University of Scranton2017 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)
Writing-intensive courses that are located throughout the curriculum (W courses)
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 a separate general education requirement.
Institutional requirements and goals--College Writing Goals
What are other approaches to assessment of institutional goals?
W courses are assessed through the Office of Educational Assessment
Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Committee
Institutional requirements and goals--National Survey of Student Engagement
Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)?
Yes
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 added.
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 curricular structures or writing requirement
Changes to assessment
Changes to the administrative structures
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.
We have been in the process of revising the "skills requirements" in our GE since 2010. Depending on the success of the new curriculum, we may add an administrative structure. We will be changing assessment as we progress.
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
Dual enrollment
What percentage of students in AY 2016/17 received alternative credit for a FYC course?
10
If there is a placement mechanism for FYC, what is it? Check all that apply.
In-house exam
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Goals
If there are explicit goals for FYC, are the goals informed by the WPA Outcomes Statement?
Yes
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?
0
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?
3
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?
6
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?
3
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?
0
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?
17
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)?
0
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)?
71
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?
0
In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by Other?
0
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Course | |||||
| Required Workshops | |||||
| Optional Course | |||||
| Optional Workshops | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Individual Meetings with Director | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekly Staff Meetings | |||||
| Monthly Staff Meetings | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| No training is provided | |||||
| Other | Yes | Yes |
Do those attending initial training receive additional compensation or course credit?
Yes for part-time faculty only
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attend Conferences | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Present at Conferences | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Access to Professional Journals | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Outside Speakers | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Required Weekly Meetings | |||||
| Optional Weekly Meetings | |||||
| Required Monthly Meetings | |||||
| Optional Monthly Meetings | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Workshops or In-Service | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meetings with Director | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Other | Yes | Yes | Yes |
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Curriculum
What is the content for the first or only semester of FYC? Check all that apply.
Writing about Writing
WAC/discipline topics
Teaching for Transfer
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?
18
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?
18
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.
Assessment of the course/program changed.
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
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 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
Who certifies that a course fulfills WI designation?
Curriculum Committee
Gen Education Committee
Other Faculty Committee
In academic year 2016/17, what was the course cap for WI courses?
Varies by department
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 other changes occurred?
revision to the requirement in relation to the Eloquentia Perfecta component of GE; reproposal of all courses to be designated with an EPW
Do you foresee any major changes to WAC on your campus in the next four years?
Maybe
Feel free to explain any upcoming changes.
Hopefully we will get a director of GE and and director of EP.
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Major
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.
Professional writing
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?
Unsure
Feel free to explain any forthcoming changes.
The department keeps talking about the possibility of adding a writing major or a track to the English major. I have sketched two possible versions. The Dean is supportive. But the talks haven't gone beyond the department meeting level.
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.
Admissions office/Student Affairs referral
What type of supports are available for basic writers? Check all that apply.
Required basic writing course
Special sections of FYW
Peer tutoring
Other
What type of supports are available for basic writers? Check all that apply. - Other - Text
There is a two-semester stretch sequence that those identified through our placement exam as Basic Writers are required to take instead of the one-semester mainstream course. Students admitted to the university through the Academic Development Program must take the two-semester sequence.
What is the structure of your basic writing program? Check all that apply. (See Glossary for an explanation of terms)
Stretch model
What is the curriculum of the basic writing courses? Check all that apply.
Grammar
Sentence writing
Paragraph writing
Reading and writing
Other
What is the curriculum of the basic writing courses? Check all that apply. - Other - Text
research
How do students exit basic writing? Check all that apply.
Passing grade in basic writing course
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
Feel free to explain your answer.
Admissions plans to increase the number of international students and transfer students from community colleges. The growth of these populations will require a review of our structures.
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?
Tutoring 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.
Academic building
Multiple locations
In addition to providing support for students writing for their courses, what services does the writing center offer? Check all that apply.
Assistance with job materials
Assistance for English Language Learners
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
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?
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-24
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-10%
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?
2
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?
No
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.
Admissions office/Student Affairs referral
Advisor referral
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.
Courses for ELLs were added.
A new full-time non-tenure-line director/coordinator/specialist position was created and filled.
The placement mechanism was changed.
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.
Admissions plans to increase the number of international students and transfer students from community colleges. The growth of these populations will require a review of our structures.
Administrative positions--First-Year Writing Administrator (FYWA)
If the FYWA 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 FYWA have? Check all that apply.
Teach courses
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
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
Facilitate placement exam
Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit
Plan events
Serve on university committees