Boise State University2017 Institution Survey

Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Requirement

Does your institution have a writing requirement?

Yes

What does the writing requirement at your institution consist of?

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

Other

Are there curricular requirements that are not part of the writing requirement but that have writing as an explicit goal?

Yes

What curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal?

Senior capstone or thesis for some or all students

Is oral communication a component of an institutional writing requirement?

Oral commncation is part of a communication across the curriculum requirement.

Institutional requirements and goals--College Writing Goals

Are there institution-wide student writing goals?

Yes

Have the goals been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

Yes

Are the goals assessed at the institutional level?

Yes

How are the college-wide student writing goals assessed?

other

What are other approaches to assessment of institutional goals?

university-level outcomes-based assessment, but addressed at multiple levels. Example: university learning outcome #1 is about written communication, and we are assessing it in FYW and our general education program is assessing it at the 200-level course. We adapted a few criteria from the LEAP rubrics, as did they--but different ones. To my knowledge, our communication in the disciplines courses are only assessed via program/dept assessment.

Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Committee

Does your institution have a writing committee?

Yes

Who serves on the committee?

Other

Who else serves on the writing committee?

To clarify: We have a FYW Committee (FYW faculty); we also have a general education curriculum committee, and the associate director of FYW serves on that.

Institutional requirements and goals--National Survey of Student Engagement

Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)?

Yes

How does your writing program use the NSSE data?

Data used for assessment.

Data used for other purposes.

Institutional requirements and goals--Changes to Writing Program

Were there changes to the writing requirement since the academic year 2012-13?

Yes

Which changes took place in regards to the writing requirement?

A mid-level required course was added.

A senior culminating experience was added.

Other

What other changes took place in regards to the writing requirement?

No non-credit-bearing FYW courses. Students take a 4-credit version of our initial writing course (3 cr), which includes a studio portion.

Were there changes to the assessment of writing at your institution since the 2012-13 academic year?

Yes

Which changes took place in regards to assessment?

Other

What other changes took place in regards to writing assessment?

We just have a mechanism for assessment now because of university-wide ULOs.

Do you foresee changes at the institutional level to the sites of writing on your campus over the next four years?

No

First-Year Writing--General Description

Does your institution have a first-year writing requirement, whether explicit or embedded?

Yes

What is the institutional home for first-year writing?

English department

How would you describe your first-year writing requirement? Check all that apply. See Glossary for definitions.

First-Year Composition (FYC)

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Placement & Transfer

In the academic year 2016-17, how many students took FYC?

5233

Does your institution accept alternative credit for first-year composition?

Yes

If your institution accepts alternative credit for FYC, which mechanism is used? Check all that apply.

Transfer credit from another institution

Dual enrollment

What percentage of students in AY 2016/17 received alternative credit for a FYC course?

21

If there is a placement mechanism for FYC, what is it? Check all that apply.

Other

What percentage of students in AY 2016/17 placed out of a FYC course?

1

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Goals

Are there explicit goals for FYC?

Yes

If there are explicit goals for FYC, are the goals informed by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

Yes

How are the FYC goals assessed? Check all that apply.

Electronic Portfolio

Student Survey

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Delivery Methods

In AY 2016/17, did your institution offer face-to-face sections of FYC?

Yes

In AY 2016/17, did your institution offer online sections of FYC?

Yes

In AY 2016/17, did your institution offer hybrid sections of FYC?

Yes

During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYC were face-to-face?

88

During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYC were online?

10

During the academic year 2016-17, what percentage of sections of FYC were hybrid?

2

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Staffing

Who has primary responsibility for administering the FYC requirement? See the Glossary for an explanation of these terms.

FYWA

Beside the person who has primary responsibility for administering FYC, how many graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for FYC?

3

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty in the English Department?

1

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty in the rhetoric/composition department or program?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the English Department?

41

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the rhetoric/composition department or program?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by the English Department)?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by the rhetoric/composition department or program)?

24

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by another department/program)?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by graduate students in English?

34

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by graduate students in rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by graduate students from departments outside English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by the first-year writing director?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of face-to-face FYC were taught by Other?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year

9

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty in the rhetoric/composition department or program?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the English Department?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the rhetoric/composition department or program?

83

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by the English Department)?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by the rhetoric/composition department or program)?

