English professor Karl Zender has been appointed to lead the Division of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies' examination of the composition program and writing instruction. Division Dean Elizabeth Langland named Zender the faculty assistant for curricular development in late March. His assignment is to review the division's role in offering writing instruction on campus and to develop appropriate proposals for change. "In my time here as dean, it has become clear to me the current program is not financially viable and could perhaps better serve our undergraduates' needs for developing essential writing skills," Langland said in a letter to deans and faculty leaders. "I am also aware that UC Davis is one of the only UC campuses with an upper-division composition re-quirement, and I have begun to wonder whether the disadvantages of this arrangement outweigh the advantages." Zender plans to review composition practices at other in-stitutions across the nation as well as within the UC system. He will travel to the annual 4C's Conference on college composition and communication next week in Minneapolis and then visit some Midwestern and East-ern universities to gath-er ideas on current practices in teaching writing to undergraduates. He also plans to consult widely with UC Davis Academic Senate leaders as well as with individuals and groups throughout the campus. "It's a complicated issue, with pedagogical as well as fiscal implications," Zender said. "The present requirements have been in place for a number of years, so a thorough review seems appropriate." A goal of the review is to develop a proposal for revising the Letters and Science undergraduate composition requirement by the beginning of fall quarter 2000. The approved changes would take place in the 2001-02 academic year. Zender, a faculty member in the English department for more than 25 years and a former chair, is also a former director of the Composition Program. He also has extensive academic senate and administrative service, including a term as chair of the Committee on Educational Policy.