Allegheny College2017 Institution Survey
Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Requirement
What does the writing requirement at your institution consist of?
First-year seminars taught by faculty across the curriculum (FYWS)
Mid-level writing course
Writing-intensive courses that are located throughout the curriculum (W courses)
Senior thesis or capstone experience
Are there curricular requirements that are not part of the writing requirement but that have writing as an explicit goal?
Yes
What curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal?
Senior capstone or thesis for some or all students
First-year seminar
other requirements
What other curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal?
sophomore-year seminar (WID), and junior seminar (in major)
Is oral communication a component of an institutional writing requirement?
Oral communication is an explicit goal of first-year writing.
Institutional requirements and goals--College Writing Goals
How are the college-wide student writing goals assessed?
Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses.
Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience.
Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Committee
Institutional requirements and goals--National Survey of Student Engagement
Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)?
Yes
Institutional requirements and goals--Changes to Writing Program
Were there changes to the assessment of writing at your institution since the 2012-13 academic year?
No
Do you foresee changes at the institutional level to the sites of writing on your campus over the next four years?
No
First-Year Writing--General Description
Does your institution have a first-year writing requirement, whether explicit or embedded?
Yes
How would you describe your first-year writing requirement? Check all that apply. See Glossary for definitions.
First-Year Writing Seminar (FYWS)
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Placement & Transfer
What percentage of students in AY 2016/17 received alternative credit for a FYWS course?
0
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Goals
If there are explicit goals for FYWS, are the goals informed by the WPA Outcomes Statement?
No
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Delivery Methods
During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYWS were face-to-face?
100
During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYWS were online?
0
During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYWS were hybrid?
0
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Staffing
Who has primary responsibility for administering the FYWS requirement? See the Glossary for an explanation of these terms.
Other
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty in the English Department?
19
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty in the rhetoric/composition department or program?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?
80
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the English Department?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the rhetoric/composition department or program?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by PT faculty (hired by the English Department)?
1
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by PT faculty (hired by the rhetoric/composition department or program)?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by PT faculty (hired by another department/program)?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by graduate students in English?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by graduate students in rhetoric/composition?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by graduate students from departments outside English and rhetoric/composition?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by the first-year writing director?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by Other?
0
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Training
For FYWS, what types of initial training is provided? Check all that apply.
| FT-TT English/ Writing Faculty | FT-TT Faculty from other disciplines | FT-NTT English/ Writing Faculty | FT-NTT Faculty from other disciplines | Part-Time Faculty | Graduate Students | Other Types of Instructor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Course | |||||||
| Required Workshops | |||||||
| Optional Course | |||||||
| Optional Workshops | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Individual Meetings with Director | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Weekly Staff Meetings | |||||||
| Monthly Staff Meetings | |||||||
| No training is provided | |||||||
| Other |
Do those attending initial training receive additional compensation or course credit?
No
For FYWS, what types of on-going professional development is provided? Check all that apply.
| FT-TT English/ Writing Faculty | FT-TT Faculty from other disciplines | FT-NTT English/ Writing Faculty | FT-NTT Faculty from other disciplines | Part-Time Faculty | Graduate Students | Other Types of Instructor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attend Conferences | Yes | ||||||
| Present at Conferences | Yes | ||||||
| Access to Professional Journals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Outside Speakers | |||||||
| Required Weekly Meetings | |||||||
| Optional Weekly Meetings | |||||||
| Required Monthly Meetings | |||||||
| Optional Monthly Meetings | |||||||
| Workshops or In-Service | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Meetings with Director | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Other |
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Curriculum
What is the content for the first or only semester of FYWS? Check all that apply.
Themes
What is the content for the second semester of FYWS? Check all that apply.
Themes
Research
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Course Caps
In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the first or only semester of face-to-face FYWS?
15
In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the second semester of face-to-face FYWS?
18
First-Year Writing--Changes to First-Year Writing
Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year writing requirement at your institution?
No
Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year writing placement mechanism or how alternate credit is granted at your institution?
No
Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year writing assessment at your institution?
No
Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year curriculum or enrollment caps at your institution?
No
Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the administration or staffing of first year writing at your institution?
No
Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of first-year writing at your institution over the next four years?
Yes
If you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of first-year writing at your institution over the next four years, feel free to explain. -TEXT-
Some changes may come about as a result of a self-study of the FS Program completed in AY 16-17 as well as the college's ongoing Strategic Action Plan.
Upper Level Writing Courses--Upper Level Writing Courses: General
How many specific writing course(s) beyond the first year does your institution require all students to take? For example, such a course could be a sophomore or junior-level course taught by English or writing faculty. We are NOT asking about writing-intensive courses. The WAC section of the Census will ask about those courses.
1
By which semester must a student complete the first required course beyond FYW?
Other
By which semester must a student the second required course beyond FYW?
1st semester of sophomore year
By which semester must a student complete the third course beyond FYW?
By graduation
Upper Level Writing Courses--Upper Level Writing Courses: Goals
If the 1st course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?
No
How are the goals of the 1st course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.
Other
If the 2nd course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?
No
How are the goals of the 2nd course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.
Other
If the 3rd course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?
No
How are the goals of the 3rd course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.
Other
Upper Level Writing Courses--Upper Level Writing Courses: Content
What is the content of the 2nd course beyond FYW? Check all that apply.
Research writing
Argumentative writing
What is the content of the 3rd course beyond FYW? Check all that apply.
Writing in the disciplines
Upper Level Writing Courses--Senior Culminating Experience
Does your institution require ALL students complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience?
Yes
Does your institution require SOME students complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience?
