The residency is an integral part of each semester, and each nine-day residency, held on campus in early summer and again in January, begins the new semester with a demanding program of creative writing workshops in which student work is discussed and evaluated. Students also attend craft lectures on the history, theory and critical approaches to the genres, faculty/student presentations and one-on-one consultations, in addition to presentations by visiting writers, editors and agents. With a low student-faculty ratio that never exceeds 4:1 and typically is 3:1, students have important access to instruction from mentors. In addition, workshops are kept small, never more than 6-10 student writers. This allows students to receive direct contact with experienced writers and their peers, providing a stimulating and supportive community of writers.
Housing and meals are provided to students at no additional charge. Summer residency housing is provided on the Converse campus and Winter residency housing is provided at a local hotel.
We strongly encourage students to participate in the residential living option arranged for the program’s residency sessions, as it helps to involve the students more directly in the Converse University community; however, students may certainly elect to commute or to make their own housing and board arrangements.
To read about the residency and overall program experience, check out several of the blogs on our program’s blog.
