To help all clients become better writers and to develop more confidence in their writing abilities.
Objective
Increase Client Knowledge Of Writing Principles And Skills
Provide services that facilitate the client learning and applying writing principles and skills.
Indicator
Client Survey Of Learned Skills
A survey of clients?????? perceptions of the skills they have learned by using the Writing Center??????s services.
Criterion
Client learning
A representative sample of clients will complete a writing center evaluation form each semester to indicate student learning of writing skills and principles. Of the clients surveyed, 80% will indicate that they can apply principles learned in the tutoring session, and that the tutoring session has improved their writing skills.
Finding
Client survey data of perception of learning
Of the 1072 clients surveyed, 1032 strongly agreed or agreed that "I can apply the principles discussed in this session to future writing/ foreign language situations." 1002 clients strongly agreed or agreed that "I can now identify and correct my writing/foreign language errors more easily." 1003 clients strongly agreed or agreed that "The Writing Center has helped me improve my writing /foreign language skills."
Indicator
Tutor Assessment
Assessment of tutors' knowledge and skill in tutoring by the tutor, peers, and supervisor.
Criterion
Tutor assessment
The Writing Center director will assess each tutor each semester using the Tutor Evaluation Form. All tutors will receive an overall rating of 3 or above to maintain their position.
Finding
Assessment of tutors
All tutors were assessed by the writing center director. 99% of all tutors received a rating of 3 or better.
Objective
Evaluation Of The Writing Center
To provide assessment tools to determine the effectiveness of the tutorial process.
Indicator
Survey Of Writing Center Clients
Writing Center clients will be asked to evaluate the effective of the tutorial process.
Criterion
Client survey
The Writing Center will survey a representative sample of clients each semester.
Finding
Writing center survey
After 1072 tutoring sessions, clients were asked to fill out a survey about the writing center and their tutoring experience. This represents slightly more than 10% of the total tutoring sessions.
Action
Non-returning client survey
Survey students who did not use the writing center services in the following semester to learn why they did not return to determine goals for retention.
Goal
Professional And Personal Development
To provide opportunities for continued development of staff through in-house training. To encourage participation in regional, national, and international conferences. To provide opportunities for continued development of writers through workshops and readings.
Objective
Tutors
Train undergraduate and graduate tutors
Indicator
Tutor Training
Outline of initial tutor training and continued in-house training.
Criterion
Tutor Training
The Writing Center will keep its tutor training program certified by the College Reading and Learning Association by providing the required topics and hours of training.
Finding
CRLA certification
Our training program follows the guidelines of the CRLA and is certified through May 2009.
Indicator
Client Survey Of Tutor Skills
Client perception of tutor's skills.
Criterion
Client perception of tutor skills
A representative sample of clients will complete a writing center evaluation form each semester to indicate that their tutor had appropriate skills. Of the clients surveyed, 80% will indicate that the tutor they worked with asked about their concerns and gave clear explanations.
Finding
Client survey data of tutor skills
Of the 1072 clients surveyed, 1047 strongly agreed or agreed that "The tutor asked what my concerns were." 952 clients strongly agreed or agreed that "The tutor gave clear explanations."
Indicator
Tutor Assessment
Assessment of tutors' knowledge and skill in tutoring by the tutor, peers, and supervisor.
Criterion
Tutor assessment
The Writing Center director will assess each tutor each semester using the Tutor Evaluation Form. All tutors will receive an overall rating of 3 or above to maintain their position.
Finding
Assessment of tutors
All tutors were assessed by the writing center director. 99% of all tutors received a rating of 3 or better.
Indicator
Tutor Certification
An accounting of the number of tutors who have reached the Regular, Advanced, or Master??????s Level in the College Reading and Learning Association international tutor Certification program.
Criterion
Tutor Certification
The Writing Center will provide 30 hours of in-house training and additional training for tutors to reach College Reading and Learning Association certification levels. The Writing Center will keep documentation of tutors'''' training and tutoring hours. 10% of all tutors will reach Master level certification.
Finding
Certifications
7 tutors received certification. 5 tutors received Master level certification and 2 tutors received regular level certification.
Action
Additional training for tutors
Improve and update the training materials for writing and foreign language tutors. Purchase additional resources to fulfill the need for different modes of training required by CRLA.
Action
Tutor self-assessment
Involve tutors in creating a self-assessment instrument and have them use to it to improve their own learning and tutoring.
Objective
Conference Opportunities
To increase staff development through participation in regional, national, and international conferences
Indicator
Identify Conference Participation
An accounting of the number of conferences attended and papers presented at regional, national, and international conferences
Criterion
Conference Participation
Tutors will present research at professional conferences and will attend other conference presentations.
