The OWCA has 5 permanent committees. Each committee is chaired by 2 Executive Board Members.

OWCA members can serve on any committee, according to their interests and skill sets. Committee work is virtual and does not require set term limits or time commitments.

To join a committee, please contact their email address below. No application is needed to join.

Diversity & Social Justice Committee

The Diversity & Social Justice Committee champions diversity efforts within the organization and facilitates our yearly member demographic questionnaire. Committee members help analyze data from our demographic questionnaire, revise the questionnaire for inclusivity, review the conference call for proposals, and initiate other diversity and social justice projects. This committee has helped write the OWCA’s Anti-Racism Statement and is currently working to develop a diversity statement for the OWCA.

The committee broadly understands social justice in the context of Jones & Walton (2018), where social justice is invested in advocating for and amplifying the “agency of oppressed people–those who are materially, socially, politically, and/or economically under-resourced” in ways that center “a collaborative, respectful approach that moves past description and exploration…to taking action to redress inequities” (p. 242). The committee recognizes the ambiguity and appropriation of the term “Social Justice” and seek to conduct specific, actionable work centering marginalized groups.

To join this committee, just send an email to diversity@onlinewritingcenters.org.

Accessibility Committee

The Accessibility Committee champions accessibility efforts within the organization and develops accessibility guides for the OWCA annual conference. Committee members help review the conference call for proposals, advise on accessibility requirements for the conference and other events, and initiate other accessibility projects. This committee is currently working to develop an accessibility statement and action items for the OWCA.

To join this committee, just send an email to access@onlinewritingcenters.org.

Conference Committee

The Conference Committee plans and organizes the OWCA’s annual virtual conference. Committee members help write the call for proposals, review proposals, and create the conference schedule. They also advise on the conference website and facilitate sessions during the conference.

To join this committee, just send an email to conference@onlinewritingcenters.org.

Virtual Events Committee

The Virtual Events Committee (VEC) schedules and facilitates small virtual events for OWCA members and the wider writing center community, including quarterly webinars and bi-monthly reading clubs. Committee members help recruit presenters, advertise and plan events, provide technical support to attendees and presenters, and create accessible event recordings and materials. The committee is dedicated to hosting events that can be attended as professional development for both writing center administrators and tutors.

To join this committee, just send an email to events@onlinewritingcenters.org.

Mentoring & Resources Committee

The Mentoring & Resources Committee coordinates the OWCA mentoring program and maintains our public scholarship database. Committee members help facilitate mentoring cohorts, assess the mentoring program/process for improvements, find new scholarship to add to our database, and initiate other programs and resources to support those engaged in online writing center work.