Westminster College (UT)2013 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)
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)
Other
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the basic writing program? (n=249)
English department
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 in the major
Portfolio
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)
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 submit a portfolio.
Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses.
Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience.
other
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. | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Writing program director (n=108) | ||||
Writing center director (n=37) | ||||
Associate dean (n=18) | ||||
Faculty committee (n=119) | ||||
Registrar (n=10) | ||||
Chair of the department (n=75) | ||||
Other (n=121) | Yes | Yes | 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. | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Writing program director (n=106) | ||||
Writing center director (n=65) | ||||
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) | Yes |
Sites of writing--National Survey of Student Engagement
Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)? (n=667)
Yes
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)
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.
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 full-time WPA or WCD position was added.
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 added.
A writing center was merged with a learning commons.
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.
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)
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 expand 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.
We are beginning a process of evaluating and change our core curriculum (Liberal Education requirements) and are likely moving toward writing-intensive cross-disciplinary first-year seminars coupled with increased focus on writing in the majors.
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 | Yes |
Who approves transfer credit for FYW courses? (n=539)
Registrar
Department chair
Other
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 | Yes | |
Random sample | Yes | |
Exam | ||
Professor evaluation | Yes | |
None | ||
Course evaluation | ||
Student survey | ||
Other |
Who participates in the assessment of the goals for FYW courses?
FYWS (n=53) | FYC (n=326) | |
---|---|---|
WPA | ||
Writing faculty | ||
Institutional faculty | Yes | |
Outside evaluators | ||
English faculty | Yes | |
Department chair | ||
Other |
First-year writing/English composition--Curriculum
What is the content of the FYC requirement? See Note 5. (n=456)
Genre/Modes
Writing About Writing (WAW)
WAC/Topic Based
Other
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 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
1-5% | |||||||||||||
6-15% | |||||||||||||
16-25% | |||||||||||||
26-35% | Yes | ||||||||||||
36-50% | |||||||||||||
51-60% | |||||||||||||
61-75% | Yes | ||||||||||||
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 | ||
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 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
How does the institution identify these students? (n=483)
SAT/ ACT scores
Placement test
Advisor referral
Faculty referral
Student self-referral
TOEFL
What types of supports are available to those students? (n=489)
Required basic writing course
Summer bridge program
Peer tutoring
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
Other
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Basic Writing
What percentage of the student body is placed into basic writing? See Note 4. (n=164)
13
What is the structure of the basic writing program? See Glossary for terms used. (n=205)
Prerequisite model
What is the curriculum of the basic writing courses? (n=203)
Grammar
Sentence writing
Paragraph writing
Reading and writing
Other
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Support for English Language Learners
What type of supports are available for ELLs? (n=412)
Required basic writing course
Targeted optional writing courses
Summer bridge program
Peer tutoring
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
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
Placement test
Directed self-placement
What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses? (n=241)
English department
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)
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
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)
Library
How are the goals assessed? (n=423)
Student feedback forms
Center usage statistics
Other
What services does the writing center offer? (n=610)
Face-to-face consultations
Online feedback via e-mail (asynchronous)
Assistance with oral presentations
Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software
Assistance with new media
Assistance with how to prepare a poster presentation
Writing centers--Consultations
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
1,098
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)
946
How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=428)
157
How many online consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=427)
2
How many online consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Note 2b & 4. (n=427)
2
How many online consultations were conducted in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=425)
3
What percentage of the undergraduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2011-12 academic year? See Notes 2a & 4. (n=316)
23
How many writing center consultations did your center conduct with graduate students during the 2011-12 academic year? See Notes 2a & 4. (n=184)
193
What percentage of the graduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2011-12 academic year? See Notes 2a & 4. (n=122)
12
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
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
93
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were other personnel? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=36)
0
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=450)
62
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were other writing personnel? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=36)
37
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 fall of 2011 were other personnel? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=37)
0
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
15
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were other personnel? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=37)
9
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 | Yes |
Attendance at regional conferences | Yes |
Presenting at national conferences | Yes |
Presenting at regional conferences | Yes |
Reading professional journals | Yes |
Outside speakers | |
Weekly meetings | |
Semester inservice or workshop | Yes |
Written reflections on daily and/or semester work | |
Meet with director | Yes |
No opportunities available | |
Other | Yes |
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)
Chair of the English department
Who has primary responsibility for administering the writing center? (n=546)
Separate writing center director or coordinator (WCD)