Whitman 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?

Proficiency exam

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?

Yes

What curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal?

Senior capstone or thesis for some or all students

First-year seminar

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

Are there institution-wide student writing goals?

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 to argue for additional resources.

Data used to promote the writing program.

Data used to support curricular changes.

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?

Other

What other changes took place in regards to the writing requirement?

proficiency exam and basic writing course added

Were there changes to the assessment of writing at your institution since the 2012-13 academic year?

No

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 expand the writing program or sites of writing on campus

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 Seminar (FYS)

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Placement & Transfer

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

Are there explicit goals for FYC?

Yes

If there are explicit goals for FYC, are the goals informed by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

Yes

How are the FYC goals assessed? Check all that apply.

Course Evaluation or Grades

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Delivery Methods

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

Yes

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

No

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

No

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.

Solo

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

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Training

For FYC, 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 disciplinesPart-Time Faculty
Required Course
Required WorkshopsYesYesYes
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYesYes
Individual Meetings with Director
Weekly Staff Meetings
Monthly Staff Meetings
No training is provided
Other

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Curriculum

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

No

What is the content for the first or only semester of FYC? Check all that apply.

Genre/Modes

Writing about Writing

WAC/discipline topics

Is there a common syllabus for the second semester of FYC?

No

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?

15

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the second semester of face-to-face FYC?

15

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Placement & Transfer

Is there a placement mechanism for FYWS?

No

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

How are the FYWS goals assessed? Check all that apply.

Other

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

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

No

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

First-Year Writing--First-Year Seminar: Placement & Transfer

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

404

Does your institution accept alternative credit for FYS?

Yes

If your institution accepts alternative credit for FYS, 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 FYS course?

5

Is there a placement mechanism for FYS?

No

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

0

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

Are there explicit goals for FYS?

Yes

How are the FYS goals assessed? Check all that apply.

Course Evaluation or Grades

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

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

Yes

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

No

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

No

During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYS were face-to-face?

100

During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYS were online?

0

During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYS were hybrid?

0

First-Year Writing--First-Year Seminar: Staffing

Who has primary responsibility for administering the FYS requirement? See the Glossary for an explanation of these terms.

Other

Beside the person who has primary responsibility for administering FYS, how many graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for FYS?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYS 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 FYS 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 FYS were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?

30

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYS 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 FYS 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 FYS were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?

70

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYS 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 FYS 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 FYS 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 FYS were taught by graduate students in English?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYS were taught by graduate students in rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYS 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 FYS were taught by the first-year writing director?

0

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

0

First-Year Writing--First-Year Seminar: Training

For FYS, what types of initial training is provided? Check all that apply.

FT-TT English/ Writing FacultyFT-TT Faculty from other disciplines
Required Course
Required Workshops
Optional Course
Optional Workshops
Individual Meetings with Director
Weekly Staff MeetingsYes
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.

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

Which type of scheduling does your institution follow?

Semester

How many semesters of FYS are required?

Two semesters

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

Yes

What is the content for the first or only semester of FYS? Check all that apply.

Literature

Themes

Is there a common syllabus for the second semester of FYS?

Yes

What is the content for the second semester of FYS? Check all that apply.

Literature

Themes

First-Year Writing--First-Year 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 FYS?

15

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the second semester of face-to-face FYS?

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?

Yes

Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year writing requirement at your institution? Check all that apply.

Other

Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year writing requirement at your institution? Check all that apply. - Other - Text

writing specified in FYS, placement exam, FYC for those who place in

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.

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?

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

A new full-time first-year writing director position was created and hired.

Administrative support was decreased.

Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of first-year writing at your institution over the next four years?

Yes

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--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 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.

Academic building

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

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 oral presentations

Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software

Assistance with how to lead a class discussion

Assistance with how to prepare a poster presentation

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

Space for faculty or staff to come together to write

Student writing groups

Faculty writing groups

Speakers

Dissertation or thesis boot camp

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?

60 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-14

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

How are undergraduate consultants initially trained?

Half-credit course

Staff meetings

What on-going professional development opportunities are provided undergraduate consultants?

Attend national conferences

Attend regional conferences

Present at national conferences

Present at regional conferences

Read professional journals

Outside speakers

Staff meetings

Meeting with Director

How are the undergradaute consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

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?

1

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?

Satellite located added

Added services

Added full-credit training course

Went from drop-in only to include scheduled appointments

Began to offer workshops

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?

Yes

What changes were made to the staffing or administration of the writing center?

Writing Center Administrator position converted to tenure track

Peer tutor positions increased

What other changes have been made to the staffing or administration of the writing center?

we hired a part time staff assistant, recent graduate.

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

Yes

Feel free to explain these upcoming changes.

We are revamping general education, which will inevitable have effects on the center.

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 unit

How old is the writing fellows program?

6-7 years

How is the writing fellows program funded?

Other

Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--Staffing

Do the writing fellows work both as fellows and in the writing center?

Writing fellows and writing center tutors are two separate groups.

If two separate groups, how are they staffed?

Writing fellows and writing center tutors are both undergraduates, but students do not do both jobs.

Do the writing fellows regularly attend the class they are assigned to work with?

No

On average, how many students does each writing fellow work with for a course?

15+

How are the writing fellows compensated?

Hourly wage

Administrative positions--Solo Writing Administrator (SWA)

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

TT

Where does the SWA's tenure line reside?

Other

To whom does the SWA report?

Associate Dean or Provost

Was the SWA hired for this position?

Yes

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

Teach courses

Train tutors, TAs, or professional staff

faculty workshops

student workshops

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

4

On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for SWA administrative responsibilities?

1

Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the SWA?

Develop curriculum

Create Program Documents

Write grants

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

Place students into writing courses

Facilitate placement exam

Advertise program

Oversee program budget

Plan events

Maintain program/department/center website

Serve on university committees

Serve as an academic advisor