Juniata College2013 Institution Survey

Sites of writing--General Description

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

Yes

What is the institutional home of the writing program or department? (n=248)

English Department

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)

English department

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)

Other

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)

Yes

Is the undergraduate writing major part of the writing program or department? (n=263)

No

If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the undergraduate writing major? (n=196)

English department

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

Yes

Is the undergraduate writing minor part of the writing program or department? (n=352)

No

If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the undergraduate minor? (n=246)

English department

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)

English department

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

No

Sites of writing--Writing Requirement

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

Yes

What does the writing requirement at your institution consist of? (n=638)

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

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? (n=657)

Yes

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

A senior capstone/thesis for some or all students has writing as an explicit goal.

Sites of writing--College Writing Goals

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

Yes

Have the goals been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement? (n=377)

Yes

How are the college-wide student writing goals assessed? (n=379)

Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses.

Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience.

A longitudinal study is conducted.

Who administers the college-wide assessment?

Students take an essay exam.Students submit a portfolio.Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses.Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience.A longitudinal study is conducted.
Writing program director (n=108)
Writing center director (n=37)
Associate dean (n=18)
Faculty committee (n=119)YesYesYes
Registrar (n=10)
Chair of the department (n=75)
Other (n=121)

Who participates in the college-wide assessment?

Students take an essay exam.Students submit a portfolio.Professors certify for writing proficiency when students take writing-intensive courses.Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience.A longitudinal study is conducted.
Writing program director (n=106)Yes
Writing center director (n=65)Yes
Writing program faculty (n=105)YesYes
English department faculty (n=150)Yes
Faculty from other disciplines than writing and English (n=163)YesYesYes
Readers outside the institution (n=15)
Associate dean (n=22)
Registrar (n=13)
Other (n=63)

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)

Data used to promote the writing program.

Data used to support curricular changes.

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)

Yes

Which changes have taken place in regards to the writing requirement? (n=382)

The writing requirement was changed.

Writing-intensive courses were added to the writing requirement.

Writing-intensive courses were dropped.

Departments are required to articulate their goals and writing requirements.

Other

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 added.

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)

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

A writing center was merged with a learning commons.

A writing fellows program was added.

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

Yes

Which changes to the staffing of the writing program or center have taken place over the past 10 years? (n=412)

Tenure-line teaching positions were added.

Adjunct faculty positions were converted into full-time, non-tenure-line teaching positions.

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

Yes

If there were any additional changes to the writing program or the sites of writing at your institution not already mentioned, please explain.

We have started to do workshops for faculty who are teaching writing across the curriculum. This is an in-house project led by the writing center director (non-tenure track administrator) and the head of our professional writing major (tenure-track assistant professor).

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 the curricular structures or writing requirement

Changes to assessment

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

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 are focusing time and resources on our writing program and requirements. We are implementing faculty training in a systematic way and trying to discover an efffective assessment methodology for our writing courses. We have evaluated all writing courses and "re-certified" them. We are collecting a baseline writing sample for an eventual longitudinal study. We emphasize writing at Juniata and are committed to improving the quality of writing education the students receive.

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

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

Yes

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

WPA

Other

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-portfolioYes
Random sample
Exam
Professor evaluationYes
None
Course evaluation
Student survey
OtherYes

Who participates in the assessment of the goals for FYW courses?

FYWS (n=53)
WPA
Writing faculty
Institutional facultyYes
Outside evaluators
English faculty
Department chair
Other

First-year writing/English composition--Curriculum

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

Literature

Genre/Modes

Writing About Writing (WAW)

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

Yes

First-year writing/English composition--Enrollment Caps

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

Varies by semester

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

12

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%YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
1-5%Yes
6-15%YesYes
16-25%YesYes
26-35%
36-50%Yes
51-60%
61-75%
76-85%
86-99%
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/WCDYes
Other

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

Sometimes

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)

Directed self-placement

SAT/ ACT scores

Placement test

GPA

Admissions office/ student affairs referral

Advisor referral

Faculty referral

writing center tutor referral

Student self-referral

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

Required basic writing course

Special sections of FYW

Peer tutoring

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)

Special sections of FYW

Peer tutoring

Other

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

Yes

How are students identified and/or placed into ELL writing courses? (n=239)

SAT/ACT/TOFEL

Placement test

Admissions office/ atudent affairs referral

Directed self-placement

Faculty referral

What is the institutional home of the ELL writing courses? (n=241)

Intensive English program

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)

Yes

How would you describe the mid-level course? (n=124)

The course is classified as writing in the major.

