__________________________________________  February 4, 1999 EXECUTIVE MEMORANDUM 99-03 __________________________________________

From:	Manuel A. Esteban, President
Subject:	Executive Memorandum 99-03, Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement Revision to EM 90-22

 

On the recommendation of the Academic Senate and the concurrence of Provost Scott McNall, I approve the following revision to EM 90-22, Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). This revision eliminates the Writing Effectiveness Screening Test (WEST) as a prerequisite for enrollment in Writing Proficiency (WP) courses, effective June 1, 1999, and authorizes changes in the University Writing Committee. It also authorizes the implementation of a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program, effective fall 1999, as described below.

The graduation writing assessment requirement (GWAR) is a systemwide requirement. The California State University system requires upper-division undergraduate students to demonstrate a level of writing proficiency which may be expected of college graduates. This systemwide requirement originated in 1976 and developed as follows:

• May 1976. In May 1976 the Board of Trustees adopted a resolution endorsing "the principle that all students entering CSU after implementation of the proficiency/diagnostic examination (EPT) would be required to demonstrate their competency with regard to writing skills as a requirement for graduation. " (REP 5-7-4)
  
  
• Fall 1976. The Trustee mandate resulted in the CSU, Chico upper-division literacy requirement (EM 75-22) which reads: "All departments shall require their majors, before graduation, to demonstrate writing skills in their own fields. The task of formulating the procedure for determining competence is delegated to each department. The policy developed by each department will be subject to approval by the Provost. "
  
  
• Fall 1982. Beginning in the fall of 1982, all CSU, Chico students were required to pass the Writing Effectiveness Screening Test (WEST) to qualify for enrollment in the writing proficiency (WP) courses in the majors. The WEST was created to assess a student's readiness to profit from instruction in the WP course. At the same time, a passing grade of C- in the WP course in each major was designated as the sole measure of writing proficiency for graduation, and it remains so today.
  
• Fall 1998. The Academic Senate voted in favor of the Provost's proposal to eliminate the WEST, effective June 1, 1999, and to create a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program, effective fall 1999.

Responsibilities of Academic Departments

Academic departments are responsible for (1) the creation and development of high-quality writing proficiency (WP) courses, (2) maintaining and upholding high-level writing standards, (3) reviewing and updating all relevant WP policies and procedures, and (4) providing WP course assessment information and assistance to the Provost as requested. For information in addition to that which follows, department chairs and college deans are encouraged to contact the GWAR Coordinator in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, phone (530) 898-6101.

1. Create and Develop High-Quality Writing Proficiency Courses.
   Since 1976, a letter grade of C- in the designated writing proficiency course in each major has been the sole measure of writing proficiency for graduation from California State University, Chico. WP courses in the major are therefore the backbone of the graduation writing assessment requirement at CSU, Chico. They are required upper-division courses in the content of the discipline.
   Definition: Writing proficiency courses are courses in the major in which students use writing in the English language to organize the subject matter, engage in rigorous study about a body of knowledge essential to the major, and communicate that knowledge to others. WP courses integrate writing and writing instruction with the subject matter content of the course.
   Course Elements: WP courses are small classes (20-30 students maximum) that involve both in-class and out-of-class writing, require students to write frequently in various modes of discourse, provide students with instructor feedback on multiple drafts of selected writing assignments, and provide the developmentally appropriate writing instruction needed for students to develop the level of writing proficiency deemed necessary for graduation from CSU, Chico.
   Prerequisite: The prerequisite to all WP courses at CSU, Chico is a letter grade of C- or better in English 001: Freshman Composition, or its equivalent at another institution. This prerequisite must be stated in writing in the University Catalog, each course syllabus, and in departmental writing standards.
   
2. Maintain and Uphold High-Level Writing Standards.

   It is the responsibility of each academic department to

   1. Develop and uphold its own writing standards.
      
   2. Certify, by a grade of C- or better in the WP course, those students who satisfy the graduation writing standards of the major. NOTE: Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course as often as needed to earn a C- or better.
      
   3. Create a procedure for identifying, as early as possible, students in the major who are not likely to meet the writing requirements and standards in the WP courses. Departments are also responsible for advising students of recommended and required writing development resources available to them and to assist them as needed to develop their ability to communicate in written English.
      
   4. Contact the Writing Center and University Writing Committee for assistance in developing and assessing the writing standards of the department. NOTE: The Provost shall continue to approve the writing standards developed by each department.
      