No
Upper Level Writing Courses--Changes to Upper Level Writing
Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the requirement for writing courses beyond the first year (not writing-intensive)?
No
Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--General Description
Is there professional development available for those teaching in the WAC Program or teaching WI courses?
Yes
If faculty attend a seminar or workshop, how are they compensated?
They receive food at the event.
Other
Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--Writing-Intensive Courses
Does your institution require all students to take writing-intensive (WI or W) courses taught by departments other than English or Writing? See Glossary for definitions.
Yes
What are the criteria for a WI course?
Number of pages or words written
Revision
Time discussing writing In class
Written or verbal feedback from instructor
Percentage of course grade in writing
Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--Changes to WAC
Since the academic year 2012/13 have there been changes to the WI or WAC program?
No
Do you foresee any major changes to WAC on your campus in the next four years?
Maybe
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Major
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Minor
What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the minor? Check all that apply.
Journalism /media writing
Other
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Graduate Programs
Does your institution offer a masters degree (MA) in writing (not creative writing)?
No
Does your institution have a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in writing (not creative writing)?
No
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Changes to the Major, Minor, or Graduate Programs
Since the academic year 2012/13, have there been changes to the undergraduate writing major or minor?
No
Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the writing major, minor, or graduate programs at your institution over the next four years?
Unsure
Feel free to explain any forthcoming changes.
The English Department is reviewing its curriculum broadly, which may result in changes to the Creative Writing emphasis and/or the Environmental Writing minor. Journalism is taught in a separate program from the English Department.
Basic or Developmental Writing--Basic or Developmental Writing
Does your institution identify basic writing students who may need additional writing support?
No
What type of supports are available for basic writers? Check all that apply.
Peer tutoring
What is the structure of your basic writing program? Check all that apply. (See Glossary for an explanation of terms)
Mainstreaming model
Basic or Developmental Writing--Changes to Basic or Developmental Writing
Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures for helping diversely prepared students at your institution over the next four years?
Yes
Feel free to explain your answer.
Given the shifting demographics of our students, faculty development (or, really, educator development more broadly) is being considered and designed to help the students who are enrolling.
Writing centers--General description
Does your institution have a writing center or learning center with writing tutors?
Yes
Is the writing center free-standing or part of another institutional unit?
Part of another institutional unit
If the writing center is not free-standing, what larger institutional unit is it a part of?
Learning commons
Where is the writing center located? Note: From this point on writing center refers to both free-standing and those located within another unit.
Library
How are the goals assessed?
Student feedback forms
Faculty feedback
Center usage statistics
Other
What other methods of assessment does the writing center utilize?
Peer writing consultant reflection and training
In addition to providing support for students writing for their courses, what services does the writing center offer? Check all that apply.
Assistance with job materials
Assistance with graduate school materials
Assistance for English Language Learners
What events does the writing center offer?
Student workshops
Space for student to come together to write
Writing centers--Consultations
What type of appointments does the writing center offer?
scheduled face-to-face appts
drop-in face-to-face appts
What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered?
30 minutes
What percentage of the undergraduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2016-17 academic year?
15
Writing centers--Consultants
How many consultants worked in the writing center during the 2016-17 academic year? UG=undergraduates, GS=graduate students, Fac=faculty, PT=professional tutors, Vol=volunteers
UG-20
On average, what percentage of a week's consultations are staffed by each group? For example, if your center offers 100 hours of consultations a week and 50 hours are filled by undergraduates and 25 hours by both graduate students and professional tutors, then the percentage would be 50% undergraduate, 25% graduate students, and 25% professional tutors.
UG-100
What on-going professional development opportunities are provided undergraduate consultants?
Attend national conferences
Attend regional conferences
Present at national conferences
Present at regional conferences
Read professional journals
Outside speakers
Staff meetings
Reflections
Meeting with Director
Writing centers--Administration
Who has primary responsibility for directing the writing center or overseeing the writing tutors if the tutors are part of a different institutional unit?
One person administers all sites of writing on campus
In addition to the person who has primary responsibility, how many undergraduates, graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for the writing center?
3
Writing centers--Changes
Since the academic year 2012/13 have there been changes to the writing center at your institution (not including staffing)?
Yes
Since the academic year 2012/13 have there been changes to the staffing or administration of the writing center at your institution?
No
Feel free to explain these upcoming changes.
Possibly may add course-embedded writing tutors
Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--General information
Does your institution have a writing fellows program? (See glossary for definitions)
No
Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: General
Is there support for domestic and international English Language Learners (ELLs)?
Yes, for both domestic and international
What percentage of the student body is placed into ELL writing courses, both required and optional?
2
What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses? - Other - Text
Learning Commons/Modern Languages
Who has primary responsibility for administering support for English Language Learners?
Full-time non-tenure line director/coordinator
Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: Domestic Students
Does your institution identify domestic English Language Learners (ELLs) who may need additional writing support?
No
What type of supports are available for domestic English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.
Targeted optional writing courses
Peer tutoring
Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: International Students
Does your institution identify international English Language Learners (ELLs) who may need additional writing support?
Yes
How does the institution identify International English Language Learners? Check all that apply.
TOEFL scores
What type of supports are available for International English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.
Targeted optional writing courses
Peer tutoring
Multilingual Writing Support--Changes to Multilingual Writing Support
Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the support for English Language Learners (ELLs)?
Yes
What changes have there been to the support for English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.
Courses for ELLs were added.
A new full-time non-tenure-line director/coordinator/specialist position was created and filled.
Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures for helping diversely prepared students at your institution over the next four years?
Yes
Feel free to explain your answer.
Given the shifting demographics of our students, faculty development (or, really, educator development more broadly) is being considered and designed to help the students who are enrolling.