Westminster College (UT)2017 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 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

Is oral communication a component of an institutional writing requirement?

Other

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

Are there institution-wide student writing goals?

Yes

Have the goals been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

Yes

Are the goals assessed at the institutional level?

Yes

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

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)?

Yes

How does your writing program use the NSSE data?

Data used for assessment.

Institutional requirements and goals--Changes to Writing Program

Were there changes to the writing requirement since the academic year 2012-13?

Yes

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

What is the institutional home for first-year writing?

There is no home

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

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

351

Does your institution accept alternative credit for FYWS?

Yes

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

Is there a placement mechanism for FYWS?

Yes

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

SAT/ACT scores

Directed Self-Placment

Other

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

0

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?

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

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.

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 FacultyFT-TT Faculty from other disciplinesFT-NTT English/ Writing FacultyFT-NTT Faculty from other disciplines
Required Course
Required Workshops
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYesYes
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 FacultyFT-TT Faculty from other disciplinesFT-NTT English/ Writing FacultyFT-NTT Faculty from other disciplinesPart-Time Faculty
Attend ConferencesYesYes
Present at ConferencesYesYes
Access to Professional JournalsYesYes
Outside Speakers
Required Weekly Meetings
Optional Weekly Meetings
Required Monthly Meetings
Optional Monthly Meetings
Workshops or In-ServiceYesYesYes
Meetings with DirectorYesYesYes
Other

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

Which type of scheduling does your institution follow?

Semester

How many semesters of FYWS are required?

One 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.

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

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?

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

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?

Yes

What were the changes? Check all that apply.

Other.

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

Is there a mission statement for the writing center?

Yes

Are there explicit goals for the writing center?

No

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

How are undergraduate consultants initially trained?

Full-credit course

How are graduate consultants initially trained?

Full-credit course

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 undergradaute consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

How are the graduate consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

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

Does the writing center have a faculty advisory committee?

No

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

Do you foresee changes to the writing center over the next four years?

No

Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--General information

Does your institution have a writing fellows program? (See glossary for definitions)

No