Rhodes College2017 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)

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?

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?

Yes

Have the goals been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

No

Are the goals assessed at the institutional level?

Yes

What are other approaches to assessment of institutional goals?

Assessment committees for broader curriculum requirements; FYWS assessment committee for FYWS.

Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Committee

Does your institution have a writing committee?

No

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 writing requirement since the academic year 2012-13?

No

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?

No

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?

English department

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

In the academic year 2016-17, how many students took FYWS?

350

Does your institution accept alternative credit for FYWS?

No

What percentage of students in AY 2016/17 received alternative credit for a FYWS course?

0

Is there a placement mechanism for FYWS?

Yes

If there is a placement mechanism for FYWS, what is it? Check all that apply.

Accuplacer/ Other standardized test

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

33

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Goals

Are there explicit goals for FYWS?

Yes

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.

Professor Certification

Course Evaluation or Grades

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Delivery Methods

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

Yes

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

No

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

No

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?

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?

73

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?

18

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?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYWS were taught by Other?

9

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 FacultyFT-TT Faculty from other disciplinesFT-NTT English/ Writing FacultyFT-NTT Faculty from other disciplines
Required Course
Required Workshops
Optional Course
Optional Workshops
Individual Meetings with DirectorYesYes
Weekly Staff Meetings
Monthly Staff Meetings
No training is provided
Other

Do those attending initial training receive additional compensation or course credit?

No

For FYWS, 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 Faculty
Attend ConferencesYesYesYesYes
Present at ConferencesYesYesYesYes
Access to Professional JournalsYesYesYesYesYes
Outside Speakers
Required Weekly Meetings
Optional Weekly Meetings
Required Monthly Meetings
Optional Monthly Meetings
Workshops or In-Service
Meetings with DirectorYesYesYesYesYes
Other

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Curriculum

Which type of scheduling does your institution follow?

Semester

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

No

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

Research

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?

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.

2

By which semester must a student complete the first required course beyond FYW?

1st semester of sophomore year

By which semester must a student the second required course beyond FYW?

1st semester of sophomore year

By which semester must a student complete the third course beyond FYW?

By graduation

Upper Level Writing Courses--Upper Level Writing Courses: Goals

Does the 1st course beyond FYW have explicit goals?

Yes

If the 1st course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

No

How are the goals of the 1st course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.

Professor evaluation

Other

Does the 2nd course beyond FYW have explicit goals?

Yes

If the 2nd course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

No

How are the goals of the 2nd course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.

Professor evaluation

Other

Does the 3rd course beyond FYW explicit goals?

Yes

If the 3rd course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

No

How are the goals of the 3rd course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.

Professor evaluation

Other

Upper Level Writing Courses--Upper Level Writing Courses: Content

What is the content of the 1st course beyond FYW? Check all that apply.

Research writing

Argumentative writing

What is the content of the 2nd course beyond FYW? Check all that apply.

Argumentative writing

Writing in the disciplines

What is the content of the 3rd course beyond FYW? Check all that apply.

Argumentative writing

Writing in the disciplines

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?

No

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 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

How long has the WI requirement been in existence?

7-10 years

How many WI courses are required beyond the first-year requirement?

2

How many WI courses are part of a first-year requirement?

0

When do WI courses need to be completed?

By end of sophomore year

Are there explicit goals for the WI courses?

Yes

Have the goals been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

No

What form of assessment takes place of the WI goals?

Random sample of student writing

Professor evaluation

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?

Curriculum Committee

Are there incentives offered for faculty to teach a WI course?

No

In academic year 2016/17, what was the course cap for WI courses?

18

Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--Administration

Who has primary responsibility for administering the WAC Program?

Solo Writing 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

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)?

No

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

Does your institution have a creative writing minor?

No

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

No

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.

adding a CW minor probably

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.

Peer tutoring

Does your institution have a formal basic writing program?

No

Basic or Developmental Writing--Changes to Basic or Developmental Writing

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the support for basic writers?

No

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

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 writing in a language other than English

Assistance with multimodal assignments

Assistance with reading

Assistance with online research

Assistance with oral presentations

Assistance with job materials

Assistance with graduate school materials

Assistance for English Language Learners

What events does the writing center offer?

Student workshops

Space for student to come together to write

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--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

Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: General

Is there support for domestic and international English Language Learners (ELLs)?

Yes, for both domestic and international

Is support for English Language Learners (ELLs) separate from basic writing?

No

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 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

How does the institution identify domestic English Language Learners? Check all that apply.

Advisor referral

Faculty referral

Writing Center 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.

TOEFL scores

International ELL Placement Test

Advisor referral

Faculty referral

Writing Center 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)?

No

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.

New course for ELL international students. Pre FYWS.

Administrative positions--Solo Writing Administrator (SWA)

How is the Solo Writing Administrator position (SWA) classified?

NTT-FT

To whom does the SWA report?

Chair of the department

Was the SWA hired for this position?

Yes

Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the SWA have? Check all that apply.

Teach courses

Tutor students

Train tutors, TAs, or professional staff

student workshops

On average, how many courses per year does the SWA teach?

3

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

Hire (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Supervise (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Mentor (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Schedule writing courses

Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit

Plan events

Maintain program/department/center website

Serve on university committees

Serve as an academic advisor