LEXINGTON, Va., June 22, 2025—The Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies (ERHS) at Virginia Military Institute recently celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the implementation of a revised English curriculum that broke disciplinary boundaries and integrated the study of literature, philosophy, oral and written communication, and fine arts by embracing the shared historical tradition of rhetoric. Launched in 2013, with the first cadets in the curriculum graduating in 2016, it emphasizes active and applied learning, thus preparing English majors to become educated, engaged citizen-soldiers. Cadets’ command of language is developed both critically and creatively through the study of a range of humanistic works and practice in effective forms of expression.

Col. Emily P. Miller, ERHS department head, and Col. Christina R. McDonald, Institute Writing Program director, co-authored an article that documents the process by which faculty members created the new curriculum. “A Radical Response to Declining Enrollments in the Humanities: A Case Study” was recently published in a special double issue of the South Atlantic Review. The issue includes essays by scholars and teachers who open a conversation across disciplines by proposing creative and innovative solutions to the challenges faced by English, world languages, and the humanities.

In their article, Miller and McDonald shared the challenges they confronted. “The questions with which we began to revise the major at VMI were daunting ones: What is English? What is rhetoric? What are humanistic studies?” With the aim of offering advice to others who may confront the challenges of large-scale curricular change, they emphasized the importance of fostering synergistic relationships among departmental, academic, and institutional missions, as well as mutually productive alliances with agencies both on campus and in the surrounding community. “Our path forward, individually and collectively has been fueled by steady institutional support, affirmation by respected professional friends, and an invaluable esprit de corps with current colleagues, who contribute their creative energies to strengthening the English major.”

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