University of San Francisco2017 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)

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

No

Is oral communication a component of an institutional writing requirement?

Other

What are other approaches to oral communication?

It is a separate Gen Ed requirement AND a formal part of FYW

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?

Yes

What are other approaches to assessment of institutional goals?

Randomly selected samples from all writing classes as assessed

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?

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.

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 college-wide assessment was added.

Other

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 expand the writing program or sites of writing on campus

Changes to eliminate or consolidate aspects of the writing program or sites of writing on campus

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

We are currently working extensively to convert our second-semester comp course to a third-year course that includes oral, digital, and written rhetoric. This would (hopefully) eliminate the proliferation of WID courses that our program has been required to create. I see this as both a consolidation and an expansion.

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?

Other academic 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?

1151

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

Other

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

14

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

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

20

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?

No

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

Random Sample

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?

No

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

100

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?

0

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.

WPD

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

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 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?

26

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)?

74

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

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 Faculty
Required Course
Required Workshops
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYesYes
Individual Meetings with Director
Weekly Staff Meetings
Monthly Staff Meetings
No training is provided
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 Faculty
Attend ConferencesYesYes
Present at ConferencesYesYes
Access to Professional Journals
Outside Speakers
Required Weekly Meetings
Optional Weekly Meetings
Required Monthly Meetings
Optional Monthly MeetingsYesYes
Workshops or In-Service
Meetings with DirectorYesYes
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

Teaching for Transfer

Research

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.

Genre/Modes

Writing about Writing

Themes

WAC/discipline topics

Teaching for Transfer

Research

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?

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?

16

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

20

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?

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?

No

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 changed.

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.

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

Yes

Since AY 2012/13, what have been the changes to the administration or staffing of first year writing at your institution? Check all that apply

Full-time non-tenure line teaching positions

Part-time teaching positions were converted to full-time teaching positions.

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-

We foresee three changes: 1. With budget shortfalls, we are worried that WPA release time may be lost. 2. We are working on spreading our three required rhetoric courses (writing and public speaking) throughout the first three years, with students taking one each year. 3. Regular rotation of WPA role to another faculty member.

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?

1st 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.

Random sample of student writing

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

Argumentative 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.

Honors students are required to complete a 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?

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?

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.

1. In AY 2018-2019, two Rhetoric faculty will facilitate a WAC Faculty Learning Community, funded by the Center for Teaching Excellence. This may jump start a WAC program. 2. The Graduate School of Nursing is actively trying to spread "WAC culture" throughout its programs.

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)?

Yes

In which department is the masters program housed?

Other

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 graduate writing program?

Yes

What were the changes? Check all that apply.

A Master's degree in writing/rhetoric was added.

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?

Unsure

Feel free to explain any forthcoming changes.

An undergraduate Rhetoric minor has been in the pipeline for over three years; we are hopeful that it will be approved.

Basic or Developmental Writing--Basic or Developmental Writing

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

Yes

How does the institution identify basic writers? Check all that apply.

SAT/ACT scores

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

Required basic writing course

Special sections of FYW

Professional tutoring--not including from WPA or WCD

Workshops

Does your institution have a formal basic writing program?

Yes

What is the institutional home of the basic writing program?

Other academic department

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

15

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

Intensive model

How many levels of basic writing do you have?

2

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

Reading and writing

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

Passing grade in basic writing course

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.

The number of levels of basic writing was decreased.

The content of basic writing courses changed.

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

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.

Library

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

External review

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

Assistance with online research

Assistance with job materials

Assistance with graduate school materials

What events does the writing center offer?

Student workshops

Writing centers--Consultations

What type of appointments does the writing center offer?

scheduled face-to-face appts

scheduled online appts

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?

25

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

Fac-13, PT-6

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.

Fac-75, PT-25

How are faculty consultants initially trained?

Workshops before semester begins

How are professional consultants initially trained?

Workshops before semester begins

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

Attend national conferences

Attend regional conferences

Present at national conferences

Read professional journals

Staff meetings

Meeting with Director

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

Read professional journals

Staff meetings

Meeting with Director

How are the faculty consultants compensated?

Hourly wage

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?

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?

0

Does the writing center have a faculty advisory committee?

Yes

Feel free to explain the role of the advisory committee.

full-time faculty from each of the schools, Nursing, Business, A&S, Education serve as an advisory board.

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?

Merged with a learning commons

What other changes have been made to the writing center?

We started a tutor-training course for student tutors.

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 have been staffing our center with adjunct faculty and professional tutors. Starting this semester I am teaching a tutor-training course for graduate and undergraduate students. These students will be able to apply for a position as a student tutor in our center in the fall. In addition our center has moved and merged with the Speaking Center (we have always been connected with the Learning Center). Now our center is the Learning, Writing, Speaking Center.

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 only international ELLs

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?

2

What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses?

Other

What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses? - Other - Text

Academic English for Multilingual Students Program in the Department of Rhetoric and Language

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

Full-time non-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?

No

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

SAT/ACT scores

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.

TOEFL scores

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.

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

Feel free to explain your answer.

We have not been successful in getting our administration to agree to a diagnostic measure of academic literacy for multilingual/international students when they begin their studies. This hinders our ability to identify and support the needs of these students. We continue to argue for such a measure so that we can better serve these students.

Administrative positions--Writing Program Director or Chair of a Writing Department (WPD)

How is the Writing Program Director or Chair of the Writing Department position (WPD) classified?

NTT-FT

To whom does the WPD report?

Chair of the department

Associate Dean or Provost

Was the WPD hired for this position?

No

If the WPD 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 WPD have? Check all that apply.

Teach courses

faculty workshops

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

4

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

2

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

Develop curriculum

Create Program Documents

Write grants

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

Place students into writing courses

Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit

Serve as an academic advisor

Administrative positions--Writing Center Administrator (WCA)

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

NTT-FT

To whom does the WCA report?

Assoc Dean or Provost

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

student workshops

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

4

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

2

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

Maintain program/department/center website

Serve on university committees