Grinnell College2013 Institution Survey
Sites of writing--General Description
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
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for WAC? (n=227)
Office of Chief Academic Officer
Is writing in the disciplines part of the writing program or department? (n=265)
No
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for writing in the disciplines? (n=184)
Other
Does your institution have a writing center or learning center with writing tutors? (n=679)
Yes
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the writing center? (n=487)
Independent program
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the basic writing program? (n=249)
Other
Sites of writing--Writing Requirement
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)
There are other requirements where writing is an explicit goal.
Sites of writing--College Writing Goals
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)
We do nothing with the data.
Is your school part of the WPA/NSSE Consortium for the Study of Writing in College? (n=494)
I don't know
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
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 dropped.
Other
Were there any changes to the administrative structures of the writing program or the sites of writing over the past 10 years? (n=597)
No
Was the writing program changed in the past 10 years to expand or eliminate areas? (n=609)
Yes
How did the writing program change? (n=346)
A writing center was merged with a learning commons.
Other
Were there changes to the staffing of the writing program or center over the past 10 years? (n=595)
No
Were there any additional changes to the writing program or the sites of writing at your institution not already mentioned? (n=588)
No
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 assessment
Changes to the administrative structures
Other
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.
We may create a campus teaching and learning center. We may add oral communication skills to the Writing Lab's explicit services and change our name.
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
What is your program's placement mechanism?
| FYWS (n=18) | |
|---|---|
| SAT/ACT | |
| AP/IB | |
| CLEP | |
| In-house exam | |
| Directed self-placement | Yes |
| Portfolio | |
| Dual enrollment/ transfer | |
| Other |
First-year writing/English composition--Goals and Assessment
How are the goals for FYW courses assessed?
| FYWS (n=66) | |
|---|---|
| Paper portfolio | |
| E-portfolio | |
| Random sample | |
| Exam | |
| Professor evaluation | |
| None | Yes |
| Course evaluation | |
| Student survey | |
| Other |
First-year writing/English composition--Curriculum
First-year writing/English composition--Enrollment Caps
What is the enrollment cap for basic writing sections of FYWS? (n=27)
Varies by semester
What is the enrollment cap for basic writing sections of other types of FYW? (n=23)
Varies by semester
First-year writing/English composition--Staffing
In the 2011-12 academic year, what percentage of FYWS courses were taught by: See Note 2a. (n=70)
| 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 | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1-5% | |||||||||||||
| 6-15% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 16-25% | |||||||||||||
| 26-35% | |||||||||||||
| 36-50% | |||||||||||||
| 51-60% | |||||||||||||
| 61-75% | |||||||||||||
| 76-85% | |||||||||||||
| 86-99% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 100% |
Is there faculty or professional development available for those teaching FYWS? (n=69)
Yes
What form does the faculty development take for FYW faculty?
| FYWS (n=70) | |
|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Other |
Do those attending faculty development for FYWS receive additional compensation? (n=65)
Yes
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)
SAT/ ACT scores
Admissions office/ student affairs referral
Advisor referral
Student self-referral
What types of supports are available to those students? (n=489)
Peer tutoring
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
Workshops
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)
Peer tutoring
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
Workshops
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)
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
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)
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. (n=612)
Academic building
What services does the writing center offer? (n=610)
Face-to-face consultations
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
Other
What other services does the writing center offer?
composition courses; consultations with faculty
Writing centers--Consultations
How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=225)
2,800
How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=224)
2,800
How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=223)
0
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
2,100
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
1,900
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=428)
0
How many online consultations were offered in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=221)
0
How many online consultations were offered in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=222)
0
How many online consultations were offered in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=220)
0
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)
37
What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered? (n=574)
40 minutes
Writing centers--Consultants
Are some or all of your writing center consultants undergraduate students? (n=561)
No
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 professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=113)
100
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)
100
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)
5
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=111)
5
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 | |||||
| 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 | |||||
| Presenting at national conferences | |||||
| Presenting at regional conferences | |||||
| Reading professional journals | Yes | ||||
| Outside speakers | Yes | ||||
| Weekly meetings | Yes | ||||
| Semester inservice or workshop | Yes | ||||
| Written reflections on daily and/or semester work | |||||
| Meet with director | |||||
| 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 | |||||
| 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)
Yes
Do the writing fellows work both as fellows and in the writing center? (n=145)
Writing fellows and writing center tutors are two separate groups.
If two separate groups, how are they staffed? (n=47)
Writing fellows are undergraduates, and writing center tutors are professional tutors.
Do the writing fellows regularly attend the class they are assigned to work with? (n=142)
Yes
On average, how many students does each writing fellow work with for a course? (n=131)
15+
Administrative structures
Who has primary responsibility for administering first-year writing requirement? (n=565)
CAO
Who has primary responsibility for administering the writing center? (n=546)
Separate writing center director or coordinator (WCD)
What is the teaching load for writing administrators?
| Average faculty member (n=501) | FYWD (n=265) | WAC director (n=62) | WCD (n=387) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |||
| 3-3 | ||||
| 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
| Assess the development of student writing on campus | |||
| 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 | |||
| Supervise professional staff (writing center director, asst.director, admin asst.) | Yes | ||
| Supervise tutors (professional and/or peer) | Yes | ||
| Hire professional staff | Yes | ||
| Hire tutors | |||
| Schedule writing courses | Yes | ||
| Schedule writing center | Yes | ||
| 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 | |||
| Other |