9

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by another department/program)?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by graduate students in English?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by graduate students in rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by graduate students from departments outside English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by the first-year writing director?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of online FYC were taught by Other?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty in the English Department?

33

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty in the rhetoric/composition department or program?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by FT, tenure-line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the English Department?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty in the rhetoric/composition department or program?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by FT, non-tenure line faculty from departments besides English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by the English Department)?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by the rhetoric/composition department or program)?

67

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by PT faculty (hired by another department or program)?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by graduate students in English?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage ofsections of hybrid FYC were taught by graduate students in rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by graduate students from departments outside English and rhetoric/composition?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by the first-year writing director?

0

In the 2016-17 academic year, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by Other?

0

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Training

For FYC, what types of initial training is provided? Check all that apply.

FT-TT English/ Writing FacultyFT-TT Faculty from other disciplinesFT-NTT English/ Writing FacultyFT-NTT Faculty from other disciplinesPart-Time FacultyGraduate Students
Required CourseYes
Required WorkshopsYesYesYes
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYesYesYes
Individual Meetings with DirectorYes
Weekly Staff Meetings
Monthly Staff Meetings
No training is provided
OtherYesYesYesYes

Do those attending initial training receive additional compensation or course credit?

My institution does not have a consistent policy for when people are compensated for training.

For FYC, what types of on-going professional development is provided? Check all that apply.

FT-TT English/ Writing FacultyFT-TT Faculty from other disciplinesFT-NTT English/ Writing FacultyFT-NTT Faculty from other disciplinesPart-Time FacultyGraduate Students
Attend ConferencesYesYesYesYes
Present at ConferencesYesYesYesYes
Access to Professional JournalsYesYesYesYes
Outside Speakers
Required Weekly Meetings
Optional Weekly Meetings
Required Monthly MeetingsYes
Optional Monthly Meetings
Workshops or In-ServiceYesYesYesYes
Meetings with DirectorYesYesYesYes
OtherYesYesYesYes

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Curriculum

Which type of scheduling does your institution follow?

Semester

Is there a common syllabus for the first or only semester of FYC?

No

What is the content for the first or only semester of FYC? Check all that apply.

Writing about Writing

Teaching for Transfer

Other

What is the content for the first or only semester of FYC? Check all that apply - Other - Text

Genre is, to me, different from modes. I'd say our first course is heavily informed by genre theory.

Is there a common syllabus for the second semester of FYC?

No

What is the content for the second semester of FYC? Check all that apply.

Writing about Writing

Teaching for Transfer

Research

What is the content for the second semester of FYC? Check all that apply - Other - Text

writing about the disciplines

How many semesters of FYC are required?

Two semesters

First-Year Writing--First-Year Composition: Course Caps

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the first or only semester of face-to-face FYC?

25

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the first or only semester of hybrid FYC?

25

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the first or only semester of online FYC?

18

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Basic Writing sections of the first or only semester of face-to-face FYC?

>12

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Basic Writing sections of the first or only semester of online FYC?

>12

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the second semester of face-to-face FYC?

25

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the second semester of hybrid FYC?

25

In the academic year 2016/17, what was the enrollment cap for Regular sections of the second semester of online FYC?

18

First-Year Writing--Changes to First-Year Writing

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year writing requirement at your institution?

No

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year writing placement mechanism or how alternate credit is granted at your institution?

Yes

Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year writing placement mechanism or how alternate credit is granted at your institution? Check all that apply.

The placement mechanism changed.

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year writing assessment at your institution?

Yes

Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year writing assessment at your institution? Check all that apply.

Assessment of the course/program changed.

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the first-year curriculum or enrollment caps at your institution?

Yes

Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year curriculum or enrollment caps at your institution? Check all that apply.

The course content changed.

Hybrid FYW courses were eliminated.

Other

Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the first-year curriculum or enrollment caps at your institution? Check all that apply. - Other - Text

curriculum experimentation in preparation for a curriculum redesign summer 2018

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the administration or staffing of first year writing at your institution?

No

Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of first-year writing at your institution over the next four years?

No

Upper Level Writing Courses--Upper Level Writing Courses: General

How many specific writing course(s) beyond the first year does your institution require all students to take? For example, such a course could be a sophomore or junior-level course taught by English or writing faculty. We are NOT asking about writing-intensive courses. The WAC section of the Census will ask about those courses.

