University of Wyoming2017 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)

First-year seminars taught by faculty across the curriculum (FYWS)

Mid-level writing course

Writing-intensive courses that are located throughout the curriculum (W courses)

Writing in the major

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

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?

Yes

Who serves on the committee?

First-year writing administrator

Writing faculty

Other

Who else serves on the writing committee?

Graduate students

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?

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?

The writing requirement was changed.

The writing requirement was expanded.

Writing-intensive courses were dropped.

Students are required to take fewer writing-intensive courses than before.

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

Yes

Which changes took place in regards to assessment?

Other

What other changes took place in regards to writing assessment?

Changes are still unclear

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 the administrative structures

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?

950

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

Other

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

50

Is there a placement mechanism for FYC?

No

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.

Paper Portfolio

Electronic Portfolio

Student Survey

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

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

Yes

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

Yes

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

No

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

99

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

1

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.

FYWA

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?

4

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, non-tenure line faculty in the English Department?

23

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

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?

69

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?

2

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

2

In the 2016-17 academic year

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

100

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

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

0

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 WorkshopsYesYes
Optional Course
Optional WorkshopsYesYes
Individual Meetings with Director
Weekly Staff MeetingsYes
Monthly Staff Meetings
No training is provided
Other

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

Yes for full-time faculty only

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 ConferencesYesYes
Present at ConferencesYesYesYes
Access to Professional JournalsYesYesYesYes
Outside SpeakersYesYesYes
Required Weekly MeetingsYes
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

Research

Multimodal

Other

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

public genres (e.g., op-ed, PSA)

How many semesters of FYC are required?

One semester

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?

18

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?

23

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

25

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?

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?

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

Change to curriculum

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

A first-year writing director position was converted to a tenure line.

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.

2

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

By graduation

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

By graduation

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

By graduation

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.

Paper portfolio

Electronic portfolio

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.

Professor evaluation

Other

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.

Professor evaluation

Other

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

Other

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

Argumentative writing

Other

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

Argumentative writing

Writing in the disciplines

Other

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)?

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.

Other

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.- Other - Text

Objectives revised, curriculum changed

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

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?

15+ years

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

3

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?

Random sample of student writing

No assessment takes place

What are the criteria for a WI course?

Revision

Time discussing writing In class

Written or verbal feedback from instructor

Who certifies that a course fulfills WI designation?

Gen Education Committee

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

No

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

25

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?

Other

What other changes occurred?

WI was combined with oral communication gen-ed requirement, so we now have 3 "CI" courses rather than 3 WI + 1 Oral Com requirement.

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

Yes

Feel free to explain any upcoming changes.

It appears that there is substantial administrative support for a unit, housed within our center for teaching and learning, that would take on many of the roles of WAC programs. This would hopefully include a much more focused effort to provide faculty development for writing instruction, a research component (including assessment/accreditation) ad increased support for grad students and faculty as writers as well as teachers of writing.

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?

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.

Professional writing

Rhetoric/ composition

In which department is the minor housed?

English

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?

English

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 minor was created (not including creative writing).

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?

Yes

Feel free to explain any forthcoming changes.

We have instituted a "public-facing thesis portfolio" as an alternative option to the traditional, multi-chapter MA thesis. Students may design a variety of genres that speak to either academic or alt-academic careers they wish to pursue post-graduation.

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.

Directed Self-Placement

SAT/ACT scores

GPA

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

Special sections of FYW

Targeted optional writing courses

Peer tutoring

Other

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

Bridge learning community for conditionally-admitted freshmen

Does your institution have a formal basic writing program?

Yes

What is the institutional home of the basic writing program?

Academic skills program

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

23

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

Stretch model

Intensive model

Directed self-placement

How many levels of basic writing do you have?

2

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

Sentence writing

Paragraph writing

Reading and writing

Other

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

College transition support, learning community connections, campus engagement, advisor integration

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

Passing grade in basic writing course

Is there a Director of Basic Writing?

Yes

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

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

Yes

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

Basic writing classes were added

The placement mechanism for basic writing was changed.

The content of basic writing courses changed.

A summer bridge program was 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?

Yes

Feel free to explain your answer.

Additional support for students on academic probation, as well as first-generation and low-income 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.

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

Faculty feedback

Center usage statistics

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

Assistance with multimodal assignments

Assistance with online research

Assistance with oral presentations

Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software

Assistance with job materials

Assistance with graduate school materials

Assistance for English Language Learners

Asssistance for faculty on syllabus or curriculum development

What events does the writing center offer?

Student workshops

Faculty workshops

Space for student to come together to write

Student writing groups

Other

What other events does the writing center offer?

Faculty Reading Groups

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

scheduled phone appts

online feedback via e-mail

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

40 minutes

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

What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses?

Other

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

English Language Center

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

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

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

Targeted optional writing courses

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)?

No

Administrative positions--Basic Writing Administrator (BWA)

How is the Basic Writing Administrator position (BWA) classified?

Hybrid Faculty/Staff-FT

To whom does the BWA report?

Chair of the department

Other

Was the BWA hired for this position?

No

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

Embedded within the responsibilities of the chair of the department

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

Teach courses

Train tutors, TAs, or professional staff

faculty workshops

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

2

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

5+