Each department determines which course fits this requirement.

Writing goals are embedded into a mid-level foundations course.

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)

It varies by department.

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)

Yes

How long has the WI requirement been in existence? (n=186)

15+ years

How many WI courses are required beyond the first-year requirement? (n=185)

6

When do WI courses need to be completed? (n=187)

By graduation

Are there explicit goals for the WI courses? (n=189)

Yes

Have the goals been influenced by the WPA Outcomes Statement? (n=151)

No

What are the criteria for a WI course? (n=184)

Number of pages or words written

Revision

Time discussing writing In class

Other criteria

Who certifies that a course fulfills WI designation? (n=183)

Curriculum committee

Writing committee

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

Conferences off campus

Other

What other forms of faculty development exist?

mini-workshops on campus and multi-day workshops on campus

If faculty attend a seminar or workshop, how are they compensated? (n=129)

They receive food at the event.

They receive a stipend.

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

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

Yes

What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the major? (n=230)

Professional writing

In which department is the major housed? (n=245)

English

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

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

Yes

What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the minor? (n=312)

Professional writing

In which department is the minor housed? (n=347)

English

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)

Library

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

No

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

No

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

Face-to-face consultations

Writing centers--Consultations

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

500

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

250

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 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

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)

45 minutes

Writing centers--Consultants

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

Yes

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)

No

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 undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)

100

During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=450)

100

How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=448)

12

How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)

12

How are consultants working in the writing center initally trained?

Undergraduate students (n=505)
Full-credit courseYes
Half-credit course
Weekly meetings
Monthly meetingsYes
Workshops before the semesterYes
No training required
Other

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

Undergraduate students (n=461)
Attendance at national conferencesYes
Attendance at regional conferencesYes
Presenting at national conferences
Presenting at regional conferences
Reading professional journals
Outside speakers
Weekly meetings
Semester inservice or workshop
Written reflections on daily and/or semester work
Meet with directorYes
No opportunities available
Other

How are consultants working in the writing center compensated?

Undergraduate students (n=509)
Hourly wageYes
Stipend
Tuition waver
Course credit
Faculty salary
Release time
Other

Writing centers--Course-based Peer Tutoring

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

No

Administrative structures

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

FYWD

How is the FYWD position classified? (n=274)

Hybrid Faculty/Staff-FT

To whom does the FYWD report? (n=272)

CAO

Was the FYWD director hired for this position? (n=261)

No

If the FYWD director was not hired for this position, how did he/she assume these responsibilities? (n=128)

Previous director retired or left the position.

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)

1

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

Other

Are there others who help to administer the WAC program? (n=209)

Yes

If others help to administer the WAC program, how many? (n=58)

5+

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

FYWD

What is the teaching load for writing administrators?

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

What are the job responsibilities for writing administrators?

FYWD (n=267)
Teach courses in the first-year writing programYes
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 programYes
Assess the development of student writing on campusYes
Conduct faculty development with faculty across the disciplinesYes
Conduct TA training
Consult with individual faculty across the disciplines
Consult with departments across the disciplines
Supervise professional staff (writing center director, asst.director, admin asst.)
Supervise tutors (professional and/or peer)Yes
Hire professional staffYes
Hire tutorsYes
Schedule writing coursesYes
Schedule writing centerYes
Place students into writing coursesYes
Facilitate placement examYes
Oversee curriculum developmentYes
Train professional staffYes
Train peer tutorsYes
Advertise program
Oversee program budgetYes
Tutor students
Plan events
Serve on university committeesYes
Maintain program website
Serve as an academic advisorYes
Offer student workshops
Oversee exemption and/or transfer credit
Other