University of Missouri-Columbia2013 Institution Survey
Sites of writing--General Description
What is the institutional home of the writing program or department? (n=248)
independent program
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for first-year writing? (n=377)
English department
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for WAC? (n=227)
Independent program
Is writing in the disciplines part of the writing program or department? (n=265)
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)
Independent program
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)
Independent program
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the graduate writing program? (n=114)
English department
Does your institution have a writing center or learning center with writing tutors? (n=679)
Yes
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the writing center? (n=487)
Office of Chief Academic Officer
If not part of the writing program or department, what is the institutional home for the basic writing program? (n=249)
Independent program
Sites of writing--Writing Requirement
What does the writing requirement at your institution consist of? (n=638)
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)
Writing in the major
Portfolio
Senior thesis or capstone experience
Other
What other writing requirements does your institution have?
Basic requirement is that students must have 6 hours (minimum) of writing intensive credits to graduate.
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.
There are other requirements where writing is an explicit goal.
Sites of writing--College Writing Goals
How are the college-wide student writing goals assessed? (n=379)
Departments assess majors through a senior-culminating experience.
other
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. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing program director (n=108) | |||
| Writing center director (n=37) | |||
| Associate dean (n=18) | |||
| Faculty committee (n=119) | |||
| Registrar (n=10) | Yes | ||
| 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. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writing program director (n=106) | ||||
| Writing center director (n=65) | ||||
| Writing program faculty (n=105) | ||||
| English department faculty (n=150) | ||||
| Faculty from other disciplines than writing and English (n=163) | ||||
| Readers outside the institution (n=15) | ||||
| Associate dean (n=22) | ||||
| Registrar (n=13) | Yes | Yes | ||
| Other (n=63) |
Sites of writing--National Survey of Student Engagement
Does your institution administer the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)? (n=667)
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
Which changes have taken place in regards to the writing requirement? (n=382)
The writing requirement was changed.
The writing requirement was expanded.
Departments are required to articulate their goals and writing requirements.
Were there changes to the assessment of writing at your institution over the past 10 years? (n=589)
No
Were there any changes to the administrative structures of the writing program or the sites of writing over the past 10 years? (n=597)
Yes
Which administrative structures of the writing program or the sites of writing changed? (n=396)
Other
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 graduate degree in writing/rhetoric 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)
Part-time teaching positions were added.
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.
Criteria for approving Writing Intensive courses were expanded to include digital texts.
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 the administrative structures
Changes to expand the writing program or sites of writing on campus
Changes to the types of staffing
If you foresee changes to the administrative, curricular, or support structures of the sites of writing at your institution over the next five years feel free to explain.
This is a dynamic program facilitated and directed by campus faculty, so opportunities for change appear always to be possible.
First-year writing/English composition--General Description
Does your institution have a first-year writing requirement whether explicit or embedded? (n=672)
Yes
First-year writing/English composition--Placement and Transfer
What is your program's placement mechanism?
| FYWS (n=18) | FYC (n=373) | |
|---|---|---|
| SAT/ACT | ||
| AP/IB | Yes | |
| CLEP | ||
| In-house exam | ||
| Directed self-placement | ||
| Portfolio | ||
| Dual enrollment/ transfer | ||
| Other |
First-year writing/English composition--Goals and Assessment
How are the goals for FYW courses assessed?
| FYWS (n=66) | FYC (n=381) | |
|---|---|---|
| Paper portfolio | ||
| E-portfolio | ||
| Random sample | ||
| Exam | ||
| Professor evaluation | ||
| None | Yes | |
| Course evaluation | ||
| Student survey | ||
| Other |
First-year writing/English composition--Curriculum
First-year writing/English composition--Enrollment Caps
First-year writing/English composition--Staffing
Is there faculty or professional development available for those teaching FYC? (n=457)
No
Do those attending faculty development for FYC receive additional compensation? (n=411)
No
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
What types of supports are available to those students? (n=489)
Required basic writing course
Special sections of FYW
Targeted optional writing courses
Summer bridge program
Peer tutoring
Professional tutoring, not the WPA or WCD
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
Workshops
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Basic Writing
Identifying and supporting diversely-prepared students--Support for English Language Learners
What type of supports are available for ELLs? (n=412)
Required basic writing course
Special sections of FYW
Targeted optional writing courses
Summer bridge program
Peer tutoring
Professional tutoring, not the WPA or WCD
Tutoring from the WPA or WCD
Workshops
Other
How are students identified and/or placed into ELL writing courses? (n=239)
SAT/ACT/TOFEL
Placement test
Directed self-placement
Faculty referral
Tutor referral
Advisor 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)
Yes
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)
Yes
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.
