The OpEd Project Workshop

Faculty across ACS institutions are invited to apply to the ACS’s sponsorship of 20 spots in any of The OpEd Project’s “Write to Change the World” virtual workshops this summer.
Applications are due April 14, and selected participants will be informed no later than April 21.

Watch The OpEd Project’s introductory video:

About the “Write to Change the World” Workshop

The OpEd Project‘s “Write to Change the World” workshop will help participants frame their expertise as they write for public audiences and, according to their mission, “change who writes history.”  This workshop will 

explore the source of credibility; the patterns and elements of persuasion; the difference between being 'right' and being effective; how to preach beyond the choir; and how to think bigger about what you know—to have more impact in the world. Participants emerge with concrete results (op-ed drafts and more), and access to our national network of journalist mentors for individual follow up. Our workshops are also designed to inspire and cultivate a greater sense of social responsibility by clarifying our potential impact on the world. 

See the available dates below, and read more about workshop and The OpEd Project here.

I participated in this workshop in late 2022, and there are two reasons why I approached the ACS to sponsor some faculty participants.  First, the content guided me through much more than “how to write an op-ed” and instead helped me think in new ways about what and how I want to contribute to public conversations.  Next, it was the single best virtual workshop I’ve attended in terms of facilitation or “workshop pedagogy.”  

–Nancy Chick (Director of Faculty Development, Rollins College), who’s coordinating this program through the ACS

How Does the ACS’s Sponsorship Work?

The ACS will sponsor up to 20 faculty to participate in both of the following activities: 

1.  Selected faculty will choose the workshop dates that align with their schedule.  (See available workshop dates below.)   In the workshop, each faculty member will work alongside other participants from across the country, allowing them to test their ideas with highly motivated and inspiring people from all walks of life.  (The OpEd Project’s workshop is regularly $450/participant. Thanks to the ACS’s sponsorship, selected faculty will participate for free!)
   
2.  On Wed, August 16, from 10-11:30am EDT (9-10:30am CDT), all ACS-sponsored participants will gather via Zoom to share their op-eds and publication plans, highlight lessons learned, and brainstorm strategies for sharing what they learned with their campus colleagues and students.  Derek Miller (Community Relationships and Community-Engaged Learning, University of Richmond) will facilitate this session.

The “why you want to participate” questions are the following, adapted from The OpEd Project’s form:

• Describe your expertise. (100 words)
• How will the broader community benefit from your voice/ideas? What do you contribute that’s missing from the public conversation? (100 words)
• Why are your voice and/or ideas underrepresented? (100 words)

* Please note that The OpEd Project has a few requirements that selected faculty will have to confirm: attending all sessions in full without skipping any segments, participating fully with cameras on, and having access to stable internet and video.  

Applications are due April 14. Selected participants will be informed no later than April 21.

Two-Day Intensives (Two 3.5-Hour Sessions)

• May 10 & 11 (10am – 1:30pm ET)
• May 18 & 19 (12pm – 3:30pm ET)
• May 23 & 24 (3 – 6:30pm ET)
• June 6 & 7 (3 – 6:30pm ET)
• June 15 & 16 (10am – 1:30pm ET)
• June 28 & 29 (2 – 5:30pm ET)
• July 20 & 21 (10am – 1:30pm ET)
• August 9 & 10 (2 – 5:30pm ET)

Four-Part Series (Four 2-Hour Sessions)

• July 8, 15, 22 & 29 (2 – 4pm ET)

Questions? Contact Nancy Chick (Rollins College, nchick@rollins.edu), who’s coordinating this ACS-sponsored summer program.