0

Upper Level Writing Courses--Senior Culminating Experience

Does your institution require ALL students complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience?

Yes

Is the senior thesis an explicit part of the college writing requirement?

No

Does your institution require SOME students complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience?

No

Upper Level Writing Courses--Changes to Upper Level Writing

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the requirement for writing courses beyond the first year (not writing-intensive)?

No

Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--General Description

Does your institution have a formal WAC Program?

No

Is there professional development available for those teaching in the WAC Program or teaching WI courses?

No

Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--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? See Glossary for definitions.

No

Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--Changes to WAC

Since the academic year 2012/13 have there been changes to the WI or WAC program?

Yes

What changes occurred?

WI requirement added

WI course requirement dropped

The WAC Program received additional administrative support.

Other

What other changes occurred?

A new gen ed curriculum added Communication in the Disciplines courses in every major. There was an initiative to support those and build a vertical writing curriculum. That has since been abandoned.

Do you foresee any major changes to WAC on your campus in the next four years?

Maybe

Feel free to explain any upcoming changes.

Gen ed under further revision; results pending.

Basic or Developmental Writing--Basic or Developmental Writing

Does your institution identify basic writing students who may need additional writing support?

Yes

What type of supports are available for basic writers? Check all that apply.

Other

What type of supports are available for basic writers? Check all that apply. - Other - Text

Co-requisite first-year course (enrolled in regular 101, have additional one hour per week with instructor and 9 students from their 101).

Does your institution have a formal basic writing program?

No

What percentage of the student body is placed into basic writing?

10

What is the structure of your basic writing program? Check all that apply. (See Glossary for an explanation of terms)

Studio model

How many levels of basic writing do you have?

1

What is the curriculum of the basic writing courses? Check all that apply.

Other

What is the curriculum of the basic writing courses? Check all that apply. - Other - Text

Support of the 101 curriculum. Reading strategies, writing workshops, and so on.

How do students exit basic writing? Check all that apply.

Other

How do students exit basic writing? Check all that apply. - Other - Text

Pass credit-bearing course (101)

Is there a Director of Basic Writing?

No

Basic or Developmental Writing--Changes to Basic or Developmental Writing

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the support for basic writers?

Yes

What changes have there been to the support for basic writers? Check all that apply.

Basic writing classes were dropped.

The placement mechanism for basic writing was changed.

The structure of the basic writing courses/program was changed.

Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures for helping diversely prepared students at your institution over the next four years?

No

Writing centers--General description

Does your institution have a writing center or learning center with writing tutors?

Yes

Is the writing center free-standing or part of another institutional unit?

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.

Academic building

Is there a mission statement for the writing center?

Yes

Are there explicit goals for the writing center?

Yes

How are the goals assessed?

Student feedback forms

Center usage statistics

In addition to providing support for students writing for their courses, what services does the writing center offer? Check all that apply.

Assistance with multimodal assignments

Assistance with reading

Assistance with online research

Assistance with oral presentations

Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software

Assistance with new media

Assistance with how to prepare a poster presentation

Assistance with job materials

Assistance with graduate school materials

Assistance for English Language Learners

Asssistance for faculty on syllabus or curriculum development

What events does the writing center offer?

Student workshops

Faculty workshops

Space for student to come together to write

Student writing groups

Speakers

Dissertation or thesis boot camp

Other

What other events does the writing center offer?

Creative writing readings

Writing centers--Consultations

What type of appointments does the writing center offer?

scheduled face-to-face appts

drop-in face-to-face appts

online feedback via e-mail

What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered?

30 minutes

What percentage of the undergraduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2016-17 academic year?

6

Writing centers--Consultants

How many consultants worked in the writing center during the 2016-17 academic year? UG=undergraduates, GS=graduate students, Fac=faculty, PT=professional tutors, Vol=volunteers

UG-34, GS-8, Fac-2

On average, what percentage of a week's consultations are staffed by each group? For example, if your center offers 100 hours of consultations a week and 50 hours are filled by undergraduates and 25 hours by both graduate students and professional tutors, then the percentage would be 50% undergraduate, 25% graduate students, and 25% professional tutors.

UG-70, GS-28, Fac-2

How are undergraduate consultants initially trained?

Full-credit course

Staff meetings

How are graduate consultants initially trained?

