to unmask] wrote: Dear Will Prescott,
>
>  As a result of some of my frustrations with my PW Capstone class this
> semester, I talked with some fellow students and drew up some
> consensus opinions about what undergraduate students need in a
> capstone course. I talked to the dean informally instead of presenting
> the list, but I thought I would offer it to you if it helps.
>
>  Aside from what I've included in the attachment, I've felt that the
> PW program lacks presence in the college. To remedy this, I think all
> PW students should be required to send out something for publishing. I
> think the Intro course or the Short story course should spend a few
> classtime preparing something to send out for publishing. If this is
> done early enough in the semester, everyone should receive a letter
> rejecting or accepting their piece. It would be a great way to break
> into the publishing world, and those who receive rejection letters
> also learn a valueable lesson: they won't die from rejection!
>
>  The PW program also needs to seek internships for PW students and
> encourage students to intern. I didn't get an internship, because I
> couldn't find any available that weren't either news writing, pr, or
> broadcast. The same was true at the last Journalism Job Fair. I know
> there are some magazines in the city, and I'd imagine Sooner Magazine
> would hire student interns for research if they don't already. Perhaps
> they do, but that information was not easily available.
>
>  I hope this helps! Let me know how it goes.
>
>  -Lauren Kula
>
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: William Prescott
>  Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 4:42 pm
>  Subject: [pwa-l] strengths and Weaknesses of the PW program
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>  > Dear all,
>  >
>  > All those things you think and don't say about our PW program...
> say it.
>  >
>  > As many of you know, I have been documenting the history and future
> of
>  > the PW program in an independent study course this past semester.
>  >
>  > My final drafts are due by the end of the month. The most important
>  > document includes an analysis of the program's:
>  >
>  > 1. strengths
>  > 2. weaknesses
>  > 3. opportunities to improve --- what can be done to strengthen the
> program?
>  > 4. Threats -- possible threats that would weaken the program
>  >
>  > My work would be strengthened with any comments from PW students and
>  > alums. Feel free to reply to the listserv or, if you prefer, call me
>  > at 343-4096.
>  >
>  > Thanks,
>  >
>  > Will Prescott
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > William D. Prescott
>  >
>  > University of Oklahoma
>  >
>  > office no. 405-325-2710
>  >
>  > [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>  William D. Prescott
>
>  University of Oklahoma
>
>  office no. 405-325-2710
>
>  [log in to unmask]