Grinnell College2013 Institution Survey

Sites of writing--General Description

Does your institution have an official writing program or department? (n=671)

No

Does your institution have first-year writing? (n=673)

Yes

Is first-year writing part of the writing program or department? (n=646)

No

If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for first-year writing? (n=377)

Office of Chief Academic Officer

Does your institution have writing across the curriculum (WAC)? (n=671)

Yes

Is WAC part of the writing program or department? (n=306)

No

If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for WAC? (n=227)

Office of Chief Academic Officer

Does your institution have writing in the disciplines (WID)? (n=674)

Yes

Is writing in the disciplines part of the writing program or department? (n=265)

No

If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for writing in the disciplines? (n=184)

Other

Does your institution have an undergraduate writing major? (n=673)

No

Does your institution have an undergraduate writing minor? (n=676)

No

Does your institution have a graduate program in writing/rhetoric? (n=677)

No

Does your institution have a writing center or learning center with writing tutors? (n=679)

Yes

Is the writing center part of the writing program or department? (n=654)

No

If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the writing center? (n=487)

Independent program

Does your institution have a basic writing program? (n=675)

Yes

Is the basic writing program part of the writing program or department? (n=357)

No

If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the basic writing program? (n=249)

Other

Sites of writing--Writing Requirement

Does your institution have a writing requirement? (n=668)

No

Are there curricular requirements that are not part of the writing requirement but that have writing as an explicit goal? (n=657)

Yes

What curricular requirements have writing as an explicit goal? (n=342)

There are other requirements where writing is an explicit goal.

Sites of writing--College Writing Goals

Are there college-wide student writing goals? (n=660)

No

Sites of writing--National Survey of Student Engagement

Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)? (n=667)

Yes

How does your writing program use the NSSE data? (n=425)

We do nothing with the data.

Is your school part of the WPA/NSSE Consortium for the Study of Writing in College? (n=494)

I don't know

Sites of writing--Changes to Writing Program

Have there been changes to the writing program or sites of writing at your institution in the past 10 years? (n=666)

Yes

Were there changes to the writing requirement in the past 10 years? (n=585)

No

Were there changes to the assessment of writing at your institution over the past 10 years? (n=589)

Yes

Which changes have taken place in regards to assessment? (n=437)

A college-wide assessment was dropped.

Other

Were there any changes to the administrative structures of the writing program or the sites of writing over the past 10 years? (n=597)

No

Was the writing program changed in the past 10 years to expand or eliminate areas? (n=609)

Yes

How did the writing program change? (n=346)

A writing center was merged with a learning commons.

Other

Were there changes to the staffing of the writing program or center over the past 10 years? (n=595)

No

Were there any additional changes to the writing program or the sites of writing at your institution not already mentioned? (n=588)

No

Do you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the sites of writing at your institution over the next five years? (n=661)

Yes

What type of changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the sites of writing at your institution do you foresee in the next five years? (n=484)

Changes to assessment

Changes to the administrative structures

Other

If you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the sites of writing at your institution over the next five years feel free to explain.

We may create a campus teaching and learning center. We may add oral communication skills to the Writing Lab's explicit services and change our name.

First-year writing/English composition--General Description

Does your institution have a first-year writing requirement whether explicit or embedded? (n=672)

Yes

How many semesters/courses of first-year writing are required? (n=575)

1

How would you describe your first-year writing requirement? (n=577)

FYWS

First-year writing/English composition--Placement and Transfer

Does your institution allow students to place out of FYWS? (n=69)

No

What is your program's placement mechanism?

FYWS (n=18)
SAT/ACT
AP/IB
CLEP
In-house exam
Directed self-placementYes
Portfolio
Dual enrollment/ transfer
Other

Does your institution accept transfer credit for FYWS? (n=69)

Yes

Who approves transfer credit for FYW courses? (n=539)

Registrar

First-year writing/English composition--Goals and Assessment

Are there explicit goals for FYWS? (n=75)

Yes

Are FYWS goals informed by the WPA Outcomes Statement? (n=69)

No

How are the goals for FYW courses assessed?

