A new professor of poetry has been hired, Chris Forham. And I believe creative nonfiction writer Susan Neville will be playing a role in the program. These are the only names I have heard mentioned, but I assume Dan Barden will be involved. Anyone have any solid information?

This is the information released by Butler University: The Writers Studio at Butler . . . Room to Create

Thank you for your interest in the inaugural year of Butler University's Graduate Program in Creative Writing, what will soon be the only MFA in Creative Writing in Indianapolis. This master's degree program consists of thirty hours of study: eight three-credit courses and six hours of formal thesis work with an advisor. Many of these courses will be offered in the evening, and you may take them at your own pace. (If you take a full-time course load, you will finish the program in two years.)

What do I need to do to apply?

Send a standard English Department graduate school application to:

Professor Susan Neville

Department of English

Butler University

4600 Sunset Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46208

Include in the application a writing sample in your preferred genre (twelve pages of poetry or thirty pages of prose), a statement of interest, two letters of recommendation, and a transcript from your undergraduate institution.

Where can I get a standard English Department graduate school application? Can I do this electronically?

You may request a graduate school application through the Admissions Office at Butler University, (317) 940- 8100, or you may apply on-line at www.butler.edu; click on "admissions" at the top of the page, and follow the prompts.

Is this an MFA program?

It will be. We cannot advertise it as such at this moment because we are undergoing review for accreditation. Sometime within the next ten months, we expect to be approved.

How much does it cost?

Graduate credits at Butler are an incredible bargain: $1500.00 per three-credit course. (Total tuition for the MFA program is therefore $15,000.) Unfortunately, there will be no tuition assistance for MFA students in the first several years of the program. However, f you already have an advanced degree in English, we may be able to set you up with teaching.

What writers will I be able to work with?

The staff will consist of both Butler full-time faculty and visiting writers. The full-time tenured and tenure track faculty contributing to the program are Susan Neville, Director and prose writer; Dan Barden, fiction writer; Hilene Flanzbaum, poet and non-fiction writer; Chris Forhan, poet; and Andy Levy, non-fiction writer.

Other writers will rotate in and out of the program. In the '08-09 academic year, we have awarded week-long residencies to April Bernard, poet; Jane Hamilton, fiction writer; Mark Kurlansky, non-fiction writer; Thomas Lux, poet; and Dana Roeser, poet. Graduate students will have opportunities to work one-on-one with each of these writers.

In addition to these writers, the Visiting Writers' Series will also host from five to eight other writers with whom graduate students will have more limited opportunities to work.

What courses will be offered to graduate students in the first year?

In addition to graduate workshops in your genre, students will be able to enroll in a course devoted entirely to the Visiting Writers Series, as well as advanced courses in American and British literature.

When is the deadlines for applying? When will I be notified of the decision on my application?

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The final deadline, as yet undetermined, will be sometime in spring. However, on January 15th, we will begin reviewing applications, and will do so until we have ten qualified students in each genre. You will be notified approximately one month after you apply.

For further information, contact Susan Neville, sneville@butler.edu