Appalachian State University2017 Institution Survey
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
Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--General Description
What does the WAC Program consist of?
WI Courses
Writing Enriched Curriculum (WEC)
Faculty Development
Other
What else is part of the WAC Program?
We have a vertical writing curricululum with junior and capstone courses in every program and major.
Has any aspect of the WAC Program been influenced by the Statement of WAC Principles and Practices?
Yes
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 do not receive compensation.
They receive food at the event.
They receive a stipend.
They receive a grant to be used on course materials.
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 form of assessment takes place of the WI goals?
Paper portfolio
Electronic portfolio
Random sample of student writing
Professor evaluation
What are the criteria for a WI course?
Revision
Time discussing writing In class
Written or verbal feedback from instructor
Percentage of course grade in writing
Who certifies that a course fulfills WI designation?
Gen Education Committee
Other Faculty Committee
WAC Administrator
In academic year 2016/17, what was the course cap for WI courses?
Varies by department
Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--Administration
Who has primary responsibility for administering the WAC Program?
WAC Administrator
In addition to the person who has primary responsibility for WAC, how many graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for WAC?
1
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
Feel free to explain any upcoming changes.
I started the program in 2008, working with 5 WAC consultants and an RA, but I'm retiring next year and anticipate some structural changes.
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?
Free-standing
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
In addition to providing support for students writing for their courses, what services does the writing center offer? Check all that apply.
Assistance with multimodal assignments
Assistance with job materials
Assistance with graduate school materials
What events does the writing center offer?
Space for student to come together to write
Space for faculty or staff to come together to write
Speakers
Writing centers--Consultations
What type of appointments does the writing center offer?
scheduled face-to-face appts
drop-in face-to-face appts
scheduled online appts
What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered?
45 minutes
What percentage of the undergraduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2016-17 academic year?
9
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-15, GS-8, Fac-5, PT-2
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-40,GS-35, Fac-15, PT-10
How are undergraduate consultants initially trained?
Full-credit course
Staff meetings
Workshops before semester begins
How are graduate consultants initially trained?
Half-credit course
Staff meetings
Workshops before semester begins
How are faculty consultants initially trained?
Staff meetings
Workshops before semester begins
How are professional consultants initially trained?
Staff meetings
Workshops before semester begins
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
Semester inservice or workshop
Reflections
Meeting with Director
What on-going professional development opportunities are provided graduate consultants?
Attend national conferences
Attend regional conferences
Present at national conferences
Present at regional conferences
Read professional journals
Outside speakers
Staff meetings
Semester inservice or workshop
Reflections
Meeting with Director
What on-going professional development opportunities are provided faculty consultants?
Attend national conferences
Attend regional conferences
Present at national conferences
Present at regional conferences
Read professional journals
Outside speakers
Staff meetings
Semester inservice or workshop
Reflections
Meeting with Director
What on-going professional development opportunities are provided professional consultants?
Attend national conferences
Attend regional conferences
Present at national conferences
Present at regional conferences
Read professional journals
Outside speakers
Staff meetings
Semester inservice or workshop
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?
Writing Center Administrator (WCA)
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?
4
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?
Yes
What changes were made to the staffing or administration of the writing center?
Peer tutor positions increased
Graduate positions increased
Professional tutor positions increased
What other changes have been made to the staffing or administration of the writing center?
added a night coordinator position
Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--General information
Does your institution have a writing fellows program? (See glossary for definitions)
No
Administrative positions--Writing Across the Curriculum Administrator (WACA)
How is the Writing Across the Curriculum Administrator position (WACA) classified?
TT
Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the WACA have? Check all that apply.
faculty workshops
WACA does not have teaching responsibilities
Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the WACA?
Develop curriculum
Create Program Documents
Write grants
Conduct assessment
Consult with individual faculty or departments across the disciplines
Hire (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Supervise (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Mentor (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Schedule writing courses
Advertise program
Oversee program budget
Plan events
Maintain program/department/center website
Serve on university committees
Administrative positions--Writing Center Administrator (WCA)
Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the WCA have? Check all that apply.
Teach courses
Train tutors, TAs, or professional staff
On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for WCA administrative responsibilities?
2
Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the WCA?
Develop curriculum
Create Program Documents
Write grants
Conduct assessment
Hire (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Supervise (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Mentor (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Schedule writing courses
Advertise program
Oversee program budget
Plan events
Serve on university committees
Serve as an academic advisor