   5. Offer WP courses every semester to facilitate students' timely progression to graduation and advise students to take the WP course no later than the first semester as a senior in case additional time is needed to meet the department's writing standards.
      NOTE: The Provost shall approve each department's writing standards, taking into account the recommendation of the University Writing Committee.
      
3. Review and update all relevant WP policies and procedures.
   It is the responsibility of each academic department to develop its own WP policies and procedures. This statement must include a provision to certify the writing of students who have transferred WP course content only from another institution. Any proposed alternative to the approved WP course must be based on major-related writing in the English language produced at CSU, Chico by a junior or senior who has already earned a letter grade of C- or better in English 001: Freshman Composition or its equivalent at another institution.
   NOTE: The Provost shall approve each department's WP policies and procedures, taking into account the recommendation of the University Writing Committee.
   
4. Provide writing assessment information and assistance to the Provost as requested.
   It is the responsibility of each academic department to provide WP course assessment information and assistance to the provost as requested. Requests may be for course syllabi, student writing samples, whole class testing, opinion surveys, or other documentation needed by the Chancellor's Office, the Provost's Office, the Writing Center, the University Writing Committee, the Test Office, the Assessment Office, or the Office of Institutional Research.

Responsibilities of the University Writing Committee

The University Writing committee, functioning since 1978 as an advisory to the Provost on matters pertaining to the WP courses, will review the WP courses and advise the Provost on policies, procedures, department standards, WP course quality, and the assessment of student writing in the majors. Issues related to lower-division General Education (GE) writing requirements are the domain of the General Education Advisory Committee, which has responsibility for formal reviews of the writing requirements in all GE courses.

Membership. The Provost and the Academic Senate Executive Committee, upon the recommendation of the academic deans, shall jointly appoint one representative from each college to three-year staggered terms. The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, the GWAR coordinator, and the WAC coordinator shall serve as ex-officio members.

Committee Chair. The Writing Center director shall chair the committee and work closely with the GWAR coordinator and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in establishing the agenda for each academic year.

Responsibilities of the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Program

To prepare faculty and chairs for their fall 1999 writing-related responsibilities, the Writing Center director shall meet with the department chairs and the WP instructors at least once during the spring 1999 semester. Effective fall 1999, the Writing Center director and the WAC coordinator shall

1. provide writing assistance for all students who self-refer
   
   
2. provide writing assistance for all students referred by faculty
   
   
3. provide written evaluations of individual student writing for faculty who request them
   
   
4. develop writing development programs for individual students (in consultation with faculty)
   
   
5. assess faculty interest in using WAC Program and Writing Center services for their classes
   
   
6. consult with faculty on their writing assignments and department writing standards
   
   
7. conduct faculty workshops on writing
   
   
8. coordinate faculty development activities with the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
   
   
9. provide writing assistants for classes upon request
   
   
10. work with the Assessment Office, the Office of Testing and Research, and Institutional Research to issue recommendations for evaluating writing and to document and assess the effectiveness of the WAC Program
    
    
11. help all faculty implement the official writing requirements for their courses as designated by various documents related to General Education courses, English 001, and writing proficiency courses, and
    
    
12. develop appropriate means (not to be restricted to electronic mail) to extend its services to students enrolled in CSUSAT courses.

Responsibilities of the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Since WAC's responsibility will be campus-wide and in support of a CSU systemwide requirement, the responsibility for supervising and evaluating WAC and the development of student writing proficiency for graduation rests with the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Beginning in the spring of 1999, therefore, (1) the Office of Testing and Research, (2) the Office of Institutional Research, (3) the Assessment Office, and (4) the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, in consultation with (5) the Writing Center director and (6) the University Writing Committee shall

1. propose to the Provost a plan to supervise and evaluate WAC and the development of student writing proficiency for graduation
   
   
2. collect provost-approved baseline data during spring 1999 from a representative sample of faculty and students in the WP courses and
   
   
3. report to the Provost on the baseline data collected, and include conclusions regarding the issues deemed relevant by the Provost, the University Writing Committee, the Writing Center director, the director of institutional research, the assessment director, and the test officer.

NOTE: Beginning in the fall of 1999, the WAC coordinator will have been hired and will therefore be included in consultation regarding the ongoing plan for evaluating WAC's effectiveness.

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