The Virtues of Independence
http://www.stc.org/confproceed/1998/PDFs/00198.PDF

Rehling, Louise
STC Proceedings
1998

Abstract:

Most technical communication programs are housed within departments that may not respect our field's separate identity nor share interdisciplinary concerns. An alternative is program independence. Although currently not the norm, and entailing potential practical and political drawbacks for some programs, such independence may be most appropriate for programs aiming to prepare students for technical communication careers. The benefits of independence can include: focusing the curriculum more adaptively; improving faculty status and teaching by balancing traditional academic norms with workplace standards and methods; and creating more powerful and effective identities for both our programs and our profession.