Howard 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)

Mid-level writing course

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?

Yes

What curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal?

Senior capstone or thesis for some or all students

First-year seminar

other requirements

Is oral communication a component of an institutional writing requirement?

We are just beginning to discuss the role of oral communication in our institution's curriculum.

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?

Students submit a portfolio.

Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses.

Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience.

Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Committee

Does your institution have a writing committee?

Yes

Who serves on the committee?

First-year writing administrator

Writing center administrator

Writing faculty

Institutional requirements and goals--National Survey of Student Engagement

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

I don't know

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?

Other

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

New First-year Writing Courses were added, as well as objectives, and assessment practices

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?

A required portfolio was added for all students.

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

Yes

What type of changes to the institutional sites of writing do you foresee in the next four years?

Changes to assessment

Changes to expand the writing program or sites of writing on campus

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?

800

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

AP/IB results

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

0.5

Is there a placement mechanism for FYC?

Yes

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

SAT/ACT scores

Directed Self-Placment

Other

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

0

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

Random Sample

Course Evaluation or Grades

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?

No

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?

98

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

0

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?

2

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?

0

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?

92

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?

8

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)?

0

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?

0

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, what percentage of sections of hybrid FYC were taught by FT, 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, 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?

100

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)?

0

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 Course
Required WorkshopsYesYes
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYesYesYes
Individual Meetings with DirectorYesYesYes
Weekly Staff Meetings
Monthly Staff MeetingsYesYes
No training is providedYes
Other

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

No

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 SpeakersYesYesYesYes
Required Weekly Meetings
Optional Weekly Meetings
Required Monthly Meetings
Optional Monthly Meetings
Workshops or In-ServiceYesYesYes
Meetings with Director
Other

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?

Yes

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

Genre/Modes

Writing about Writing

Themes

Teaching for Transfer

Multimodal

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

Yes

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

Writing about Writing

Teaching for Transfer

Research

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 Honors sections of the first or only semester of face-to-face FYC?

15

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?

20

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?

15

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

15

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

20

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

15

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?

Yes

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

The number of required first-year writing courses increased.

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.

Other

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.- Other - Text

Scores and qualifications for exemption were raised

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.

The learning outcomes/goals of first-year writing were added.

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.

A common syllabus was added.

Course caps were raised.

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?

Yes

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.

1

By which semester must a student complete the first required course beyond FYW?

2nd semester of junior year

Upper Level Writing Courses--Upper Level Writing Courses: Goals

Does the 1st course beyond FYW have explicit goals?

Yes

If the 1st course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

Yes

How are the goals of the 1st course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.

Electronic portfolio

Random sample of student writing

Professor evaluation

Does the 2nd course beyond FYW have explicit goals?

Yes

If the 2nd course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

Yes

How are the goals of the 2nd course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.

Electronic portfolio

Random sample of student writing

Professor evaluation

Does the 3rd course beyond FYW explicit goals?

Yes

If the 3rd course has explicit goals, have they been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

Yes

How are the goals of the 3rd course beyond FYW assessed? Check all that apply.

Electronic portfolio

Professor evaluation

Upper Level Writing Courses--Upper Level Writing Courses: Content

What is the content of the 1st course beyond FYW? Check all that apply.

Other

What is the content of the 2nd course beyond FYW? Check all that apply.

Research writing

Argumentative writing

What is the content of the 3rd course beyond FYW? Check all that apply.

Writing in the disciplines

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

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

Associate Dean or Provost

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?

3

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

Hire (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Mentor (tutors, professional staff, or teaching faculty)

Place students into writing courses

Facilitate placement exam

Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit

Serve on university committees

Serve as an academic advisor