Resilience:
Adaptive Persistence in Computers & Writing

Building upon the 2026 theme of Digital Rhetorics and Sustainable change, this year’s theme invites us to consider the ways in which we lean into resilience in our work. Resilience describes a way of adapting or growing despite changing conditions. We are in uncertain times, and part of the work of sustainability is the work of resilience. 

 

“Rhetoric is a resilient art.” Kenneth Walker and Lauren Cagle, in a call to introduce resilience rhetorics, use this claim to open their introduction to a special issue on resilience in the Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry. The special issue goes on to describe resilience through a variety of frameworks including ecological, feminist, technoscientific and more. Resilience informs relationships with ourselves, technology, our communities, and the world around us. In each of these relationships, it is resilience that affords sustainable change in our work and our discipline. 

 

For Computers & Writing 2027, we welcome projects that consider how our work illustrates resilience in the fields of computers and writing, projects that recognize personal and professional resilience amidst challenging times, and projects that contribute to resilient futures of writing and learning. How do writing, rhetoric, and digital technologies help us understand the concept of resilience? In which ways are writing, rhetoric, and digital technologies resilient in themselves? How does the work that we do serve to rejuvenate both us as well as our communities? How do we re-charge and keep showing up, even through times of crisis? 

 

Please note that we welcome discussions of pedagogy and technology defined very broadly. Consider how the work that you do in your teaching, research, and administration is impacted by or integrated with technology. Historically, this conference has been host to projects which discuss both digital and analog approaches to writing and learning in higher education.

 

Additionally, with the decision to de-charter CCCC, we will have space and time available for special interest groups to hold business meetings or group discussions. If you are involved with a scholarly community group and this is of interest to you, please email the conference organizers. 

 

Types of Sessions

All sessions will be made available for online attendees to watch and engage. 

• Onsite Individual Presentation (30 minutes including discussion)

• Online Individual Presentation (30 minutes including discussion)

• Onsite Panel Presentation (75 minutes including discussion)

• Online Panel Presentation (75 minutes including discussion)

• Hybrid Panel Presentation (75 minutes including discussion; includes both in-person and online presenters)*

• Workshop (asynchronous sharing of materials; events will start one week prior to the conference and may continue up to one week post conference)

• Digital Poster (all posters will be presented online; in-person attendees will have the opportunity to present during an in-person session in digital format)

 

* Hybrid panel presentations should have at least one panelist in person. 

 

Walker, Kenneth, and Lauren E Cagle. “Resilience Rhetorics in Science, Technology, and Medicine.” Poroi 15.1 (2020): n. pag. Web.

 

Update Estimated/Aspirational** Timeline

• 10/8/26: Conference Website & Proposal Portal Updated/Posted 

• 11/15/26: Conference Proposals Due

• 1/10/27: Peer Reviews Due

• 2/1/27: Acceptances Sent Out & Registration Portal

**We’re being honest! 

 

Submission Guidelines

Participants can elect to propose a panel, individual presentation, digital poster, or asynchronous workshop. 

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Proposals will ask for presenter name and contact information, a title, a 3000-character abstract, and 1-3 categories.

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Categories for this year's conference are: 

•    Access

•    Activism

•    AI- Artificial Intelligence

•    Assessment

•    Ethics

•    Equity

•    First-Year Writing

•    Futures

•    Institutions

•    Pedagogy

•    Practice

•    Professional Writing

•    Technical Writing

•    Technology

•    Theory

•    Writing Centers