ASCRC Writing Subcommittee Minutes 2/25/08

Members Present: H. Bruce J. Carter, N. Hinman, M. Medvetz, C. Potter

Members Excused/Absent: A. McKeown, D. Micus, P. Silverman, A. Walker-Andrews, R. Wanderscheid

Ex-Officio Present:  G. McCaffrey,

Chair Carter called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.

Communications:

The English Composition Placement Committee would like the Writing Committee’s input on its recommendations for implementation of the new Board of Regents policy on Writing Proficiency. Documents submitted included a report, including placement grid and English Composition catalog language.

Business Items:

English Composition Catalog Copy

The Committee reviewed the placement grid and agreed with the numbers and concepts. Members did not have issue with students placing into ENEX 200 being able to count the course as also meeting the writing course requirement. Most of the students placing into ENEX 200 are honors students who are required to take a number of courses with a heavy writing component.

The catalog language was reviewed and revised as follows:

 To ensure that all graduates have acquired the writing skills outlined above, students should satisfy the following requirements in this order:

1. ENEX 101 or ENEX 200 (unless exempted as defined below)

2. One approved writing course

3. The Upper-Division Writing Proficiency Assessment (WPA), to be taken between 45-70 credits.

4. The upper-division writing course(s) required by the major.

ENEX 101 or ENEX 200. All students must complete ENEX 101 or 200 with a grade of C or better unless exempted.

Students may be exempted from ENEX 101 or 200 by transferring credit verified as an equivalent of ENEX 101 or 200 with a grade of C (2.00 quality points) or better, by receiving a score of 3 or better on the AP exam, or by score on a standardized test, such as ACT or SAT. Except for those who transfer an equivalent course, students must take the placement exam. On the basis of this exam, students will be placed in either WTS 100D, ENEX 101, or ENEX 200; or will be exempted from ENEX 101.

There was discussion about the AP score.  Other groups on campus are beginning to reassess the AP scores accepted so there may be movement from 3 to 4 as the lowest acceptable score.  Since the review of this matter is pending, the committee did not recommend a change. There was concern that the specific AP exam accepted should be identified because there are several that involve writing.

The language will be sent to ASCRC for consideration.

 Frequently Asked Questions Document
Chair Carter and Professor Hinman started the frequently asked questions document. There are other questions that need to be added to the document. Members were asked to review this for discussion at the next meeting. Is the conversational tone and format appropriate? The following clarifications are needed on the Writing Course Guidelines document. These will be discussed at the next meeting.

• Name/title for the first writing course
• Criteria should include instructions to justify exceptions – deviations should be stated clearly and adequately supported
• Consider written rather than writing
• Appendix A seemed to cause confusion – consider removing it.

Meeting Schedule
The next meeting was scheduled for Monday, March 10^th at 10:10.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 pm.

English Placement Committee Report

1. Field test the following placement grid for 2008-2009 and make adjustments as warranted for the following year.

Decision Rule	MUS Writing Assessment Score	SAT or ACT Writing Sub-score	SAT Writing Section	Combined Eng/Writing ACT	Course Placement
Score in any of these ranges	5.5-6	11-12	700-800	32-36	Direct Placement into ENEX 200
	3.5-5	7-10	440-690	18-31	Direct Placement into ENEX 101
	2.5-3	5-6	390-430	16-17	Take WTS 100D or take exam to challenge placement
Score below any of these cut-offs	Below 2.5	Below 5	Below 390	Below 16	Direct placement into WTS 100D

2. Allow students placed into ENEX 200 to opt for ENEX 101 instead.

3. Retain the “W” designation on ENEX 200 as an incentive for students to opt for it rather than 101, thereby satisfying their composition and lower division writing course requirements simultaneously.

4. Alter General Education requirements so that either ENEX 101 or ENEX 200 will satisfy the English composition requirement.

5. Place “blocks” on cyberbear so that students cannot enroll directly into ENEX 200 without having the requisite test scores.

6. Limit summer placement testing to those wishing to challenge their placement into WTS 100D; investigate use of web-based exams for this purpose.

7. As in the past, exempt students with an AP score of 3-5 from the English composition requirement.