Elon University2017 Institution Survey

Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Requirement

Does your institution have a writing requirement?

Yes

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

Are there institution-wide student writing goals?

No

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

Were there changes to the writing requirement since the academic year 2012-13?

Yes

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

Which changes took place in regards to assessment?

Other

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

What is the institutional home for first-year writing?

Multiple homes

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

Does your institution accept alternative credit for first-year composition?

Yes

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

Is there a placement mechanism for FYC?

No

What percentage of students in AY 2016/17 placed out of a FYC course?

0

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Goals

Are there explicit goals for FYC?

Yes

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

In AY 2016/17, did your institution offer face-to-face sections of FYC?

Yes

In AY 2016/17, did your institution offer online sections of FYC?

No

In AY 2016/17, did your institution offer hybrid sections of FYC?

No

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 FacultyFT-TT Faculty from other disciplinesFT-NTT English/ Writing FacultyFT-NTT Faculty from other disciplinesPart-Time FacultyGraduate StudentsOther Types of Instructor
Required Course
Required WorkshopsYesYesYes
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYesYesYesYesYes
Individual Meetings with DirectorYesYesYesYesYes
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 FacultyFT-TT Faculty from other disciplinesFT-NTT English/ Writing FacultyFT-NTT Faculty from other disciplinesPart-Time FacultyGraduate StudentsOther Types of Instructor
Attend ConferencesYesYesYes
Present at ConferencesYesYesYes
Access to Professional JournalsYesYesYesYesYes
Outside Speakers
Required Weekly Meetings
Optional Weekly Meetings
Required Monthly MeetingsYes
Optional Monthly MeetingsYesYesYesYesYes
Workshops or In-ServiceYesYesYesYesYes
Meetings with DirectorYesYesYesYesYes
Other

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Curriculum

Which type of scheduling does your institution follow?

Semester

Is there a common syllabus for the first or only semester of FYC?

No

What is the content for the first or only semester of FYC? Check all that apply.

Genre/Modes

Research

How many semesters of FYC are required?

One semester

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

Does your institution have a formal WAC Program?

Yes

What does the WAC Program consist of?

Writing Fellows

Other

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.

Do you foresee any major changes to WAC on your campus in the next four years?

No

The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Major

Does your institution have a creative writing major?

Yes

Does your institution have a writing major (other than creative writing)?

Yes

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

In which department is the major housed?

English

The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Minor

Does your institution have a creative writing minor?

Yes

Does your institution have a writing minor (other than creative writing)?

Yes

What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the minor? Check all that apply.

General writing minor--no specialization

In which department is the minor housed?

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?

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

Is there a mission statement for the writing center?

Yes

Are there explicit goals for the writing center?

Yes

How are the goals assessed?

Student feedback forms

Center usage statistics

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

How are the undergradaute consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

Course credit

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

Does the writing center have a faculty advisory committee?

No

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

Do you foresee changes to the writing center over the next four years?

No

Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--General information

Does your institution have a writing fellows program? (See glossary for definitions)

Yes

What is the institutional home for the Writing fellows?

independent unit

How old is the writing fellows program?

1-3 years

How is the writing fellows program funded?

Writing center budget

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

On average, how many students does each writing fellow work with for a course?

15+

How are the writing fellows compensated?

Hourly wage

Administrative positions--First-Year Writing Administrator (FYWA)

How is the First-Year Writing Administrator position (FYWA) classified?

TT

Where does the FYWA's tenure line reside?

English

To whom does the FYWA report?

Chair of the department

Was the FYWA hired for this position?

No

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 does the FYWA teach?

6

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

Where does the WACA's tenure line reside?

English

To whom does the WACA report?

Associate Dean or Provost

Was the WACA hired for this position?

No

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 does the WACA teach?

2

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)

How is the Writing Center Administrator position (WCA) classified?

NTT-FT

To whom does the WCA report?

Assoc Dean or Provost

Was the WCA hired for this position?

Yes

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 does the WCA teach?

2

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