Membership in a technical writing consortium is advantageous both to the local university and to the neighboring community colleges because the consortium guarantees accreditation of the community college courses while increasing enrollment in the advanced technical writing courses and internship programs of the university. An area-wide consortium can be advantageous to the community colleges because it sets the standards that will guarantee the transfer of community college credits to the university. Sharing the expense of guest speakers and field trips with other schools is another benefit. For initial implementation, one school, usually the university, must take the initiative in forming the consortium. Catalog descriptions of existing courses must be studied, the level of instruction and the course objectives discussed and agreed upon, and the same textbooks selected. The consortium can also plan a common syllabus and a general day by day schedule stipulating the number and types of papers to be written. An informal consortium usually has a rotating directorship funded by the director's own school for a designated period. A formally structured consortium has a permanent director funded through federal, state, or private grants. Whether loosely organized or very formally structured, the consortium can develop a program vital to the prestige of the local university and the area community colleges and provide the expertise that will guarantee its continued success. (Included is a description of the Southeast Kansas Technical Writing Consortium.) (HOD)