Westminster College (UT)2017 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)
Writing in the major
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?
First-year seminar
other requirements
What other curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal?
Communication college-wide learning goal, integrated into all programs
What are other approaches to oral communication?
Oral communication is part of the Communication college-wide learning goal but not part of a general education requirement.
Institutional requirements and goals--College Writing Goals
What are other approaches to assessment of institutional goals?
Assessment of the WCore (general education) Writing Emphasis, conducted through focus groups, rubrics, and course surveys
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
Which changes took place in regards to the writing requirement?
First-year composition was converted to a first-year writing seminar taught by faculty across the curriculum.
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.
A required portfolio was added for all students.
A required portfolio was dropped for all students.
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
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 Composition: Staffing
Who has primary responsibility for administering the FYC requirement? See the Glossary for an explanation of these terms.
Responsibilites Shared
First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Course Caps
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
In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Basic Writing sections of the first or only semester of online FYC?
15
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
Other
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.
SAT/ACT scores
Directed Self-Placment
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
How are the FYWS goals assessed? Check all that apply.
Professor Certification
Course Evaluation or Grades
Other
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?
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?
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 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?
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 English Department?
42
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?
58
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 | ||
| Individual Meetings with Director | ||||
| 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 | FT-NTT English/ Writing Faculty | FT-NTT Faculty from other disciplines | Part-Time Faculty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attend Conferences | Yes | Yes | |||
| Present at Conferences | Yes | Yes | |||
| Access to Professional Journals | Yes | Yes | |||
| Outside Speakers | |||||
| Required Weekly Meetings | |||||
| Optional Weekly Meetings | |||||
| Required Monthly Meetings | |||||
| Optional Monthly Meetings | |||||
| Workshops or In-Service | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Meetings with Director | Yes | 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.
Genre/Modes
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 Honors sections of the first or only semester of face-to-face FYWS?
16
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?
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?
Yes
Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year writing requirement at your institution? Check all that apply.
A requirement for a first-year writing course was added.
A requirement for a first-year writing course was dropped.
Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year writing placement mechanism or how alternate credit is granted at your institution?
Yes
Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year writing placement mechanism or how alternate credit is granted at your institution? Check all that apply.
The placement mechanism changed.
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 changed.
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?
Yes
Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year curriculum or enrollment caps at your institution? Check all that apply.
The course content changed.
Course caps were raised.
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
Responsibilities for approving FYWS courses shifted to the writing center director and a staff librarian
Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of first-year writing at your institution over the next four years?
Yes
If you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of first-year writing at your institution over the next four years, feel free to explain. -TEXT-
There may be an effort to restructure the Research Emphasis in our core curriculum (focused on empirical research, not research from sources, which is covered in our Writing Emphasis) so that it in effect becomes a second semester of writing instruction and Writing Emphasis courses become prereqs for Research Emphasis courses.
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?
No
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)--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?
Yes
What were the changes? Check all that apply. - Other--Text
English major requirements were revised.
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
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
Where is the writing center located? Note: From this point on writing center refers to both free-standing and those located within another unit.
Other
What are other locations for the writing center?
Multi-use Center for Student Learning
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 new media
Assistance with job materials
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
Writing centers--Consultations
What type of appointments does the writing center offer?
scheduled face-to-face appts
drop-in face-to-face 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?
20
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-12, Fac-1
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-96, Fac-4
What on-going professional development opportunities are provided undergraduate consultants?
Attend regional conferences
Present at regional conferences
Read professional journals
Outside speakers
Staff meetings
Reflections
Meeting with Director
What on-going professional development opportunities are provided graduate consultants?
Attend regional conferences
Present at regional conferences
Read professional journals
Outside speakers
Staff meetings
Reflections
Meeting with Director
What on-going professional development opportunities are provided faculty consultants?
Attend national conferences
Attend regional conferences
Present at national conferences
Present at regional conferences
Read professional journals
Outside speakers
Staff meetings
Reflections
How are the faculty consultants compensated?
Faculty salary
Release time/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?
One person administers all sites of writing on campus
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
Added online tutoring
Writing center moved
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)
No