Finding
Conference participation
17 tutors and 4 supervisors attended the International Writing Center Association Conference in April 2007. 6 tutors and 3 supervisors were invited to make presentations.
Action
Conference presentations
Encourage more tutors to give presentations at Writing Center conferences.
Objective
Provide Stable Funding For The Writing Center
The Writing Center will be provided with stable funding in sufficient amount to cover our expenses.
Indicator
Stable Funding
A budget to provide adequate salaries, resources, and development funds without the need for emergency supplementation and changes of budget accounts.
Criterion
Budget
A required stable budget of $225,000 that is available in budget accounts accessible to the Writing Center director to cover salaries, operating expenses, professional development, and capital equipment.
Finding
Budget
For FY 07, the Writing Center was provided a budget of $193,000. Many changes of budgets and accounts were required to receive this level of funding. Tutor payroll account was underfunded at one pay period.
Action
Stable funding
Request a dedicated student fee to provide for a stable and adequate budget.
Objective
Mentor Assistant Director
The director will provide mentoring for the assistant director to further his/her education. The position will provide opportunities for professional development with the goal of providing the assistant director with the qualifications needed for full-time employment with a writing center.
Indicator
Assistant Director
The director will assist the assistant director in applying for doctoral programs. The director will encourage the assistant director to apply for full-time employment with writing centers.
Criterion
Assistant director
The assistant director will apply for a doctoral program and, if an appropriate position becomes available, will apply for a full-time position with a writing center.
Finding
Full-time employment for assistant director
The assistant director obtained a full-time position as the assistant director of the Texas A&M University writing center. He plans to apply for to their program to work on his doctorate in the future.
Objective
Professional Service By Writing Center Director
The Writing Center director will provide service to the International Writing Centers Association.
Indicator
Professional Service
The writing center director will provide service to the International Writing Centers Association.
Criterion
Professional service
The writing center director will provide service to the International Writing Centers Association.
Goal
Provide Quality Facility
To provide a comfortable facility with adequate resources to support successful writing experiences.
Objective
Increase Writing Center Impact
Provide services within both the university and the community
Indicator
Client Use
Each client logs into a writing center tracking database linked to the university database and also completes a tutor session form.
Criterion
Client use
The writing center tracking database will show population demographics of writing center use. For a writing center which serves the entire university community, a 10% use is standard according to the Writing Center Research Project.
Finding
Client data
In the fall semester, the Writing Center provided services to 15.3% of the total student body, a total of 2438 clients. In the spring semester, the Writing Center provided services to 14% of the student body, 2066 clients. The demographics of student served matched the demographics of the student population in terms of ethnicity and gender. We served a higher percentage of freshman and graduate students.
Indicator
Departmental And College Use
Students who have brought a class assignment for tutoring indicate the class on the tutor session report and in the writing center tracking database.
Criterion
Departmental and College Use
The Writing Center should serve writing enhanced courses in all departments.
Finding
Departmental and College Use
The Writing Center worked with students on course assignments in departments in each college.
Objective
Resources
Provide quality tools and resources and appropriate facility
Indicator
Instructional Materials
Creation and purchase of instruction materials by and for tutors and clients.
Criterion
Instructional Materials
The Writing Center will purchase new editions of citation guides, new editions of tutor training materials, will create new training materials, and will provide current editions of freshman composition textbooks.
Finding
Instructional Materials
We purchased books and DVDs. We updated our tutor handbook and created handouts.
Indicator
Select New Technology
Acquisition of laptops and other technologies to assist writers, tutors, and staff.
Criterion
Technology
The Writing Center will provide state of the art technology to support writing and learning. All computers will be upgraded to system requirements, flat panel monitors will be provided for all computers, and the classroom will be equipped with laptop computers.
Finding
Technology
All of the computers had memory upgrades and new monitors were purchased. A classroom set of laptops was not able to be purchased as requested.
Action
Solicitation of funding
Solicit funding from other departments, colleges to support necessary resources.
Objective
Provide Stable Funding For The Writing Center
The Writing Center will be provided with stable funding in sufficient amount to cover our expenses.
Indicator
Stable Funding
A budget to provide adequate salaries, resources, and development funds without the need for emergency supplementation and changes of budget accounts.
Criterion
Budget
A required stable budget of $225,000 that is available in budget accounts accessible to the Writing Center director to cover salaries, operating expenses, professional development, and capital equipment.
Finding
Budget
For FY 07, the Writing Center was provided a budget of $193,000. Many changes of budgets and accounts were required to receive this level of funding. Tutor payroll account was underfunded at one pay period.
