Muhlenberg 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)
Mid-level writing course
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?
No
What are other approaches to oral communication?
Classroom discussion is an expected component of the First-Year Seminar.
Institutional requirements and goals--College Writing Goals
How are the college-wide student writing goals assessed?
Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses.
Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Committee
Who serves on the committee?
Writing Program Director/Chair of Writing
Writing faculty
Faculty across the disciplines
Students
Other
Who else serves on the writing committee?
Writing Program Co-directors and Writing Center Assistant Director plus six elected faculty, two from each division. Plus 1 student representative from the tutoring body.
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 to promote the writing program.
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?
Yes
Which changes took place in regards to assessment?
A college-wide assessment was expanded.
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 expand the writing program or sites of writing on campus
If you foresee changes to the institutional sites of writing do you foresee in the next four years feel free to explain.
Due to increasing numbers of International Students, the writing program plans to partner with the Foreign Language department to offer more writing support. We are also forging closer bonds with the Academic Resource Center.
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
If there is a placement mechanism for FYWS, what is it? Check all that apply.
Other
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
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.
Responsibilites Shared
Beside the person who has primary responsibility for administering FYWS, how many graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for FYWS?
5+
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?
17
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?
60
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?
24
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?
0
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 | FT-NTT English/ Writing Faculty | FT-NTT Faculty from other disciplines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||||
| Required Workshops | ||||
| Optional Course | ||||
| Optional Workshops | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Individual Meetings with Director | 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?
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 | FT-NTT English/ Writing Faculty | FT-NTT Faculty from other disciplines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attend Conferences | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Present at Conferences | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to Professional Journals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outside Speakers | ||||
| Required Weekly Meetings | ||||
| Optional Weekly Meetings | ||||
| Required Monthly Meetings | ||||
| Optional Monthly Meetings | ||||
| Workshops or In-Service | ||||
| Meetings with Director | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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
Genre/Modes
Writing about Writing
Themes
WAC/discipline topics
Teaching for Transfer
Research
Multimodal
Other
What is the content for the first or only semester of FYWS? Check all that apply - Other - Text
Only full-time faculty may teach the course. They must volunteer, not be assigned. Their proposals specify content. The program requires that the majority of writing be analytical.
First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Course Caps
In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Honors sections of the first or only semester of face-to-face FYWS?
15
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?
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?
Yes
Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year writing assessment at your institution? Check all that apply.
The learning outcomes/goals of first-year writing were added.
Assessment of the course/program was added.
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?
Individual students can choose to complete to complete a senior 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
Has any aspect of the WAC Program been influenced by the Statement of WAC Principles and Practices?
No
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.
Yes
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
Percentage of course grade in writing
Who certifies that a course fulfills WI designation?
Writing Program Director
Writing Committee
Which incentives are offered to faculty to teach WI courses?
Use of writing fellows
Course release
Smaller class size
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?
5+
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
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?
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?
No
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.
Directed Self-Placement
SAT/ACT scores
Admissions office/Student Affairs referral
Faculty referral
Student self-referral
What type of supports are available for basic writers? Check all that apply.
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 a Writing Mentors program out of the Writing Center to support mainstreamed basic writers.
How do students exit basic writing? Check all that apply. - Other - Text
One-on-one mentoring is available out of the Writing Center. The length of time depends on the students' needs and is determined by the Assistant Director of the Writing Center.
Basic or Developmental Writing--Changes to Basic or Developmental Writing
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?
Rhetoric/writing department or program
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
How are the goals assessed?
Student feedback forms
Faculty feedback
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 writing in a language other than English
Assistance with multimodal assignments
Assistance with reading
Assistance with online research
Assistance with oral presentations
Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software
Assistance with job materials
Assistance with graduate school materials
Assistance for English Language Learners
What other events does the writing center offer?
There are a number of event that we offer to our staff of 55 undergraduate tutors, many of them provided by the tutors themselves: in particular, continuing education workshops for CRLA credit and discussion roundtables. We also host brunches and other social events for our staff.
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?
40 minutes
What percentage of the undergraduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2016-17 academic year?
40
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-50
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 national conferences
Present at national conferences
Read professional journals
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?
2
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?
Added services
Went from drop-in only to include scheduled appointments
What other changes have been made to the writing center?
Thoroughly renovated physical space.
Since the academic year 2012/13 have there been changes to the staffing or administration of the writing center at your institution?
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 writing department or program
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?
Yes
Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: General
Is there support for domestic and international English Language Learners (ELLs)?
Yes, for both domestic and international
What percentage of the student body is placed into ELL writing courses, both required and optional?
0
What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses? - Other - Text
We don't have ELL writing courses.
Who has primary responsibility for administering support for English Language Learners?
Full-time staff 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?
Yes
How does the institution identify domestic English Language Learners? Check all that apply.
Directed Self-Placement
Faculty referral
Student self-referral
What type of supports are available for domestic English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.
Peer tutoring
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.
Directed Self-Placement
TOEFL scores
Admissions office/Student Affairs referral
Advisor referral
Faculty referral
Student self-referral
What type of supports are available for International English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.
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)?
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.
Other.
What changes have there been to the support for English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply. - Other - Text
Specialized training for three sets of tutors on campus was created.
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