Full-credit course

Staff meetings

What on-going professional development opportunities are provided undergraduate consultants?

Attend national conferences

Attend regional conferences

Present at national conferences

Present at regional conferences

Read professional journals

Staff meetings

Reflections

Meeting with Director

What on-going professional development opportunities are provided graduate consultants?

Attend national conferences

Attend regional conferences

Present at national conferences

Present at regional conferences

Read professional journals

Staff meetings

Reflections

Meeting with Director

How are the undergradaute consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

How are the graduate consultants compensated?

Release time

How are the faculty consultants compensated?

Release time/Course credit

Writing centers--Administration

Who has primary responsibility for directing the writing center or overseeing the writing tutors if the tutors are part of a different institutional unit?

Writing Center Administrator (WCA)

In addition to the person who has primary responsibility, how many undergraduates, graduate students, staff members, or faculty members have administrative responsibilities for the writing center?

5+

Does the writing center have a faculty advisory committee?

No

Writing centers--Changes

Since the academic year 2012/13 have there been changes to the writing center at your institution (not including staffing)?

Yes

What changes have been made?

Added services

Since the academic year 2012/13 have there been changes to the staffing or administration of the writing center at your institution?

Yes

What changes were made to the staffing or administration of the writing center?

Peer tutor positions increased

Graduate positions increased

Do you foresee changes to the writing center over the next four years?

No

Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--General information

Does your institution have a writing fellows program? (See glossary for definitions)

No

Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: General

Is there support for domestic and international English Language Learners (ELLs)?

Yes, for both domestic and international

Is support for English Language Learners (ELLs) separate from basic writing?

Yes

What percentage of the student body is placed into ELL writing courses, both required and optional?

3

What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses?

English department

Who has primary responsibility for administering support for English Language Learners?

Full-time tenure line director/coordinator

Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: Domestic Students

Does your institution identify domestic English Language Learners (ELLs) who may need additional writing support?

Yes

What type of supports are available for domestic English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.

Special sections of FYW

Targeted optional writing courses

Peer tutoring

Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: International Students

Does your institution identify international English Language Learners (ELLs) who may need additional writing support?

Yes

How does the institution identify International English Language Learners? Check all that apply.

International ELL Placement Test

What type of supports are available for International English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.

Special sections of FYW

Targeted optional writing courses

Peer tutoring

Multilingual Writing Support--Changes to Multilingual Writing Support

Since AY 2012/13, have there been changes to the support for English Language Learners (ELLs)?

Yes

What changes have there been to the support for English Language Learners (ELLs)? Check all that apply.

Courses for ELLs were added.

Courses for ELLs were dropped.

Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures for helping diversely prepared students at your institution over the next four years?

No

Administrative positions--First-Year Writing Administrator (FYWA)

How is the First-Year Writing Administrator position (FYWA) classified?

TT

Where does the FYWA's tenure line reside?

English

To whom does the FYWA report?

Chair of the department

CAO

Was the FYWA hired for this position?

Yes

Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the FYWA have? Check all that apply.

Teach courses

Train tutors, TAs, or professional staff

faculty workshops

On average, how many courses per year does the FYWA teach?

2

On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for the administrative responsibilities of the FYWA?

3

Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the FYWA?

Develop curriculum

Create Program Documents

Conduct assessment

Consult with individual faculty or departments across the disciplines

Hire (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Supervise (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Mentor (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Schedule

Place students into writing courses

Facilitate placement exam

Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit

Serve on university committees

Serve as an academic advisor

Administrative positions--Writing Center Administrator (WCA)

How is the Writing Center Administrator position (WCA) classified?

TT

Where does the WCA's tenure line reside?

English

To whom does the WCA report?

Chair of the department

Was the WCA hired for this position?

Yes

Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the WCA have? Check all that apply.

Teach courses

Train tutors, TAs, or professional staff

faculty workshops

student workshops

On average, how many courses per year does the WCA teach?

3

On average, how many courses per year are reassigned for WCA administrative responsibilities?

3

Which of the following are the administrative responsibilities of the WCA?

Create Program Documents

Conduct assessment

Consult with individual faculty or departments across the disciplines

Hire (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Supervise (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Mentor (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Schedule writing courses

Advertise program

Oversee program budget

Plan events

Maintain program/department/center website

Serve on university committees