Elon University2017 Institution Survey
Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Requirement
What does the writing requirement at your institution consist of?
First-year composition predominately taught by English and/or Writing department (FYC)
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?
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)?
Yes
How does your writing program use the NSSE data?
Data used for assessment.
Data used to promote the writing program.
Data used to support curricular changes.
Data used to encourage faculty to participate in WAC.
Institutional requirements and goals--Changes to Writing Program
Which changes took place in regards to the writing requirement?
Departments are required to articulate their goals and writing requirements.
Were there changes to the assessment of writing at your institution since the 2012-13 academic year?
Yes
What other changes took place in regards to writing assessment?
We implemented a Writing Excellence Initiative, which asked every major to develop Writing Outcomes and assess those outcomes.
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 Composition (FYC)
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Placement & Transfer
If your institution accepts alternative credit for FYC, which mechanism is used? Check all that apply.
Transfer credit from another institution
AP/IB results
What percentage of students in AY 2016/17 received alternative credit for a FYC course?
12
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Goals
If there are explicit goals for FYC, are the goals informed by the WPA Outcomes Statement?
Yes
How are the FYC goals assessed? Check all that apply.
Random Sample
Course Evaluation or Grades
Student Survey
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Delivery Methods
During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYC were face-to-face?
100
During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYC were online?
0
During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYC were hybrid?
0
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Staffing
Who has primary responsibility for administering the FYC requirement? See the Glossary for an explanation of these terms.
FYWA
Beside the person who has primary responsibility for administering FYC, how many graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for FYC?
1
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty in the English Department?
39
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC 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 FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?
1
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the English Department?
14
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC 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 FYC 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 FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by the English Department)?
39
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC 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 FYC 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 FYC were taught by graduate students in English?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by graduate students in rhetoric/composition?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC 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 FYC were taught by the first-year writing director?
6
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by Other?
1
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Training
For FYC, 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 | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Optional Course | |||||||
| Optional Workshops | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Individual Meetings with Director | 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?
Yes for anyone teaching a first-year writing course
For FYC, 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 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Present at Conferences | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Access to Professional Journals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Outside Speakers | |||||||
| Required Weekly Meetings | |||||||
| Optional Weekly Meetings | |||||||
| Required Monthly Meetings | Yes | ||||||
| Optional Monthly Meetings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Workshops or In-Service | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meetings with Director | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Other |
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Curriculum
What is the content for the first or only semester of FYC? Check all that apply.
Genre/Modes
Research
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: 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 FYC?
20
In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Basic Writing sections of the first or only semester of face-to-face FYC?
15
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?
No
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?
Yes
What are the criteria for some students to complete a senior thesis?
The requirements vary by department.
Honors students are required to complete a thesis.
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
What else is part of the WAC Program?
As part of a 5-year Writing Excellence Initiative, we have grown our Writing Across the University program to encourage/support faculty to teach writing across the disciplines and staff to teach writing in Student Life and other co- and extra-curricular spaces. Our WAU program also supports faculty and staff with their own professional and personal writing as well.In addition to traditional kinds of faculty/staff development workshops, the WAU offers writing pedagogy grants; scholarship into writing grants; Disciplinary Writing Consultants (our name for Writing Fellows, and run in conjunction with the WC); writing boot camps; interdisciplinary writing groups; writing contests and celebrations; individual consultations; and a Summer Writing Institute.
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
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.
No
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?
Yes
What changes occurred?
The WAC Program received additional administrative support.
Other
What other changes occurred?
Our existing WAC program went through several changes as a result of our Writing Excellence Initiative (QEP for SACS accreditation), starting about 6 years ago. The program was expanded to address writing across the entire university (not just in academic programs) and to support the writing of students, faculty, and staff. Our WEI focused on 3 ways of teaching/learning writing: writing in a discipline/profession, writing to learn, and writing as a citizen. All majors/COR/participating Student Life units have now written at least one Writing Outcome in at least one of those areas (although most have written several). To support this more robust approach to teaching/learning writing in multiple ways in multiple spaces, the Writing Across the University director received an additional course release, the budget for the WAU was increased; extended supports/programming such as pedagogy/writing scholarship grants, writing groups and boots camps, and a Summer Writing Institute were designed; and a Center for Writing Excellence was established (this combined the newly expanded WAU program with the also expanded Writing Center). The existing WC space in the library was expanded and redesigned to house the CWE, which now includes two multimedia workstations, a presentation practice room, the Writing Center, and meeting spaces.The CWE is also now supported by a full-time Program Assistant.
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.
Professional writing
Rhetoric/ composition
Digital/ new 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.
General writing minor--no specialization
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?
Yes
What were the changes? Check all that apply.
An undergraduate writing major was created (not including creative writing).
Other.
What were the changes? Check all that apply. - Other--Text
We had a Professional Writing and Rhetoric concentration for about 17 years; last year it became a major.
Since the academic year 2012/13, have there been changes to the graduate writing program?
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
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?
Other
What other larger institutional units house the writing center?
Center of Writing Excellence
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 online research
Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software
Assistance with new media
Assistance with how to prepare a poster presentation
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
Faculty workshops
Space for student to come together to write
Space for faculty or staff to come together to write
Student writing groups
Faculty writing groups
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
scheduled phone appts
online feedback via e-mail
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?
25
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-40
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?
Full-credit course
Staff meetings
Workshops before semester begins
What on-going professional development opportunities are provided undergraduate consultants?
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
What changes have been made?
Satellite located added
Writing Fellows Program added
Added services
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?
Full-time Writing Center Admininstrator Position Created
Peer tutor positions increased
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
Administrative positions--First-Year Writing Administrator (FYWA)
If the FYWA was not hired for this position, how did they assume these responsibilities?
The position rotates among faculty in the department.
Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the FYWA have? Check all that apply.
Teach courses
faculty workshops
On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for the administrative responsibilities of the FYWA?
2
Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the FYWA?
Develop curriculum
Create Program Documents
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
Place students into writing courses
Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit
Oversee program budget
Maintain program/department/center website
Serve on university committees
Serve as an academic advisor
Administrative positions--Writing Across the Curriculum Administrator (WACA)
How is the Writing Across the Curriculum Administrator position (WACA) classified?
TT
If the WACA was not hired for this position, how did they assume these responsibilities?
Previous director retired or left the position.
Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the WACA have? Check all that apply.
Teach courses
faculty workshops
On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for WACA administrative responsibilities?
4
Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the WACA?
Create Program Documents
Conduct assessment
Consult with individual faculty or departments across the disciplines
Mentor (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Advertise program
Oversee program budget
Plan events
Maintain program/department/center website
Serve on university committees
Serve as an academic advisor
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
student workshops
On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for WCA administrative responsibilities?
3
Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the WCA?
Develop curriculum
Create Program Documents
Conduct assessment
Supervise (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Mentor (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)
Schedule writing courses
Place students into writing courses
Advertise program
Oversee program budget
Plan events
Maintain program/department/center website
Serve on university committees
Serve as an academic advisor