Colorado College2013 Institution Survey
Sites of writing--General Description
What is the institutional home of the writing program or department? (n=248)
Office of Chief Academic Officer
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for first-year writing? (n=377)
Office of Chief Academic Officer
Is writing in the disciplines part of the writing program or department? (n=265)
Yes
Does your institution have a writing center or learning center with writing tutors? (n=679)
Yes
Sites of writing--Writing Requirement
What does the writing requirement at your institution consist of? (n=638)
Portfolio
Other
What other writing requirements does your institution have?
Students who do not submit or pass the FY portfolio must complete one or two "W" courses to demonstrate writing proficiency.
Are there curricular requirements that are not part of the writing requirement but that have writing as an explicit goal? (n=657)
Yes
What curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal? (n=342)
The first-year seminar has writing as an explicit goal.
Sites of writing--College Writing Goals
How are the college-wide student writing goals assessed? (n=379)
Students submit a portfolio.
Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses.
Who administers the college-wide assessment?
| Students take an essay exam. | Students submit a portfolio. | Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing program director (n=108) | Yes | ||
| Writing center director (n=37) | Yes | ||
| Associate dean (n=18) | |||
| Faculty committee (n=119) | |||
| Registrar (n=10) | Yes | ||
| Chair of the department (n=75) | |||
| Other (n=121) |
Who participates in the college-wide assessment?
| Students take an essay exam. | Students submit a portfolio. | Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses. | Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing program director (n=106) | Yes | |||
| Writing center director (n=65) | Yes | |||
| Writing program faculty (n=105) | ||||
| English department faculty (n=150) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Faculty from other disciplines than writing and English (n=163) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Readers outside the institution (n=15) | ||||
| Associate dean (n=22) | ||||
| Registrar (n=13) | ||||
| Other (n=63) |
Sites of writing--National Survey of Student Engagement
Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)? (n=667)
Yes
How does your writing program use the NSSE data? (n=425)
Data used to argue for additional resources.
Data used to promote the writing program.
Data used to support curricular changes.
Data used to encourage faculty to participate in WAC.
Is your school part of the WPA/NSSE Consortium for the Study of Writing in College? (n=494)
No
Sites of writing--Changes to Writing Program
Have there been changes to the writing program or sites of writing at your institution in the past 10 years? (n=666)
Yes
Which changes have taken place in regards to the writing requirement? (n=382)
The writing requirement was added.
Were there changes to the assessment of writing at your institution over the past 10 years? (n=589)
Yes
Which changes have taken place in regards to assessment? (n=437)
A college-wide assessment was added.
A required portfolio was added for all students.
Were there any changes to the administrative structures of the writing program or the sites of writing over the past 10 years? (n=597)
Yes
Which administrative structures of the writing program or the sites of writing changed? (n=396)
A WPA/WCD position was converted to a faculty position.
Was the writing program changed in the past 10 years to expand or eliminate areas? (n=609)
No
Were there changes to the staffing of the writing program or center over the past 10 years? (n=595)
Yes
Which changes to the staffing of the writing program or center have taken place over the past 10 years? (n=412)
Professional tutoring positions were added.
Other
Were there any additional changes to the writing program or the sites of writing at your institution not already mentioned? (n=588)
Yes
If there were any additional changes to the writing program or the sites of writing at your institution not already mentioned, please explain.
A full-time administrator of the Learning Commons now oversees the Writing Center (as part of the Learning Commons) but not the Writing Program, of which the Writing Center is a component. A halftime support position in Reading and Rhetoric went full-time two years ago, but is not structurally affiliated with the Writing Program.
Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the sites of writing at your institution over the next five years? (n=661)
Yes
What type of changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the sites of writing at your institution do you foresee in the next five years? (n=484)
Changes to the curricular structures or writing requirement
If you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the sites of writing at your institution over the next five years feel free to explain.
There is a possibility that the FYE seminars will be identified as a component of the Writing Program. There is also a possibility that "W" classes might be required of all students, contingent on support from faculty across the curriculum. There is also a possibility that a writing minor might arise. But it is also possible that none of this will happen.
First-year writing/English composition--General Description
Does your institution have a first-year writing requirement whether explicit or embedded? (n=672)
Yes
First-year writing/English composition--Placement and Transfer
Does your institution accept transfer credit for other first-year writing requirements? (n=41)
Yes
First-year writing/English composition--Goals and Assessment
How are the goals for FYW courses assessed?
| FYWS (n=66) | FYC (n=381) | FYS (n=47) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper portfolio | Yes | ||
| E-portfolio | |||
| Random sample | |||
| Exam | |||
| Professor evaluation | |||
| None | |||
| Course evaluation | |||
| Student survey | |||
| Other |
Who participates in the assessment of the goals for FYW courses?
