Appendix B: Logistics, Phase I

Detailed Memo to Faculty Participants in Phase I of the WAC Assessment Process Once They Have Agreed to Participate

Memo to Faculty Participants:  Details and Logistics

THANK YOU for agreeing to participate in Phase I of the WAC assessment process.  A total of 20 faculty members who teach WRITD courses during Fall 2010 have agreed to provide input about student writing within their courses.  We have an excellent representation of departments and faculty who will be participating.

As you know, there are three criteria for WRITD courses. 

  1. A WRITD course provides students with opportunities to read and analyze examples of discipline-specific writing.
  2. A WRITD course requires students to complete writing assignments that exemplify the structures, genres, and conventions of the disciplines.
  3. A WRITD course offers students opportunities to revise their work with the help of an instructor's feedback.

If you wish to see details regarding the Writing Program Strategic Plan, Program Goals and Learner Outcomes, please visit the WAC web site.

To review…
Phase I of the assessment process will include the following steps and does not require a faculty member to add new assignments or change anything within the WRITD course being taught:

  1. Completion of the attached faculty course survey related to the WRITD course you are teaching.  This survey is completed and submitted to Jeanne Herman, Director of WAC at the end of fall semester. In the final summary report written by the Director of WAC that is submitted to the deans, only composite comments will be shared.  We are asking your name, department, and course only so that we can look for patterns and trends and follow-up with you should we have any questions.
  2. Submit a first and final draft paper for one major assignment completed by three students within your class;  a total of three first drafts and three final drafts are submitted by the end of Fall 2010. (You will need to have the students give written permission for you to share their papers with the Director of WAC and Writing Program Advisory Committee (WPAC).  A form will be mailed to you for student permission.)
  3. Submit by the end of Fall 2010, a class syllabus for this WRITD course;
  4. Students within your WRITD class will be contacted and asked to complete a short online pre-test/survey that will provide some background information about strengths and areas for improvement within their writing.  Later in the semester, students will receive a second email from the Director of WAC that reminds them to complete the final student survey that focuses on how the course helped improve their writing.  As mentioned in the earlier message asking you to participate in the Phase I assessment of WAC, these surveys are posted at the WAC web site should you wish to see them.

*The faculty course survey, sample papers, and syllabus can all be submitted online.

A Moodle site for the WAC/WPAC Committee has been created and this site will appear when you log into Moodle. The documents can easily be uploaded to this site.  If you are unfamiliar with Moodle, you may simply send all documents as .doc files attached to an email to Jeanne Herman and she will upload files.

Items A,B, and C should be submitted by the end of Fall Term 2010 for your WRITD course.
The Director of WAC will upon occasion send an email reminder to keep you informed regarding completion of student surveys, and other elements of the Phase I assessment.

The Writing Program Advisory Committee will also hold three open forums to gather additional information.  We will schedule these in the spring and invite you and all faculty to attend one forum if you are able to do so. 

Please do not hesitate to contact Jeanne Herman, Director of WAC, or any member of the WPAC  (Aaron Banks, Carolyn Dobler. Becky Fremo, Sujay Rao, or Kathy Tunheim) if you have questions.  Thanks again for agreeing to participate.  We will be in touch!