ABSTRACT
This chapter makes the somewhat optimistic argument that even in times of
austerity, writing program development can be rewarding if one is willing to
be an “ecopreneur” (Ivanko, 2008) who is committed to make a living while
supporting the health of others through selective use of economic and sustainable
practices. Ecopreneurs find a way to support themselves by being “creative,”
“flexible,” “freedom minded,” and “risk tolerant” enough to “not only transform
the landscape but coalesce into a movement to transform global problems into
opportunities for restoration and healing” (Ivanko, 2008). Using our own experi -
ences developing an undergraduate professional writing major at Southwest
Minnesota State University (SMSU), this chapter will explore the ways eco -
preneurship played an important role in starting a new writing major and sus -
taining its growth over the last 4 years. Part of this exploration will include some
discussion as to why it made sense for our institution to enlarge the major beyond
technical communication to include the broader category of professional writing.
To understand the exigency of this argument, it is important to consider the