| FYWS (n=53) | FYC (n=326) | FYS (n=41) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPA | Yes | ||
| Writing faculty | |||
| Institutional faculty | Yes | ||
| Outside evaluators | |||
| English faculty | |||
| Department chair | |||
| Other |
First-year writing/English composition--Curriculum
First-year writing/English composition--Enrollment Caps
First-year writing/English composition--Staffing
In the 2011-12 academic year, what percentage of FYS courses were taught by: See Note 2a. (n=54)
| Full-Time, Tenure Track English Faculty | Full-Time, Tenure Track Writing Faculty | Full-Time, Tenure Track Other Faculty | Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track English Faculty | Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track Writing Faculty | Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track Other Faculty | Part-time English Faculty | Part-time Writing Faculty | English Graduate TAs | Writing Graduate TAs | Other Graduate TAs | WPA | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||
| 1-5% | Yes | Yes | |||||||||||
| 6-15% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 16-25% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 26-35% | |||||||||||||
| 36-50% | |||||||||||||
| 51-60% | |||||||||||||
| 61-75% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 76-85% | |||||||||||||
| 86-99% | |||||||||||||
| 100% |
Is there faculty or professional development available for those teaching FYS? (n=61)
Yes
What form does the faculty development take for FYW faculty?
| FYWS (n=70) | FYC (n=373) | FYS (n=55) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requried pedagogy course taught by the WPA | |||
| Required faculty development workshops | |||
| Optional graduate pedagogy course | |||
| Optional faculty development workshops | Yes | ||
| Individual meetings with the WPA/WCD | Yes | ||
| Other |
Do those attending faculty development for FYS receive additional compensation? (n=57)
Sometimes
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--General Description
Does your institution identify students who may need additional writing support, including students whose primary language is not English? (n=626)
Yes
How does the institution identify these students? (n=483)
Directed self-placement
Portfolio
Admissions office/ student affairs referral
Advisor referral
Faculty referral
writing center tutor referral
What types of supports are available to those students? (n=489)
Targeted optional writing courses
Summer bridge program
Peer tutoring
Professional tutoring, not the WPA or WCD
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Basic Writing
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Support for English Language Learners
What type of supports are available for ELLs? (n=412)
Targeted optional writing courses
Summer bridge program
Peer tutoring
Professional tutoring, not the WPA or WCD
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
What percentage of the student body is placed into ELL writing courses? See Note 4. (n=160)
2
How are students identified and/or placed into ELL writing courses? (n=239)
Admissions office/ atudent affairs referral
Directed self-placement
Faculty referral
Advisor referral
What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses? (n=241)
Writing deparment/program
Writing across the curriculum (WAC) and writing beyond the first year--General Description
Does your institution have a WAC program and/or writing requirement beyond the first year? (n=642)
Yes
Does your institution require all students to take lower-division writing courses taught by the English or Writing department for students in other departments? Does not include the first-year writing requirement. (n=302)
No
Does your institution require all students to take upper-division writing courses taught by the English or Writing department for students in other departments? (n=303)
No
Does your institution require all students to take a mid-level writing course(s)? (n=304)
No
Does your institution require ALL students to complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience? (n=306)
No
Does the institution require some students to complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience? If so, what are the requirements? (n=216)
It varies by department.
Individual students can choose to complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience.
Writing across the curriculum (WAC) and writing beyond the first year--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? (n=303)
No
Is there professional development available for those teaching in the WAC Program? (n=298)
Yes
What form does that faculty development take? (n=216)
Optional faculty workshops
Individual meetings with faculty members
If faculty attend a seminar or workshop, how are they compensated? (n=129)
They receive food at the event.
They receive a stipend.
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 (M.A.) in writing, other than creative writing? (n=656)
No
Does your institution have a Ph.D. program in writing, other than creative writing? (n=654)
No
Writing centers--General description
Does your institution have a writing center or learning center with writing tutors? (n=676)
Yes
Is the writing center free-standing or part of another institutional unit? (n=612)
Part of another institutional unit
If the writing center is not free-standing, what larger institutional unit is it a part of? (n=379)
Learning commons
Where is the writing center located? Note: From this point on writing center refers to both free-standing and those located within another unit. (n=612)
Library
How are the goals assessed? (n=423)
Student feedback forms
Faculty feedback
Center usage statistics
External review
What services does the writing center offer? (n=610)
Face-to-face consultations
Assistance with oral presentations
Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software
Writing centers--Consultations
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
1,219
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
1,065
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=428)
91
How many online consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=427)
0
How many online consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Note 2b & 4. (n=427)
0
How many online consultations were conducted in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=425)
0
What percentage of the undergraduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2011-12 academic year? See Notes 2a & 4. (n=316)
35
How many writing center consultations did your center conduct with graduate students during the 2011-12 academic year? See Notes 2a & 4. (n=184)
10
What percentage of the graduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2011-12 academic year? See Notes 2a & 4. (n=122)
10
What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered? (n=574)
50 minutes
Writing centers--Consultants
Are some or all of your writing center consultants undergraduate students? (n=561)
Yes
Are some or all of your writing center consultants faculty who teach in the writing program? (n=548)
No
Are some or all of your writing center consultants faculty who teach in other academic departments? (n=539)
No
Are some or all of your writing center consultants professional tutors? (n=548)
Yes
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
88
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=113)
12
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=450)
87
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)
13
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=448)
30
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)
4
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
27
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=111)
4
How are consultants working in the writing center initally trained?
