University of Puget Sound2017 Institution Survey

Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Requirement

Does your institution have a writing requirement?

No

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?

First-year seminar

Is oral communication a component of an institutional writing requirement?

Oral communication is an explicit goal of first-year writing.

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

Institutional requirements and goals--Writing Committee

Does your institution have a writing committee?

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?

Data used to argue for additional resources.

Data used to promote the writing program.

Data used to support curricular changes.

Institutional requirements and goals--Changes to Writing Program

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

No

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?

Yes

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

Changes to the curricular structures or writing requirement

Changes to assessment

Changes to the administrative structures

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

Changes to the types of staffing

If you foresee changes to the institutional sites of writing do you foresee in the next four years feel free to explain.

It's hard to say, but we're in the midst of strategic planning, and there are conversations around student diversity and faculty development that will likely result in changes.

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?

Multiple homes

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

First-Year Writing Seminar (FYWS)

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.

Solo

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

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

670

Does your institution accept alternative credit for FYWS?

Yes

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

Transfer credit from another institution

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

5

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

0

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Goals

Are there explicit goals for FYWS?

Yes

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

Yes

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

Other

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Delivery Methods

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

Yes

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

No

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

No

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

100

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

0

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

0

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Staffing

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

Solo

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

0

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

18

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

57

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

11

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

13

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Training

For FYWS, 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 Faculty
Required Course
Required Workshops
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYesYesYesYesYes
Individual Meetings with DirectorYesYesYesYesYes
Weekly Staff Meetings
Monthly Staff Meetings
No training is provided
Other

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 FYWS, 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 Faculty
Attend Conferences
Present at ConferencesYesYesYesYes
Access to Professional JournalsYesYesYesYesYes
Outside SpeakersYesYesYesYesYes
Required Weekly Meetings
Optional Weekly Meetings
Required Monthly Meetings
Optional Monthly Meetings
Workshops or In-ServiceYesYesYesYesYes
Meetings with DirectorYesYesYesYesYes
Other

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: Curriculum

Which type of scheduling does your institution follow?

Semester

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

No

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

Literature

Genre/Modes

Writing about Writing

WAC/discipline topics

Research

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

No

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

Literature

Genre/Modes

Writing about Writing

WAC/discipline topics

Research

First-Year Writing--First-Year Writing Seminar: 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 FYWS?

17

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

17

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

17

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

17

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.

Other

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

the learning outcomes were changed and the courses were sequenced

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

No

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

No

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?

Yes

If you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of first-year writing at your institution over the next four years, feel free to explain. -TEXT-

As I indicated at the very beginning, I'm now Associate Academic Dean (starting July 1, 2018). I have been the de facto FYWS director, as the writing center director. Currently, no faculty member is responsible for the FYWS, but a goal I have as Associate Dean is to restructure responsibilities so that more faculty have responsibility for the FYWSs and so that all faculty teaching in the FYWS have some ongoing professional development related to writing.

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?

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.

Honors students are required to complete a thesis.

Individual students can choose to complete to complete a senior thesis.

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?

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.

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?

No

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

Maybe

Feel free to explain any upcoming changes.

We are revisiting and possibly changing the Core curriculum, and the formalization of a WAC program might be part of those changes.

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)?

No

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

Does your institution have a creative writing minor?

No

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

No

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?

No

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?

No

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.

Peer tutoring

Does your institution have a formal basic writing program?

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?

No

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.

What is likely to happen is more campus-wide faculty development for supporting diversely prepared writers. We currently have some cohort programs (Posse and a local version) that might serve as models for working with diversely prepared students.

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?

Teaching and learning center

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 writing in a language other than English

Assistance with reading

Assistance with online research

Assistance with oral presentations

Assistance with how to lead a class discussion

Assistance with graduate school materials

Assistance with other content areas

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

Space for faculty or staff to come together to write

Faculty writing groups

Speakers

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?

50 minutes

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

24

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-16, GS-2, 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-90, GS-4, Fac-6

How are undergraduate consultants initially trained?

Half-credit course

Staff meetings

Workshops before semester begins

How are graduate consultants initially trained?

Half-credit course

Staff meetings

Workshops before semester begins

How are faculty consultants initially trained?

Staff meetings

Workshops before semester begins

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

Attend national conferences

Present at national conferences

Read professional journals

Staff meetings

Semester inservice or workshop

Reflections

Meeting with Director

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

Attend national conferences

Attend regional conferences

Read professional journals

Staff meetings

Semester inservice or workshop

Reflections

Meeting with Director

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

Staff meetings

Semester inservice or workshop

Meeting with Director

How are the undergradaute consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

How are the graduate consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

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?

One person administers all sites of writing on campus

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)?

Yes

What changes have been made?

Added services

What other changes have been made to the writing center?

We added drop-in appointments and a required training course.

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

What other changes have been made to the staffing or administration of the writing center?

Additional staff FTE have been added.

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

Yes

Feel free to explain these upcoming changes.

The person in the writing center/WAC/FYS director position has been promoted for a term as associate dean, and the writing center staffing is being temporarily reconfigured. It is likely/desirable that some of those shifts become a permanent way to have more faculty with administrative responsibilities in the writing center/WAC/FYS.

Writing Fellows (Embedded Writing Tutors)--General information

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

Yes

How old is the writing fellows program?

11-15 years

How is the writing fellows program funded?

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

0

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

Writing Center Director

Multilingual Writing Support--Multilingual Writing Support: Domestic Students

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

Yes

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

Admissions office/Student Affairs referral

Advisor referral

Faculty referral

Student self-referral

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

Peer tutoring

Workshops

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.

Admissions office/Student Affairs referral

Advisor referral

Faculty referral

Student self-referral

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

Peer tutoring

Workshops

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.

Other.

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

We developed a Language Partners Program to formalize pairing ELL writers with writing tutors for intentional, repeating appointments.

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.

What is likely to happen is more campus-wide faculty development for supporting diversely prepared writers. We currently have some cohort programs (Posse and a local version) that might serve as models for working with diversely prepared students.

Administrative positions--Solo Writing Administrator (SWA)

How is the Solo Writing Administrator position (SWA) classified?

TT

Where does the SWA's tenure line reside?

English

To whom does the SWA report?

Associate Dean or Provost

Was the SWA hired for this position?

No

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

Previous director retired or left the position.

Which of the following teaching responsibilities does the SWA 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 SWA teach?

2

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

4

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

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)

Oversee program budget

Plan events

Serve on university committees

Serve as an academic advisor