University of North Carolina at Charlotte2017 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)

Portfolio

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 communication is a separate general education 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?

No

Are the goals assessed at the institutional level?

No

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?

We do nothing with the data.

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?

The writing requirement was changed.

A mid-level required course was added.

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

No

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?

Independent writing program

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?

4797

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

CLEP

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

0

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

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

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?

97

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?

3

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?

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 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?

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 rhetoric/composition department or program?

88

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?

12

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

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 Workshops
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYes
Individual Meetings with DirectorYes
Weekly Staff Meetings
Monthly Staff MeetingsYes
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 MeetingsYesYesYes
Optional Monthly MeetingsYesYes
Workshops or In-ServiceYesYesYesYes
Meetings with DirectorYesYesYesYes
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?

No

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

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?

20

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?

22

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.

A requirement for a first-year writing course was dropped.

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.

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

The learning outcomes/goals of first-year writing changed.

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

No

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.

1

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

2nd semester of sophomore 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?

No

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

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.

Research writing

Writing in the disciplines

Upper Level Writing Courses--Senior Culminating Experience

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

No

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

Yes

What are the criteria for some students to complete a senior thesis?

The requirements vary by department.

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)?

Yes

Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the requirement for writing courses beyond the first year (not writing-intensive)? Check all that apply.

A required sophomore-level writing course was added.

Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--General Description

Does your institution have a formal WAC Program?

Yes

What does the WAC Program consist of?

Writing Fellows

Writing Enriched Curriculum (WEC)

Faculty Development

Other

What else is part of the WAC Program?

Written and Oral Communication

Has any aspect of the WAC Program been influenced by the Statement of WAC Principles and Practices?

Yes

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

Yes

If faculty attend a seminar or workshop, how are they compensated?

They receive food at the event.

They receive a stipend.

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.

Yes

How long has the WI requirement been in existence?

7-10 years

How many WI courses are required beyond the first-year requirement?

2

How many WI courses are part of a first-year requirement?

0

When do WI courses need to be completed?

By graduation

Are there explicit goals for the WI courses?

Yes

Have the goals been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement?

Yes

What form of assessment takes place of the WI goals?

No assessment takes place

What are the criteria for a WI course?

Number of pages or words written

Revision

Written or verbal feedback from instructor

Percentage of course grade in writing

Who certifies that a course fulfills WI designation?

Chief Academic Officer

Are there incentives offered for faculty to teach a WI course?

Yes

Which incentives are offered to faculty to teach WI courses?

Course release

In academic year 2016/17, what was the course cap for WI courses?

25

Writing across the curriculum (WAC)--Administration

Who has primary responsibility for administering the WAC Program?

WAC Administrator

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

2

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?

A Full-time WAC director position was created.

The WAC Program received additional administrative support.

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

Maybe

Feel free to explain any upcoming changes.

I see the potential for growth in the department model of creating communication enhanced curriculum and in our peer communication consultant program (akin to writing fellows).

The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Major

Does your institution have a creative writing major?

No

Does your institution have a writing major (other than creative writing)?

Yes

What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the major? Check all that apply.

Rhetoric/ composition

Digital/ new media writing

In which department is the major housed?

Writing

The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Minor

Does your institution have a creative writing minor?

Yes

Does your institution have a writing minor (other than creative writing)?

Yes

What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the minor? Check all that apply.

Rhetoric/ composition

Digital/ new media writing

Other

In which department is the minor housed?

Writing

The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Graduate Programs

Does your institution offer a masters degree (MA) in writing (not creative writing)?

No

Does your institution have a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in writing (not creative writing)?

No

The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Changes to the Major, Minor, or Graduate Programs

Since the academic year 2012/13, have there been changes to the undergraduate writing major or minor?

Yes

What were the changes? Check all that apply.

An undergraduate writing major was created (not including creative writing).

An undergraduate writing minor was created (not including creative writing).

Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the writing major, minor, or graduate programs at your institution over the next four years?

Yes

Feel free to explain any forthcoming changes.

We have applied for department status and are part of an interdisciplinary proposal (with Communication Studies, English and Computing&Informatics) to have a PhD in Digital Communications and Culture

Basic or Developmental Writing--Basic or Developmental Writing

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

No

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

No services offered

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

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

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?

Part of another institutional unit

If the writing center is not free-standing, what larger institutional unit is it a part of?

Rhetoric/writing department or program

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?

No

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 job materials

Assistance with graduate school materials

Assistance with other content areas

Assistance for English Language Learners

What events does the writing center offer?

Student workshops

Space for student to come together to write

Writing centers--Consultations

What type of appointments does the writing center offer?

scheduled face-to-face appts

drop-in face-to-face appts

scheduled online appts

online feedback via e-mail

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

45 minutes

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-4, GS-8, Fac-2, PT-1

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-16, GS-74, PT-10

How are undergraduate consultants initially trained?

Full-credit course

Staff meetings

Workshops before semester begins

How are graduate consultants initially trained?

Full-credit course

Staff meetings

Workshops before semester begins

How are professional consultants initially trained?

Staff meetings

Workshops before semester begins

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

Present at regional conferences

Staff meetings

Semester inservice or workshop

Meeting with Director

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

Present at regional conferences

Staff meetings

Semester inservice or workshop

Meeting with Director

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

Attend national conferences

Attend regional conferences

Present at national conferences

Read professional journals

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

Staff meetings

Semester inservice or workshop

Meeting with Director

How are the undergradaute consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

How are the graduate consultants compensated?

Stipend

How are the faculty consultants compensated?

Faculty salary

Release time/Course credit

How are the professional consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

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?

Other

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?

2

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)?

No

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

No

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

Yes

Feel free to explain these upcoming changes.

We are hoping to increase the hours of the Senior Tutor. We are also hoping to move to the library.

Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--General information

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

Yes

What is the institutional home for the Writing fellows?

independent writing department or program

How old is the writing fellows program?

4-5 years

How is the writing fellows program funded?

Separate budget

Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--Staffing

Do the writing fellows work both as fellows and in the writing center?

Students work both as writing fellows and writing center tutors.

Do the writing fellows regularly attend the class they are assigned to work with?

No

On average, how many students does each writing fellow work with for a course?

15+

How are the writing fellows compensated?

Hourly wage

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 is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses?

Writing deparment or program

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

First-year writing administrator

Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: Domestic Students

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

No

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

Peer tutoring

Professional tutoring--not including from WPA or WCD

Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: International Students

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

No

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

Directed Self-Placement

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

Targeted optional writing courses

Peer tutoring

Professional tutoring--not including from WPA or WCD

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 dropped.

The placement mechanism 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?

Yes

Feel free to explain your answer.

We have dedicated World Englishes courses, but it's hard to find and ID students who would want to take them through DSP. We also are in the process of training ALL FYW faculty to work with multilingual writers.

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

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

NTT-FT

To whom does the FYWA report?

Chair of the department

Was the FYWA hired for this position?

No

If the FYWA was not hired for this position, how did they assume these responsibilities?

The position rotates among faculty in the department.

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?

7+

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

Oversee program budget

Serve on university committees

Administrative positions--Writing Across the Curriculum Administrator (WACA)

How is the Writing Across the Curriculum Administrator position (WACA) classified?

TT

Where does the WACA's tenure line reside?

Writing Studies

To whom does the WACA report?

Associate Dean or Provost

Was the WACA hired for this position?

Yes

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

Teach courses

Train tutors, TAs, or professional staff

faculty workshops

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

2

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

2

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

Create Program Documents

Write grants

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)

Advertise program

Oversee program budget

Plan events

Maintain program/department/center website

Serve on university committees