English - and Communication Studies

Abstract

The discipline area of 'English' at New England has gone through many phases, from its inception as: a joint Department with Classics; for many years a part-time function as the centre for most performed (and studied) University drama; as one of the most heavily language-weighted, and language-productive English departments in the country; as the third largest English Department in Australia; as the University's largest department in total undergraduate numbers; or, later, the Faculty's largest postgraduate area; since amalgamation in 1989, as a joint department of English and Communication Studies, with, for a time, an outreach teaching arm at Coffs Harbour; and now as part of the recently constituted School of English, Communication and Theatre. These phases have been accompanied by several cramped physical locations - initially in 'Booloominbah', when linked with Classics; variously in the old Study Block and the Belshaw Building, but with its head still in 'Booloominbah'; as a foundation department there occupying (south) Milton building; and, from 1969 in the main Faculty Building on the Lower Ground floor. It has had in its life: six full professors, for a time filling its 1960s-1970s establishment of two of them; in all, eight associate professors; and once a total staff body of nearly 30. Its living postgraduates make up more than SOD, while the (former) undergraduate body, now numbering thousands, has changed very considerably over time in age composition and purpose for studying, at the point when they commenced study here.