FYWS (n=66)
Paper portfolio
E-portfolio
Random sample
Exam
Professor evaluation
NoneYes
Course evaluation
Student survey
Other

First-year writing/English composition--Curriculum

What is the content of the FYWS requirement? See Note 5. (n=73)

WAC/Topic Based

Is there a common syllabus for FYWS courses? (n=73)

No

First-year writing/English composition--Enrollment Caps

What is the enrollment cap for regular sections of FYWS? (n=72)

12

What is the enrollment cap for basic writing sections of FYWS? (n=27)

Varies by semester

What is the enrollment cap for basic writing sections of other types of FYW? (n=23)

Varies by semester

First-year writing/English composition--Staffing

In the 2011-12 academic year, what percentage of FYWS courses were taught by: See Note 2a. (n=70)

Full-Time, Tenure Track English FacultyFull-Time, Tenure Track Writing FacultyFull-Time, Tenure Track Other FacultyFull-Time, Non-Tenure Track English FacultyFull-Time, Non-Tenure Track Writing FacultyFull-Time, Non-Tenure Track Other FacultyPart-time English FacultyPart-time Writing FacultyEnglish Graduate TAsWriting Graduate TAsOther Graduate TAsWPAOther
0%YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
1-5%
6-15%Yes
16-25%
26-35%
36-50%
51-60%
61-75%
76-85%
86-99%Yes
100%

Is there faculty or professional development available for those teaching FYWS? (n=69)

Yes

What form does the faculty development take for FYW faculty?

FYWS (n=70)
Requried pedagogy course taught by the WPA
Required faculty development workshops
Optional graduate pedagogy course
Optional faculty development workshopsYes
Individual meetings with the WPA/WCD
Other

Do those attending faculty development for FYWS receive additional compensation? (n=65)

Yes

Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--General Description

Does your institution identify students who may need additional writing support, including students whose primary language is not English? (n=626)

Yes

How does the institution identify these students? (n=483)

SAT/ ACT scores

Admissions office/ student affairs referral

Advisor referral

Student self-referral

What types of supports are available to those students? (n=489)

Peer tutoring

Tutoring from the WPA or WCD

Workshops

Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Basic Writing

Does your institution have a formal basic writing program? (n=493)

No

Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Support for English Language Learners

Is there support for English Language Learners (ELLs)? (n=484)

Yes

Is support for ELLs separate from basic writing? (n=417)

Yes

What type of supports are available for ELLs? (n=412)

Peer tutoring

Tutoring from the WPA or WCD

Workshops

Does your institution offer ELL writing classes? (n=408)

No

Writing across the curriculum (WAC) and writing beyond the first year--General Description

Does your institution have a WAC program and/or writing requirement beyond the first year? (n=642)

Yes

Does your institution require all students to take lower-division writing courses taught by the English or Writing department for students in other departments? Does not include the first-year writing requirement. (n=302)

No

Does your institution require all students to take upper-division writing courses taught by the English or Writing department for students in other departments? (n=303)

No

Does your institution require all students to take a mid-level writing course(s)? (n=304)

No

Does your institution require ALL students to complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience? (n=306)

No

Does the institution require some students to complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience? If so, what are the requirements? (n=216)

Individual students can choose to complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience.

Writing across the curriculum (WAC) and writing beyond the first year--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? (n=303)

No

Is there professional development available for those teaching in the WAC Program? (n=298)

Yes

What form does that faculty development take? (n=216)

Optional faculty workshops

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

Does your institution have a writing major? See Note 3. (n=656)

No

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

Does your institution have a writing minor? (n=656)

No

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

Does your institution offer a masters degree (M.A.) in writing, other than creative writing? (n=656)

No

Does your institution have a Ph.D. program in writing, other than creative writing? (n=654)

No

Writing centers--General description

Does your institution have a writing center or learning center with writing tutors? (n=676)

Yes

Is the writing center free-standing or part of another institutional unit? (n=612)

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. (n=612)

Academic building

Is there a mission statement for the writing center? (n=610)

Yes

Are there explicit goals for the writing center? (n=610)

No

What services does the writing center offer? (n=610)

Face-to-face consultations

Assistance with oral presentations

Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software

Assistance with how to lead a class discussion

Assistance with how to prepare a poster presentation

Other

What other services does the writing center offer?

composition courses; consultations with faculty

Writing centers--Consultations

How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=225)

2,800

How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=224)

2,800

How many face-to-face consultations were offered in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=223)

0

How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)

2,100

How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=440)

1,900

How many face-to-face consultations were conducted in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=428)

0

How many online consultations were offered in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=221)

0

How many online consultations were offered in the Spring of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=222)

0

How many online consultations were offered in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=220)

0

How many online consultations were conducted in the Fall of 2011? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=427)

0

How many online consultations were conducted in the Spring of 2012? See Note 2b & 4. (n=427)

0

How many online consultations were conducted in the Summer of 2012? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=425)

0

What percentage of the undergraduate student body had a writing center consultation during the 2011-12 academic year? See Notes 2a & 4. (n=316)

37

Does your writing center work with graduate students? (n=580)

No

What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered? (n=574)

40 minutes

Writing centers--Consultants

Are some or all of your writing center consultants undergraduate students? (n=561)

No

Are some or all of your writing center consultants graduate students? (n=546)

No

Are some or all of your writing center consultants faculty who teach in the writing program? (n=548)

No

Are some or all of your writing center consultants faculty who teach in other academic departments? (n=539)

No

Are some or all of your writing center consultants professional tutors? (n=548)

Yes

Are some or all of your writing center consultants volunteers? (n=543)

No

Do you have others working as writing consultants? (n=531)

No

During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=113)

100

During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)

100

How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)

5

How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=111)

5

How are consultants working in the writing center initally trained?

