Two English Professors Publish Lead Chapter in New Book on Coauthoring With Undergraduates

Shane Graham, professor of English, and Joyce Kinkead, distinguished professor emeritus of English, are authors of the lead chapter in a new book on coauthorship with student researchers.

Coauthoring with Undergraduates in Writing Studies, edited by Laurie Grobman and Jane Greer and published by University Press of Colorado/Utah State University Press, showcases why and how coauthorship between faculty and undergraduates is a vital site for scholarly engagement, professional development and applied learning.

Graham and Kinkead’s chapter was selected to lead the volume because it is comprehensive in describing the conditions and situations that promote productive coauthoring relationships between faculty and students.

In the humanities, traditionally, sole authorship has been the gold standard, so changing that involved establishing a culture of undergraduate research, which has been nurtured by Utah State University’s historic commitment to students conducting meaningful research, scholarship and creative activity.

The authors demonstrate how being at a land-grant research university provides a supportive environment for their work and the work of their colleagues who have re-thought pedagogical approaches, provided models for student authors, diversified scholarly production and created opportunities for meaningful relationships. For students, this focus on coauthoring in professional venues has influenced post-graduation work and further study.

Graham’s work with undergraduate John Walters on an edited volume, Langston Hughes and the South African Drum Generation: The Correspondence, serves as the hallmark example of how faculty members can collaborate with students.

Kinkead cites several instances of co-authorship with students from her 40 years on the faculty, including an essay with a cornerback on the USU Football Team. Additionally, the fact that 85% of the faculty in the Department of English have mentored students on undergraduate research projects and that 65% have coauthored, defined broadly, provided numerous examples.

Inquiry permeates every field at USU as a research university. A research culture determines attitudes, behaviors, values, and norms for both students and faculty. USU’s faculty roles and rewards clearly delineate how researchers' career paths can be influenced positively by interaction and collaboration with students. The Council on Undergraduate Research acknowledged USU’s Undergraduate Research Program as stellar with national recognition in 2021. A contributing factor to this award, according to Lindsay Currie, Council on Undergraduate Research executive officer, was “an impressive number of student-authored publications.”