May 18-19, 2000

ITEM 107-1008-R0500  Resolution Concerning the Retirement of Richard R. Adler, Professor of English, College of Arts and Sciences; The University of Montana-Missoula

THAT: Richard R. Adler, Professor of English, in his 29 years of meritorious service to The University of Montana, has earned the appreciation and commendation of the Board of Regents and the title, Professor of English Emeritus.

EXPLANATION: Professor Adler received his B.A. from Montana State University in 1957. In 1971 he received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana. That same year he joined the English Department at The University of Montana and created the English Teaching Program. During his 29 years of service, Professor Adler has indefatigably taught, researched and written on the teaching of writing. In 1990 he published a book, Writing Together: A Peer Editing Approach to Composition. He has published many articles and given almost 100 presentations and workshops regarding effective pedagogy in English language arts.

Professor Adler has been a mainstay of the English Department's Teacher Training program, developing new graduate courses, supervising masters papers, and working collaboratively with the School of Education. In 1973, he was honored as the University of Montana's Teacher of the Year.

He has been particularly generous in advising prospective English teachers and in sharing his expertise across the campus, the state and the country. His intelligence, dedication and energy have inspired hundreds of prospective and experienced teachers. He has taught teachers of English as a Visiting Professor in Canada, Greece, and across the Near East. He was a Fulbright Scholar in New Zealand during 1984‑88.

Throughout his career, Professor Adler has been an active leader at the national and State levels. A long-time member of the National Council of Teachers of English, Professor Adler has served as chair and member of numerous NCTE Committees. He has recently been elected as an officer to NCTE's International Assembly for Teaching English. Professor Adler has also served as President of the Montana Association of Teachers of English Arts (1972) and as Chair of the Northwest Regional Conference of NCTE (1990).

Montana has benefited enormously from Professor Adler's work with teachers. As founder of the Montana Writing Project, he has co-directed or directed the Project since 1978. Because of his on-going leadership in the Montana Writing Project, Professor Adler has helped teachers improve their teaching of writing at all grade levels and in all content areas. He was also instrumental in starting the Calgary Writing Project.

For his exciting classroom performance and his sound reputation throughout the country, Professor Adler has earned the respect, admiration and gratitude of colleagues and students alike. In recognition of his accomplishments and meritorious service, the Department of English recommends Professor Richard R. Adler for Emeritus status.