Undergraduate students (n=505)Graduate students (n=251)Faculty who teach in the writing program (n=124)Faculty who teach in other academic departments (n=45)Professional tutors (n=113)
Full-credit course
Half-credit course
Weekly meetings
Monthly meetings
Workshops before the semester
No training requiredYes
Other

What on-going professional development opportunities are offered for consultants working in the writing center?

Undergraduate students (n=461)Graduate students (n=237)Faculty who teach in the writing program (n=54)Faculty who teach in other academic departments (n=42)Professional tutors (n=106)
Attendance at national conferencesYes
Attendance at regional conferences
Presenting at national conferences
Presenting at regional conferences
Reading professional journalsYes
Outside speakersYes
Weekly meetingsYes
Semester inservice or workshopYes
Written reflections on daily and/or semester work
Meet with director
No opportunities available
Other

How are consultants working in the writing center compensated?

Undergraduate students (n=509)Graduate students (n=263)Faculty who teach in the writing program (n=132)Faculty who teach in other academic departments (n=45)Professional tutors (n=127)
Hourly wage
Stipend
Tuition waver
Course credit
Faculty salaryYes
Release time
Other

Writing centers--Course-based Peer Tutoring

Does your institution have a writing fellows (course-based peer tutoring) program? (n=577)

Yes

How old is the writing fellows program? (n=144)

3-5 years

How is the writing fellows program funded? (n=144)

Other

Do the writing fellows work both as fellows and in the writing center? (n=145)

Writing fellows and writing center tutors are two separate groups.

If two separate groups, how are they staffed? (n=47)

Writing fellows are undergraduates, and writing center tutors are professional tutors.

Do the writing fellows regularly attend the class they are assigned to work with? (n=142)

Yes

On average, how many students does each writing fellow work with for a course? (n=131)

15+

How are the writing fellows compensated? (n=144)

Hourly wage

Administrative structures

Who has primary responsibility for administering first-year writing requirement? (n=565)

CAO

Are there others who help to administer the FYW program? (n=586)

Yes

If others help to administer the FYW program, how many? (n=347)

3

Who has primary responsibility for administering the WAC program? (n=263)

No one

Who has primary responsibility for administering the writing center? (n=546)

Separate writing center director or coordinator (WCD)

How is the WCD or LCD position classified? (n=410)

Hybrid Faculty/Staff-FT

To whom does the WCD or LCD report? (n=402)

Associate dean or provost

Was the WCD or LCD director hired for this position? (n=401)

Yes

Are there others who help to administer the writing center? (n=403)

Yes

If others help to administer the writing center, how many? (n=326)

5+

What is the teaching load for writing administrators?

Average faculty member (n=501)FYWD (n=265)WAC director (n=62)WCD (n=387)
0-0
0-1
1-1
1-2 or 2-1Yes
2-2
2-1-2
2-2-2
2-3 or 3-2Yes
3-3
3-1-2
3-1-3
3-4 or 4-3
4-4
Other
Varies

What are the job responsibilities for writing administrators?

FYWD (n=267)WAC director (n=63)WCD (n=392)
Teach courses in the first-year writing program
Teach courses in the writing program/department (Not FYW)Yes
Teach courses outside the writing program/department
Assess all or some aspects of the writing program
Assess the development of student writing on campus
Conduct faculty development with faculty across the disciplinesYes
Conduct TA training
Consult with individual faculty across the disciplinesYes
Consult with departments across the disciplines
Supervise professional staff (writing center director, asst.director, admin asst.)Yes
Supervise tutors (professional and/or peer)Yes
Hire professional staffYes
Hire tutors
Schedule writing coursesYes
Schedule writing centerYes
Place students into writing courses
Facilitate placement exam
Oversee curriculum developmentYes
Train professional staffYes
Train peer tutorsYes
Advertise programYes
Oversee program budgetYes
Tutor studentsYes
Plan eventsYes
Serve on university committeesYes
Maintain program websiteYes
Serve as an academic advisor
Offer student workshopsYes
Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit
Other