Washington College2013 Institution Survey
Sites of writing--General Description
What is the institutional home of the writing program or department? (n=248)
English Department
Is the undergraduate writing minor part of the writing program or department? (n=352)
No
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the undergraduate minor? (n=246)
English department
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
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)
First-year composition predominately taught by English and/or Writing department (FYC)
Writing-intensive courses that are located throughout the curriculum (W courses)
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.
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)
Data used for other purposes.
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 changed.
Other
Were there changes to the assessment of writing at your institution over the past 10 years? (n=589)
Yes
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 full-time WPA or WCD position was added.
Other
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)
Full-time, non-tenure-line teaching positions were added.
Tenure-line teaching 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)
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 the curricular structures or writing requirement
Changes to assessment
Changes to eliminate or consolidate aspects of the writing program or sites of writing on campus
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.
Our current FYW sequence (two courses) is difficult to staff on an ongoing basis, and we have just completed a three year review of that sequence. Although no decisions have been made, I expect that we will need to consider the sustainability of the two-course FYW model. There is also some interest in revitalizing the writing intensive courses for the SO and JR years.
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) | FYC (n=381) | |
|---|---|---|
| Paper portfolio | ||
| E-portfolio | ||
| Random sample | Yes | Yes |
| Exam | ||
| Professor evaluation | Yes | Yes |
| None | ||
| Course evaluation | ||
| Student survey | Yes | Yes |
| Other |
Who participates in the assessment of the goals for FYW courses?
| FYWS (n=53) | FYC (n=326) | |
|---|---|---|
| WPA | Yes | Yes |
| Writing faculty | Yes | Yes |
| Institutional faculty | ||
| Outside evaluators | ||
| English faculty | Yes | Yes |
| Department chair | ||
| Other | Yes | Yes |
First-year writing/English composition--Curriculum
What is the content of the FYWS requirement? See Note 5. (n=73)
Literature
Themes
WAC/Topic Based
Other
What is the other content of the FYWS requirement?
The first course in our two-course FYW sequence is a Literature and Composition course primarily taught through the English department. The second course, Global Research and Writing (GRW), is topic focused and taught by faculty across the 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 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||
| 1-5% | |||||||||||||
| 6-15% | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| 16-25% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 26-35% | |||||||||||||
| 36-50% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 51-60% | |||||||||||||
| 61-75% | |||||||||||||
| 76-85% | |||||||||||||
| 86-99% | |||||||||||||
| 100% |
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 | |||||||
| 1-5% | |||||||||||||
| 6-15% | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
| 16-25% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 26-35% | Yes | ||||||||||||
| 36-50% | |||||||||||||
| 51-60% | |||||||||||||
| 61-75% | |||||||||||||
| 76-85% | |||||||||||||
| 86-99% | |||||||||||||
| 100% |
Is there faculty or professional development available for those teaching FYWS? (n=69)
Yes
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 | ||
| Required faculty development workshops | ||
| Optional graduate pedagogy course | ||
| Optional faculty development workshops | Yes | Yes |
| Individual meetings with the WPA/WCD | Yes | Yes |
| Other |
Do those attending faculty development for FYWS receive additional compensation? (n=65)
No
Do those attending faculty development for FYC receive additional compensation? (n=411)
No
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
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
Workshops
Other
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)
Special sections of FYW
Targeted optional writing courses
Peer tutoring
Professional tutoring, not the WPA or WCD
Workshops
Other
What percentage of the student body is placed into ELL writing courses? See Note 4. (n=160)
1
How are students identified and/or placed into ELL writing courses? (n=239)
SAT/ACT/TOFEL
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 similar to a writing-intensive 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
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
What form of assessment takes place of the WI goals? (n=149)
No assessment takes place
What are the criteria for a WI course? (n=184)
Revision
Time discussing writing In class
Written or verbal feedback from instructor
Other criteria
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
On-campus speakers
If faculty attend a seminar or workshop, how are they compensated? (n=129)
They receive food at the event.
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)
Creative 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)
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
How are the goals assessed? (n=423)
Student feedback forms
Center usage statistics
External review
Other
Writing centers--Consultations
How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=225)
900
How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=224)
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)
630
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
570
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)
25
What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered? (n=574)
45 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
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
100
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=450)
100
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=448)
13
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
10
How are consultants working in the writing center initally trained?
| Undergraduate students (n=505) | |
|---|---|
| Full-credit course | Yes |
| Half-credit course | |
| Weekly meetings | |
| 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) | |
|---|---|
| Attendance at national conferences | |
| Attendance at regional conferences | |
| Presenting at national conferences | |
| Presenting at regional conferences | |
| Reading professional journals | Yes |
| Outside speakers | |
| Weekly meetings | 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) | |
|---|---|
| Hourly wage | 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)
No
Administrative structures
Who has primary responsibility for administering first-year writing requirement? (n=565)
Responsibilities shared between more than one person
Who has primary responsibility for administering the WAC program? (n=263)
Director of writing/chair of writing department
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) | Solo writing administrator (n=40) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | |||||
| 0-1 | |||||
| 1-1 | Yes | ||||
| 1-2 or 2-1 | |||||
| 2-2 | |||||
| 2-1-2 | |||||
| 2-2-2 | |||||
| 2-3 or 3-2 | Yes | ||||
| 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach courses in the first-year writing program | Yes | ||
| Teach courses in the writing program/department (Not FYW) | |||
| 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 | |||
| Hire tutors | Yes | ||
| Schedule writing courses | |||
| Schedule writing center | Yes | ||
| Place students into writing courses | |||
| Facilitate placement exam | |||
| Oversee curriculum development | |||
| Train professional staff | |||
| Train peer tutors | Yes | ||
| Advertise program | Yes | ||
| Oversee program budget | Yes | ||
| Tutor students | Yes | ||
| Plan events | |||
| 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 | Yes |