The Red River Graduate Student Conference (RRGSC) is a student organized event that concentrates on the field of English studies.  This spring marks the 5th year that North Dakota State University (NDSU) graduate students from the English department have hosted this conference.  The RRGSC began as an opportunity for NDSU English graduate students to practice running and participating in a professional conference.  The following year, NDSU invited graduate students from neighboring English graduate programs to participate.  Over the last three years, the range of participants has expanded to include 10 schools throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota*.  Each year the number of participating schools that attend the conference has increased, and this year students will continue to represent programs that have not participated in previous years**.  This growth over such a short period of time represents the exciting interest and commitment area universities have shown in developing a community of practice.  The 2007 conference tested the limits of a one day conference, so this year it was necessary to include Friday afternoon and evening in order to allow time for all conference events.  Also, due to three years of less than favorable weather, the 2008 conference was moved from the end of February to the end of March.  This move will not only address the North Dakota winter, but it will also accommodate first-year graduate students (allowing more time in preparing new work) as well as giving students completing their degree an opportunity to share their graduate papers and thesis projects.

*Participating schools to date include:

• North Dakota State University
• University of North Dakota
• Minnesota State University Moorhead
• Minnesota State University Mankato
• University of Minnesota
• University of Minnesota—Duluth
• St. Cloud State University
• University of South Dakota

**Participating schools new in 2008 (so far):

• Winona State University