University of California-Santa Barbara2013 Institution Survey
Sites of writing--General Description
What is the institutional home of the writing program or department? (n=248)
independent department
Is the undergraduate writing minor part of the writing program or department? (n=352)
Yes
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the graduate writing program? (n=114)
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)
Other
Sites of writing--Writing Requirement
What does the writing requirement at your institution consist of? (n=638)
First-year composition predominately taught by English and/or Writing department (FYC)
Writing-intensive courses that are located throughout the curriculum (W courses)
Other
What other writing requirements does your institution have?
We also have an upper division 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
How are the college-wide student writing goals assessed? (n=379)
A longitudinal study is conducted.
The goals are not assessed.
Sites of writing--National Survey of Student Engagement
Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)? (n=667)
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
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.
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.
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 major was dropped.
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.
Adjunct faculty positions were converted into full-time, non-tenure-line teaching positions.
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 types of staffing
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) | FYC (n=373) | |
---|---|---|
SAT/ACT | ||
AP/IB | Yes | |
CLEP | ||
In-house exam | ||
Directed self-placement | ||
Portfolio | ||
Dual enrollment/ transfer | ||
Other |
First-year writing/English composition--Goals and Assessment
First-year writing/English composition--Curriculum
What is the other content of the FYC requirement?
study of expectations for writing in different sites - so sort of WAW, but not quite.
First-year writing/English composition--Enrollment Caps
First-year writing/English composition--Staffing
In the 2011-12 academic year, what percentage of FYC courses were taught by: See Note 2a. (n=422)
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 | ||||||
1-5% | Yes | Yes | |||||||||||
6-15% | |||||||||||||
16-25% | Yes | ||||||||||||
26-35% | Yes | ||||||||||||
36-50% | Yes | ||||||||||||
51-60% | |||||||||||||
61-75% | |||||||||||||
76-85% | |||||||||||||
86-99% | |||||||||||||
100% |
Is there faculty or professional development available for those teaching FYC? (n=457)
Yes
What form does the faculty development take for FYW faculty?
FYWS (n=70) | FYC (n=373) | |
---|---|---|
Requried pedagogy course taught by the WPA | Yes | |
Required faculty development workshops | Yes | |
Optional graduate pedagogy course | Yes | |
Optional faculty development workshops | Yes | |
Individual meetings with the WPA/WCD | Yes | |
Other | Yes |
Do those attending faculty development for FYC receive additional compensation? (n=411)
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)
SAT/ ACT scores
Placement test
Faculty referral
Student self-referral
What types of supports are available to those students? (n=489)
Special sections of FYW
Summer bridge program
Peer tutoring
Professional tutoring, not the WPA or WCD
Workshops
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Basic Writing
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Support for English Language Learners
How are students identified and/or placed into ELL writing courses? (n=239)
SAT/ACT/TOFEL
Placement test
What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses? (n=241)
Intensive English 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)
Yes
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
How would you describe the mid-level course? (n=124)
The course is similar to a writing-intensive course.
Other
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.
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)
Yes
Who administers WAC assessment?
Paper Portfolio | Electronic Portfolio | Random Sample of Student Writing | |
---|---|---|---|
WPA (n=27) | |||
Writing program faculty (n=13) | |||
Faculty from across the institution, via committee or ad hoc group (n=49) | |||
Other (n=30) | Yes | Yes |
Who participates in WAC assessment?
Paper Portfolio | Electronic Portfolio | Random Sample of Student Writing | Writing Exam | Professor Evaluation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
WPA (n=25) | |||||
Writing program faculty (n=23) | |||||
Faculty from across the institution, via committee or ad hoc group (n=77) | |||||
Outside evaluators (n=6) | |||||
Other (n=24) | Yes |
What are the criteria for a WI course? (n=184)
Number of pages or words written
Written or verbal feedback from instructor
Other criteria
Who certifies that a course fulfills WI designation? (n=183)
Other faculty committee
Other
Is there professional development available for those teaching in the WAC Program? (n=298)
No
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
Technical writing
Rhetoric/ composition
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)
Yes
Does your institution have a Ph.D. program in writing, other than creative writing? (n=654)
Yes
Does the graduate coursework include a course on writing program administration? (n=47)
Yes, optional
Does the graduate coursework include a course on writing center studies? (n=47)
No, not offered
Roughly how many graduate students in your program complete their Ph.D.s each year? (n=40)
1-3
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)
Tutoring center
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)
Other
How are the goals assessed? (n=423)
Student feedback forms
Faculty feedback
Center usage statistics
Writing centers--Consultations
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
2,534
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
1,760
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=428)
253
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
How many writing center consultations did your center conduct with graduate students during the 2011-12 academic year? See Notes 2a & 4. (n=184)
112
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)
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)
66
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were graduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=228)
4
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=113)
4
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were other personnel? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=36)
26
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=450)
66
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were graduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=228)
4
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)
4
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were other writing personnel? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=36)
26
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=448)
18
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were graduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=227)
1
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)
1
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were other personnel? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=37)
7
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
18
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were graduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=227)
1
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=111)
1
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were other personnel? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=37)
7
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) | Other (n=14) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full-credit course | ||||||
Half-credit course | ||||||
Weekly meetings | ||||||
Monthly meetings | ||||||
Workshops before the semester | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
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) | Faculty who teach in other academic departments (n=42) | Professional tutors (n=106) | Other (n=14) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attendance at national conferences | ||||||
Attendance at regional conferences | ||||||
Presenting at national conferences | ||||||
Presenting at regional conferences | ||||||
Reading professional journals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Outside speakers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Weekly meetings | ||||||
Semester inservice or workshop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Written reflections on daily and/or semester work | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Meet with director | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
No opportunities available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
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) | Other (n=22) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly wage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Stipend | ||||||
Tuition waver | ||||||
Course credit | ||||||
Faculty salary | ||||||
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)
Students work both as writing fellows and writing center tutors.
Do the writing fellows regularly attend the class they are assigned to work with? (n=142)
No
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)
Director of writing program/chair of writing department