Action
Stable funding
Request a dedicated student fee to provide for a stable and adequate budget.
Goal
Provide Quality Writing Support And Instruction
To assist students, staff, faculty, and community members with written and oral work.
Objective
Increase Writing Center Impact
Provide services within both the university and the community
Indicator
Client Use
Each client logs into a writing center tracking database linked to the university database and also completes a tutor session form.
Criterion
Client use
The writing center tracking database will show population demographics of writing center use. For a writing center which serves the entire university community, a 10% use is standard according to the Writing Center Research Project.
Finding
Client data
In the fall semester, the Writing Center provided services to 15.3% of the total student body, a total of 2438 clients. In the spring semester, the Writing Center provided services to 14% of the student body, 2066 clients. The demographics of student served matched the demographics of the student population in terms of ethnicity and gender. We served a higher percentage of freshman and graduate students.
Indicator
Departmental And College Use
Students who have brought a class assignment for tutoring indicate the class on the tutor session report and in the writing center tracking database.
Criterion
Departmental and College Use
The Writing Center should serve writing enhanced courses in all departments.
Finding
Departmental and College Use
The Writing Center worked with students on course assignments in departments in each college.
Objective
Tutors
Train undergraduate and graduate tutors
Indicator
Tutor Training
Outline of initial tutor training and continued in-house training.
Criterion
Tutor Training
The Writing Center will keep its tutor training program certified by the College Reading and Learning Association by providing the required topics and hours of training.
Finding
CRLA certification
Our training program follows the guidelines of the CRLA and is certified through May 2009.
Indicator
Client Survey Of Tutor Skills
Client perception of tutor's skills.
Criterion
Client perception of tutor skills
A representative sample of clients will complete a writing center evaluation form each semester to indicate that their tutor had appropriate skills. Of the clients surveyed, 80% will indicate that the tutor they worked with asked about their concerns and gave clear explanations.
Finding
Client survey data of tutor skills
Of the 1072 clients surveyed, 1047 strongly agreed or agreed that "The tutor asked what my concerns were." 952 clients strongly agreed or agreed that "The tutor gave clear explanations."
Indicator
Tutor Assessment
Assessment of tutors' knowledge and skill in tutoring by the tutor, peers, and supervisor.
Criterion
Tutor assessment
The Writing Center director will assess each tutor each semester using the Tutor Evaluation Form. All tutors will receive an overall rating of 3 or above to maintain their position.
Finding
Assessment of tutors
All tutors were assessed by the writing center director. 99% of all tutors received a rating of 3 or better.
Indicator
Tutor Certification
An accounting of the number of tutors who have reached the Regular, Advanced, or Master??????s Level in the College Reading and Learning Association international tutor Certification program.
Criterion
Tutor Certification
The Writing Center will provide 30 hours of in-house training and additional training for tutors to reach College Reading and Learning Association certification levels. The Writing Center will keep documentation of tutors'''' training and tutoring hours. 10% of all tutors will reach Master level certification.
Finding
Certifications
7 tutors received certification. 5 tutors received Master level certification and 2 tutors received regular level certification.
Action
Additional training for tutors
Improve and update the training materials for writing and foreign language tutors. Purchase additional resources to fulfill the need for different modes of training required by CRLA.
Action
Tutor self-assessment
Involve tutors in creating a self-assessment instrument and have them use to it to improve their own learning and tutoring.
Objective
Evaluation Of The Writing Center
To provide assessment tools to determine the effectiveness of the tutorial process.
Indicator
Survey Of Writing Center Clients
Writing Center clients will be asked to evaluate the effective of the tutorial process.
Criterion
Client survey
The Writing Center will survey a representative sample of clients each semester.
Finding
Writing center survey
After 1072 tutoring sessions, clients were asked to fill out a survey about the writing center and their tutoring experience. This represents slightly more than 10% of the total tutoring sessions.
Action
Non-returning client survey
Survey students who did not use the writing center services in the following semester to learn why they did not return to determine goals for retention.
Objective
Provide Stable Funding For The Writing Center
The Writing Center will be provided with stable funding in sufficient amount to cover our expenses.
Indicator
Stable Funding
A budget to provide adequate salaries, resources, and development funds without the need for emergency supplementation and changes of budget accounts.
Criterion
Budget
A required stable budget of $225,000 that is available in budget accounts accessible to the Writing Center director to cover salaries, operating expenses, professional development, and capital equipment.
Finding
Budget
For FY 07, the Writing Center was provided a budget of $193,000. Many changes of budgets and accounts were required to receive this level of funding. Tutor payroll account was underfunded at one pay period.
Action
Stable funding
Request a dedicated student fee to provide for a stable and adequate budget.