The origins of a department of academic, creative, and professional writing / Daniel J. Royer and Roger Gilles -- Internal friction in a new independent department of writing and what the external conflict resolution consultants recommended / Eleanor Agnew and Phyllis Surrency Dallas -- Writing identity: the independent writing department as a disciplinary center / Anne Aronson and Craig Hansen -- Small but good: how a specialized writing program goes it alone / Louise Rehling -- Independence fostering community: the benefits of an independent writing program at a small liberal arts college / Elizabeth J. Deis, Lowell T. Frye, and Katherine J. Weese -- No longer discourse technicians: redefining place and purpose in an independent Canadian writing program / Brian Turner and Judith Kearns -- Learning as we g(r)o(w): strategizing the lessons of a fledgling rhetoric and writing department / Jane E. Hindman -- Creating two departments in writing: one past and one future / Barry M. Maid -- Who wants composition? Reflections on the rise and fall of an independent program / Chris M. Anson -- Revising the dream: graduate students, independent writing programs, and the future of English studies / Jessica Yood -- Locating writing programs in research universities / Peggy O'Neill and Ellen Schendel -- Wagering tenure by signing on with independent writing programs / Angela Crow -- A rose by every other name: the excellent problem of independent writing programs / Wendy Bishop -- Keeping (in) our places, keeping our two face / Theresa Enos -- Managing to make a difference / Thomas P. Miller -- Stasis and change: the role of independent composition programs and the dynamic nature of literacy / Cynthia L. Selfe, Gail E. Hawisher, and Patricia Ericsson -- Bigger than a discipline? / Kurt Spellmeyer -- Afterword: countering the naysayers: independent writing programs as successful experiments in American education / Larry W. Burton.