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I have been associated with several writing centres in the past and observe the writing centre we have at present. My own observations are these: 1. I believe a University Writing Centre must have a disciplinary basis--whether that basis be an English Department, and Education Department or a Rhetoric Department. This disciplinary basis is important both for political and quality control reasons. Some departments or department must be prepared to come to bat for the Writing Centre. And the Centre itself must have allegiances to a discplinary field so that it keeps current and keeps, if it all possible, doing research. In other words, some measures must be in place to ensure the quality of instructors and those instructors should be rewarded (ie real jobs) for their teaching abilities and their contributions to the profession. 2. The University Writing Centre must report in some way to the Academic side of University Administration. I am personally opposed to Writing centres reporting, for example, to the Dean of Students or the Administrative Dean. Although some writing centres exist as part of Student Services, I am on principle opposed to this model. Such services are just too dispensible depending on the whim of the Adminstration. Such services too do not have an academic accountability which I believe is essential for the continuing development of an effective centre. I am sure that centres in these circumstances do exist, but their quality then depends usually on the good will of one or more people. Not a good situation.