Coe 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)
Writing-intensive courses that are located throughout the curriculum (W courses)
Portfolio
Are there curricular requirements that are not part of the writing requirement but that have writing as an explicit goal?
No
Is oral communication a component of an institutional writing requirement?
Oral communication is not a component of any institution writing requirements.
Institutional requirements and goals--College Writing Goals
Institutional requirements and goals--National Survey of Student Engagement
Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)?
I don't know
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?
Yes
What type of changes to the institutional sites of writing do you foresee in the next four years?
Changes to the curricular structures or writing requirement
Changes to assessment
If you foresee changes to the institutional sites of writing do you foresee in the next four years feel free to explain.
We are looking to more clearly define the learning outcomes of writing emphasis courses (to better emphasize rhetorical nature of writing and to make connections to WPA outcomes) as well as how courses qualify for the W endorsement. We are working to give departments more control and more support in order to ensure that writing instruction is more consistent and purposeful throughout the curriculum. We are looking to implement lower course caps, change the timing of the portfolio (from first year to late-stage) and ideally link it to the student's broader curriculum. We would like to have more structure for assessment. Really, we are looking to change just about everything without losing what is a rigorous requirement: 4 courses beyond first year seminar. We hope to require 1 in the major and 1 in upper division.
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
If your institution accepts alternative credit for FYWS, which mechanism is used? Check all that apply.
Transfer credit from another institution
What percentage of students in AY 2016/17 received alternative credit for a FYWS course?
1
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
How are the FYWS goals assessed? Check all that apply.
Paper Portfolio
Course Evaluation or Grades
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.
Solo
Beside the person who has primary responsibility for administering FYWS, how many graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for FYWS?
1
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?
12
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?
4
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?
81
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)?
0
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?
4
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| Required Workshops | ||
| Optional Course | ||
| Optional Workshops | Yes | Yes |
| Individual Meetings with Director | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Staff Meetings | ||
| Monthly Staff Meetings | ||
| No training is provided | ||
| Other |
Do those attending initial training receive additional compensation or course credit?
My institution does not have a consistent policy for when people are compensated for training.
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Attend Conferences | Yes | Yes |
| Present at Conferences | Yes | Yes |
| Access to Professional Journals | Yes | Yes |
| Outside Speakers | ||
| Required Weekly Meetings | ||
| Optional Weekly Meetings | ||
| Required Monthly Meetings | ||
| Optional Monthly Meetings | ||
| Workshops or In-Service | Yes | Yes |
| Meetings with Director | 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.
Other
What is the content for the first or only semester of FYWS? Check all that apply - Other - Text
I am using FYWS as the closest descriptor for our First Year Seminar, which is writing-emphasis, and is the first of 5 WE courses students are required to take (the other 4 are elective). Only students who transfer more than 8 credits when they enter Coe can skip it. Students must earn a C in this course or a designated equivalent (if they get lower than a C in the first try). So, our first year seminars are across the disciplines and contain whatever content the professor desires. They required to include writing (multiple drafts, focus on revision), with at least 1 paper that involves research. They submit a portfolio at the end.
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?
17
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?
Yes
Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the administration or staffing of first year writing at your institution? Check all that apply
Other
Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the administration or staffing of first year writing at your institution? Check all that apply. - Other - Text
previous director retired, new director hired, structure of position changed somewhat (previously this position was responsible for WAC and WC and teaching; now only WAC and teaching)
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-
We will hopefully change the way the portfolio functions--instead FYWS portfolio will be the final assessment for the course only (right now it is scored by additional faculty after the seminar ends). We hope to implement a later stage portfolio as a grad requirement (similar to Carleton).
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.
0
Upper Level Writing Courses--Senior Culminating Experience
Does your institution require ALL students complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience?
No
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
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 receive food at the event.
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
Written or verbal feedback from instructor
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?
0
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.
We are proposing many changes now with the ultimate goal of achieving more consistency in instruction across the college and giving departments more autonomy (with appropriate support/resources to justify this). We are proposing course caps and vertical progression, and will eventually propose a late-stage portfolio. Also on the agenda: reliable assessment mechanisms, better support for Basic Writers.
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Major
What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the major? Check all that apply.
Rhetoric/ composition
Digital/ new media writing
Journalism /media writing
Other
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.
Rhetoric/ composition
Digital/ new media writing
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?
Yes
Feel free to explain any forthcoming changes.
currently, the writing major/minor are housed in Rhetoric dept (with Comm Studies) and the creative writing major/minor is housed in English. This forces some competition, as students cannot major in both. So we are beginning conversations about how we can collaborate and redesign our majors/minors to be more innovative and promote greater breadth of learning.
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.
Targeted optional writing courses
Summer bridge program
Peer tutoring
What is the structure of your basic writing program? Check all that apply. (See Glossary for an explanation of terms)
Mainstreaming model
What is the curriculum of the basic writing courses? Check all that apply. - Other - Text
we have some "studio" courses students can opt into. It focuses on reading and writing
How do students exit basic writing? Check all that apply. - Other - Text
we don't have formal basic writing, but students "exit" the studios with a passing grade.
Basic or Developmental Writing--Changes to Basic or Developmental Writing
What changes have there been to the support for basic writers? Check all that apply.
Basic writing classes were dropped.
The placement mechanism for basic writing was changed.
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.
This is a significant area of concern but we have not yet arrived at a plan/solution. Discussion is ongoing.
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 reading
Assistance with graduate school materials
Assistance for English Language Learners
Asssistance for faculty on syllabus or curriculum development
What events does the writing center offer?
Student workshops
Space for student to come together to write
Speakers
Other
What other events does the writing center offer?
We publish 2 literary journals and a monthly newsletter. Consultants give presentations in classes, and present at regional, national, and international conferences. The director is half-time, so consultants also do scheduling, much of the administrative work, help with payroll, recruiting, staff development, and publicity.
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
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-60
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
How are undergraduate consultants initially trained?
Half-credit course
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
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?
0
Feel free to explain the role of the advisory committee.
Our Writing Committee supports the Writing Center and the Writing Across the Curriculum program. It's more closely associated with the latter.
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 other changes have been made to the staffing or administration of the writing center?
The founding director retired--was full-time, tenured, but half-time WCD. A half-time replacement was hired for the WC. She left after one year. Current WCD was appointed--had been adjunct faculty in Rhetoric, and appointment was made full-time non-tenure track.
Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--General information
Does your institution have a writing fellows program? (See glossary for definitions)
Yes
Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--Staffing
Do the writing fellows work both as fellows and in the writing center?
Students work both as writing fellows and writing center tutors.
Do the writing fellows regularly attend the class they are assigned to work with?
No
Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: General
Is there support for domestic and international English Language Learners (ELLs)?
Yes, for only international ELLs
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
they have RHE course codes but are overseen by an office of international affairs, i think
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
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.
Required basic writing course
Summer bridge program
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)?
No
Administrative positions--Solo Writing Administrator (SWA)
Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the SWA have? Check all that apply.
Teach courses
faculty workshops
On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for SWA administrative responsibilities?
2
Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the SWA?
Create Program Documents
Conduct assessment
Consult with individual faculty or departments across the disciplines
Oversee program budget
Plan events
Serve on university committees
Serve as an academic advisor