Occidental College2013 Institution Survey
Sites of writing--General Description
What is the institutional home of the writing program or department? (n=248)
English Department
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for first-year writing? (n=377)
Other
Is the undergraduate writing minor part of the writing program or department? (n=352)
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)
First-year seminars taught by faculty across the curriculum (FYWS)
Mid-level writing course
Writing in the major
Portfolio
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? (n=657)
Yes
What curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal? (n=342)
A senior capstone/thesis for some or all students has writing as an explicit goal.
The first-year seminar has writing as an explicit goal.
There are other requirements where writing is an explicit goal.
Sites of writing--College Writing Goals
How are the college-wide student writing goals assessed? (n=379)
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.
A longitudinal study is conducted.
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. | Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience. | A longitudinal study is conducted. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing program director (n=108) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Writing center director (n=37) | Yes | ||||
| Associate dean (n=18) | Yes | ||||
| Faculty committee (n=119) | Yes | ||||
| Registrar (n=10) | |||||
| Chair of the department (n=75) | Yes | ||||
| Other (n=121) | Yes |
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. | A longitudinal study is conducted. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing program director (n=106) | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Writing center director (n=65) | Yes | Yes | |||
| Writing program faculty (n=105) | Yes | Yes | |||
| English department faculty (n=150) | |||||
| Faculty from other disciplines than writing and English (n=163) | Yes | 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 for assessment.
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.
Data used for other purposes.
Is your school part of the WPA/NSSE Consortium for the Study of Writing in College? (n=494)
Yes
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 expanded.
Departments are required to articulate their goals and writing requirements.
Other
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 college-wide assessment was expanded.
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)
Yes
Which administrative structures of the writing program or the sites of writing changed? (n=396)
A WPA/WCD position was converted to a tenure line.
Additional full-time WPA/WCD positions were created.
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)
An undergraduate writing minor was added. (not including creative writing)
A writing fellows program was added.
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)
Full-time, non-tenure-line teaching positions were added.
Tenure-line teaching positions were added.
Peer tutoring positions were added.
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.
We have bolstered our department--doing far more with advanced comp classes (and less with providing faculty one-to-one for students). We have also added an Interdisciplinary Writing Minor to the college, participating with other departments (though administered through the Writing Department).
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
Changes to assessment
Changes to the administrative structures
Changes to expand the writing program or sites of writing on campus
Changes to eliminate or consolidate aspects of the writing program or sites of writing on campus
Changes to the types of staffing
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.
A campus wide assessment group has evaluated senior-level writing proficiency and issued a report with the recommendation to add a 'WI' requirement for students after the first year. There is also campus wide discussion of changes to the first-year writing seminar program. We have also implemented a pilot writing fellows program. We are concerned that despite these changes there will be few resources allocated to the writing department. We lost a full time tenured faculty member, and our request for a replacement tenure line was denied.
First-year writing/English composition--General Description
Does your institution have a first-year writing requirement whether explicit or embedded? (n=672)
Yes
By when must the second semester course be completed? (n=316)
Second semester, first year
First-year writing/English composition--Placement and Transfer
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 | Yes |
| Professor evaluation | Yes |
| None | |
| Course evaluation | |
| Student survey | |
| Other |
Who participates in the assessment of the goals for FYW courses?
| FYWS (n=53) | |
|---|---|
| WPA | Yes |
| Writing faculty | Yes |
| 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 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 | ||||||||
| 1-5% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| 6-15% | Yes | 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 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 | Yes |
| Optional graduate pedagogy course | |
| Optional faculty development workshops | Yes |
| Individual meetings with the WPA/WCD | Yes |
| 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
What types of supports are available to those students? (n=489)
Special sections of FYW
Peer tutoring
Workshops
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Basic Writing
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Support for English Language Learners
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)
Yes
How would you describe the mid-level course? (n=124)
The course is focused on research writing.
Each department determines which course fits this requirement.
Writing goals are embedded into a mid-level foundations course.
Does your institution require ALL students to complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience? (n=306)
Yes
Is the senior thesis an explicit part of the college writing requirement? (n=92)
Yes
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)
Faculty seminar
Optional faculty workshops
Individual meetings with faculty members
On-campus speakers
Other
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
What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the minor? (n=312)
Professional writing
Rhetoric/ composition
Creative writing
Digital/ new media writing
Journalism /media writing
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)
Rhetoric/writing department or program
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
What services does the writing center offer? (n=610)
Face-to-face consultations
Online tutoring via Skype or instant messaging (synchronous)
Online feedback via e-mail (asynchronous)
Assistance with oral presentations
Tutoring in other subject areas
Writing centers--Consultations
How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=225)
1,700
How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=224)
1,700
How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=223)
400
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
1,000
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
892
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)
100
How many online consultations were offered in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=222)
100
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)
80
How many online consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Note 2b & 4. (n=427)
40
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)
24
What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered? (n=574)
30 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)
Yes
Are some or all of your writing center consultants faculty who teach in other academic departments? (n=539)
No
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
85
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were faculty who teach in the writing program? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=124)
2
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=450)
84
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were faculty who teach in the writing program? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=123)
1
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=448)
17
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were faculty who teach in the writing program? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=123)
3
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
16
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were faculty who teach in the writing program? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=121)
2
How are consultants working in the writing center initally trained?
| Undergraduate students (n=505) | |
|---|---|
| Full-credit course | |
| Half-credit course | Yes |
| Weekly meetings | Yes |
| Monthly meetings | |
| Workshops before the semester | |
| No training required | |
| 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance at national conferences | Yes | ||
| Attendance at regional conferences | Yes | ||
| Presenting at national conferences | Yes | ||
| Presenting at regional conferences | Yes | ||
| Reading professional journals | Yes | Yes | |
| Outside speakers | Yes | ||
| Weekly meetings | Yes | No | |
| Semester inservice or workshop | Yes | Yes | |
| Written reflections on daily and/or semester work | Yes | Yes | |
| Meet with director | Yes | No | |
| No opportunities available | |||
| Other | Yes |
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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly wage | Yes | ||
| Stipend | |||
| Tuition waver | |||
| Course credit | Yes | ||
| 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)
Responsibilities shared between more than one person
What is the teaching load for writing administrators?
| Average faculty member (n=501) | |
|---|---|
| 0-0 | |
| 0-1 | |
| 1-1 | |
| 1-2 or 2-1 | |
| 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 |