| Undergraduate students (n=505) | Graduate students (n=251) | Faculty who teach in the writing program (n=124) | Faculty who teach in other academic departments (n=45) | Professional tutors (n=113) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-credit course | Yes | ||||
| Half-credit course | |||||
| Weekly meetings | |||||
| Monthly meetings | |||||
| Workshops before the semester | |||||
| No training required | Yes | ||||
| Other |
What on-going professional development opportunities are offered for consultants working in the writing center?
| Undergraduate students (n=461) | Graduate students (n=237) | Faculty who teach in the writing program (n=54) | Faculty who teach in other academic departments (n=42) | Professional tutors (n=106) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance at national conferences | Yes | ||||
| Attendance at regional conferences | Yes | Yes | |||
| Presenting at national conferences | Yes | ||||
| Presenting at regional conferences | Yes | Yes | |||
| Reading professional journals | Yes | Yes | |||
| Outside speakers | |||||
| Weekly meetings | Yes | Yes | |||
| Semester inservice or workshop | |||||
| Written reflections on daily and/or semester work | |||||
| Meet with director | Yes | ||||
| No opportunities available | |||||
| Other |
How are consultants working in the writing center compensated?
| Undergraduate students (n=509) | Graduate students (n=263) | Faculty who teach in the writing program (n=132) | Faculty who teach in other academic departments (n=45) | Professional tutors (n=127) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly wage | Yes | Yes | |||
| Stipend | |||||
| Tuition waver | |||||
| Course credit | |||||
| Faculty salary | Yes | ||||
| Release time | |||||
| Other |
Writing centers--Course-based Peer Tutoring
Does your institution have a writing fellows (course-based peer tutoring) program? (n=577)
No
Administrative structures
Who has primary responsibility for administering first-year writing requirement? (n=565)
Faculty committee
Who has primary responsibility for administering the WAC program? (n=263)
Solo writing administrator
Who has primary responsibility for administering the writing center? (n=546)
Solo writing administrator
How is the solo writing administrator position classified? (n=39)
Hybrid Faculty/Staff-FT
To whom does the solo writing administrator report? (n=38)
Associate dean or provost
Other
If the solo writing administrator was not hired for this position, how did he/she assume these responsibilities? (n=13)
The director started the program after being hired.
Are there others who help the solo writing administrator to administer the various sites of writing? (n=33)
No
What is the teaching load for writing administrators?
| Average faculty member (n=501) | FYWD (n=265) | WAC director (n=62) | WCD (n=387) | Solo writing administrator (n=40) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | |||||
| 0-1 | |||||
| 1-1 | |||||
| 1-2 or 2-1 | Yes | ||||
| 2-2 | |||||
| 2-1-2 | |||||
| 2-2-2 | |||||
| 2-3 or 3-2 | |||||
| 3-3 | Yes | ||||
| 3-1-2 | |||||
| 3-1-3 | |||||
| 3-4 or 4-3 | |||||
| 4-4 | |||||
| Other | |||||
| Varies |
What are the job responsibilities for writing administrators?
| FYWD (n=267) | WAC director (n=63) | WCD (n=392) | Solo writing administrator (n=38) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teach courses in the first-year writing program | ||||
| Teach courses in the writing program/department (Not FYW) | Yes | |||
| Teach courses outside the writing program/department | ||||
| Assess all or some aspects of the writing program | Yes | |||
| Assess the development of student writing on campus | Yes | |||
| Conduct faculty development with faculty across the disciplines | Yes | |||
| Conduct TA training | ||||
| Consult with individual faculty across the disciplines | Yes | |||
| Consult with departments across the disciplines | Yes | |||
| Supervise professional staff (writing center director, asst.director, admin asst.) | Yes | |||
| Supervise tutors (professional and/or peer) | Yes | |||
| Hire professional staff | Yes | |||
| Hire tutors | Yes | |||
| Schedule writing courses | Yes | |||
| Schedule writing center | ||||
| Place students into writing courses | ||||
| Facilitate placement exam | ||||
| Oversee curriculum development | Yes | |||
| Train professional staff | Yes | |||
| Train peer tutors | Yes | |||
| Advertise program | Yes | |||
| Oversee program budget | Yes | |||
| Tutor students | Yes | |||
| Plan events | Yes | |||
| Serve on university committees | Yes | |||
| Maintain program website | Yes | |||
| Serve as an academic advisor | ||||
| Offer student workshops | Yes | |||
| Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit | Yes | |||
| Other |