The course is similar to a writing-intensive course.
Each department determines which course fits this requirement.
Other
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.
Honors students are required to complete a thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience.
Individual students can choose to complete a senior thesis or other writing-intensive capstone experience.
Other
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
What form of assessment takes place of the WI goals? (n=149)
Professor evaluation
Other
Who administers WAC assessment?
| Paper Portfolio | Electronic Portfolio | Random Sample of Student Writing | Writing Exam | Professor Evaluation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPA (n=27) | |||||
| Writing program faculty (n=13) | Yes | ||||
| Faculty from across the institution, via committee or ad hoc group (n=49) | Yes | ||||
| Other (n=30) | Yes | Yes |
Who participates in WAC assessment?
| Paper Portfolio | Electronic Portfolio | Random Sample of Student Writing | Writing Exam | Professor Evaluation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPA (n=25) | Yes | Yes | |||
| Writing program faculty (n=23) | |||||
| Faculty from across the institution, via committee or ad hoc group (n=77) | |||||
| Outside evaluators (n=6) | |||||
| Other (n=24) | Yes | Yes |
What are the criteria for a WI course? (n=184)
Number of pages or words written
Revision
Time discussing writing In class
Written or verbal feedback from instructor
Percentage of course grade in writing
Other criteria
Which incentives are offered to faculty to teach WI courses? (n=51)
Use of writing fellows
Stipend
Course release
Smaller class size
Credit toward tenure and promotion
Other
Is there professional development available for those teaching in the WAC Program? (n=298)
Yes
What form does that faculty development take? (n=216)
Faculty seminar
Required faculty workshops
Optional faculty workshops
Individual meetings with faculty members
Collaborative research projects
Conferences off campus
On-campus speakers
Other
What other forms of faculty development exist?
We offer two-day intensive workshops the week before classes begin. We then offer monthly seminars on special topics. We also hold monthly retreats for faculty to work on their own writing.
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
The undergraduate and graduate writing major and minor--Description of Undergraduate Minor
What areas of writing can students specialize in as part of the minor? (n=312)
Professional writing
Creative writing
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)
Part of another institutional unit
If the writing center is not free-standing, what larger institutional unit is it a part of? (n=379)
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. (n=612)
Academic building
Multiple locations
How are the goals assessed? (n=423)
Student feedback forms
Faculty feedback
Center usage statistics
External review
Analysis of student papers
Other
What services does the writing center offer? (n=610)
Face-to-face consultations
Online tutoring via Skype or instant messaging (synchronous)
Online feedback via e-mail (asynchronous)
Assistance with oral presentations
Assistance with Powerpoint or other presentation software
Assistance with new media
Writing centers--Consultations
What is the average length of a consultation or tutorial session offered? (n=574)
50 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 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
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
63
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were graduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=228)
33
During the fall of 2011, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=113)
4
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=450)
70
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were graduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=228)
27
During the spring of 2012, what percentage of the writing center consultants were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)
3
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=448)
43
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were graduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=227)
22
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the fall of 2011 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=112)
3
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were undergraduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=449)
57
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were graduate students? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=227)
22
How many consultants who worked in the writing center during the spring of 2012 were professional tutors? See Notes 2b & 4. (n=111)
3
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 | Yes | ||||
| Half-credit course | |||||
| Weekly meetings | |||||
| Monthly meetings | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Workshops before the semester | Yes | Yes | |||
| No training required | |||||
| 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 conferences | |||||
| Attendance at regional conferences | |||||
| Presenting at national conferences | |||||
| Presenting at regional conferences | |||||
| Reading professional journals | |||||
| Outside speakers | |||||
| Weekly meetings | |||||
| Semester inservice or workshop | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Written reflections on daily and/or semester work | |||||
| Meet with director | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 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 | Yes | Yes | |||
| Stipend | Yes | ||||
| Tuition waver | Yes | ||||
| 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)
Yes
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 gradaute students, and writing center tutors are undergraduates.
Do the writing fellows regularly attend the class they are assigned to work with? (n=142)
No
How are the writing fellows compensated? (n=144)
Stipend
Tuition waver
Graduate assistantship
Administrative structures
Who has primary responsibility for administering first-year writing requirement? (n=565)
Director of writing program/chair of writing department