Furman University2017 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)
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
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 argue for additional resources.
Data used to promote the writing program.
Data used to support curricular changes.
Institutional requirements and goals--Changes to Writing Program
Which changes took place in regards to the writing requirement?
The writing requirement was changed.
Writing-intensive courses were added to the writing requirement.
Students are required to take more writing-intensive courses than before.
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 administrative structures
Changes to expand the writing program or sites of writing on campus
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
If there is a placement mechanism for FYWS, what is it? Check all that apply.
Directed Self-Placment
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Goals
If there are explicit goals for FYWS, are the goals informed by the WPA Outcomes Statement?
Yes
How are the FYWS goals assessed? Check all that apply.
Paper Portfolio
Electronic 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.
WPD
Beside the person who has primary responsibility for administering FYWS, how many graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for FYWS?
0
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?
30
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?
69
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?
1
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?
Yes for anyone teaching a first-year writing course
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 | |
| Outside Speakers | ||
| Required Weekly Meetings | ||
| Optional Weekly Meetings | ||
| Required Monthly Meetings | ||
| Optional Monthly Meetings | Yes | Yes |
| Workshops or In-Service | ||
| 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.
Literature
Themes
WAC/discipline topics
Multimodal
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?
12
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
Tenured faculty now also part-time Writing Director
Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of first-year writing at your institution over the next four years?
Yes
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.
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.
They receive a stipend.
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?
Random sample of student writing
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
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?
Writing Program Director
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?
2
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?
WI requirement added
Increased number of requried WI courses
A Full-time WAC director position was created.
Feel free to explain any upcoming changes.
I am hoping to create an administrative unit for the writing programs to provide some real oversight and "quality control" (in the Dean's words) for the writing classes.
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Major
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Minor
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 creative writing major was created.
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
Basic or Developmental Writing--Basic or Developmental Writing
Does your institution identify basic writing students who may need additional writing support?
Yes
How does the institution identify basic writers? Check all that apply.
GPA
Admissions office/Student Affairs referral
Advisor referral
Faculty referral
Writing Center referral
Student self-referral
What type of supports are available for basic writers? Check all that apply.
Peer tutoring
Professional tutoring--not including from WPA or WCD
Workshops
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.
A new full-time staff 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
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?
Teaching and learning center
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 oral presentations
Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software
Assistance with new media
Assistance with how to prepare a poster presentation
Assistance with job materials
Assistance with graduate school materials
Asssistance for faculty on syllabus or curriculum development
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?
45 minutes
What percentage of the undergraduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2016-17 academic year?
24.6
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 regional conferences
Staff meetings
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?
3
Writing centers--Changes
Since the academic year 2012/13 have there been changes to the writing center at your institution (not including staffing)?
No
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
Hired a full-time multilingual writing specialist
What other changes have been made to the staffing or administration of the writing center?
Reporting structure changed. The writing center coordinator no longer reports to the Writing Program Director and Center for Teaching & Learning Director (dual reporting structure), but now reports to the Executive Director for the Faculty Development Center (the Center for Teaching & Learning no longer exists). We are also part of the Center for Academic Success, our learning and academic skills center. The CAS hired a full-time staff position to support English Language Learners, but that position is not within the writing center itself.
Feel free to explain these upcoming changes.
We are undergoing organizational changes to support our newly-announced strategic vision. This vision promises students an individualized four-year pathway facilitated by teams of mentors and infused with a rich and varied set of high impact experiences outside the classroom that include undergraduate research, study away, internships, community-focused learning, and opportunities to engage across differences. There have already been changes in our administrative and curricular support structures and we are part of several internal pilot programs in support of the new vision that will hopefully expand in the future.
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 only international ELLs
What percentage of the student body is placed into ELL writing courses, both required and optional?
0
Who has primary responsibility for administering support for English Language Learners?
Full-time staff director/coordinator
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
Writing Center referral
Student self-referral
What type of supports are available for International English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.
Professional tutoring--not including from WPA or WCD
Tutoring from WPA or WCD
Workshops
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.
A new full-time staff 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
Administrative positions--Writing Program Director or Chair of a Writing Department (WPD)
How is the Writing Program Director or Chair of the Writing Department position (WPD) classified?
TT
Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the WPD have? Check all that apply.
Teach courses
faculty workshops
On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for WPD administrative responsibilities?
2
Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the WPD?
Create Program Documents
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)
Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit
Oversee program budget
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.
Train tutors, TAs, or professional staff
faculty workshops
student workshops
Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the WCA?
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 writing courses
Advertise program
Oversee program budget
Plan events
Maintain program/department/center website
Serve on university committees