“Wild, wild west” or program administration? Traversing politics as writing administrators

Using Douglas Hesse's (2002) work on political areas as a framework, this article analyzes the lessons learned about the nuances of shifting political junctures in writing program administration during the pandemic crisis, especially as the use of technology has altered pedagogical and political dynamics. Specifically, this article examines Hesse's (2002) four areas as the basis of introspection: the department, the institution, the profession, and the public; finally, this article concludes with digital suggestions on moving forward through this tumultuous time. Stories from technical writing and composition faculty are used as anecdotes for the lessons learned on perceptions of the additional stressors of writing administration politicking. Ultimately, the faculty stories that traversed the pandemic showed that we must take further advantage of online writing instruction (in all its various forms) and maintain the OWI Principles if we are to manage academic politicking at these various institutional levels.