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. The SHSU Writing Center aims to serve 15% of the total student population through one-on-one tutoring and classroom presentations.
Finding
Serving 14.14% Of Student Population With One-on-One Consultations
The Writing Center served 2384 students during the Fall 2008 semester during one-one-one consultations, which is 14.31% of the student population. The Writing Center served 2131 students in Spring 2009, which is 13.98% of the student population. The average for both semesters is 14.14%. This exceeds the accepted standard of 10%, but falls short of our goal of 15%. However, when adding in the number of students reached through classroom presentations for Spring 2009 (the first time we kept such data), the percentage of students served surpasses 20%.
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 students from a variety of courses in all departments.
Finding
Served Over 200 Courses Per Semester
The Writing Center served clients from 250 different courses in Fall 2008 and 214 different courses in Spring 2009.
Action
Continue To Reach Students Across The University
The Writing Center needs to continue its efforts to reach students across the disciplines through one-on-one tutoring and in-class presentations. To do this, the director and assistant director will increase communication with department chairs and individual faculty members to offer services.
Action
Build Writing Center Advisory Committee
The Writing Center will invite interested faculty (both tenure/tenure-track and pool) from all colleges to serve on an advisory board. The goal of this board will be to facilitate communication between faculty members and the writing center administration. Moreover, the board will be consulted when planning/decisions involving student policy is involved.
Action
Improve Record Keeping To Determine Across-the-disciplines Impact
The Writing Center will conduct a count each semester to determine how many writing-enhanced courses are being served. A goal for next year will be to serve students in at least 50% of all W courses.
Objective
Train And Support 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
Center Will Be Recertified By CRLA
The requirements were met and the paperwork was filed for the Writing Center to receive recertification with the College Reading and Learning Association. As of July 22, the application is under review and is expected to be approved.
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, 90% will indicate that the tutor they worked with asked about their concerns and gave clear explanations.
Finding
99% Fulfillment
During Fall 2008 and Spring 2009, 99% of student surveyed at the end of each semester indicated that the tutors they worked with asked about their concerns. Additionally, 98% responded that tutors addressed their concerns, and 97.5% indicated that tutors 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. Each tutor will complete a tutor self-assessment twice during each semester.
Finding
Tutor Evaluation
Upon review of previous year's evaluation process, the new director and assistant director discovered flaws in the assessment tools. While all tutors were evaluated each semester and did receive a rating of 3 or higher, we did not have tutor self-assess. We will be reviewing and rewriting the instrument for self-assessment.
Indicator
Tutor Certification
An accounting of the number of tutors who have reached the Regular, Advanced, or Masters 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
Training Needs And Certification Goals Met.
The Writing Center kept documentation of all tutors' training and tutoring hours.The Writing Center provided training opportunities for 23% of current tutors to reach Master's level of certification.
Indicator
Identify Conference Participation
An accounting of the number of conferences attended and papers presented at regional, national, and international conferences
Criterion
Conference Participation
At least 60% of tutors will present research at professional conferences and will attend other conference presentations.
Finding
43% Of Tutors Presented Research At Conferences
Twelve tutors (of 28 employed during Spring 2009) presented research at a regional conference. This number reflects 43%, far short of the 60% goal. More opportunities for presenting at conferences must be identified.
Action
Continue To Improve Ways Of Assessing Tutor Training And Professional Development
The WCTR will work to better track and assess tutor training. Attending training seminars is not enough; tutor learning needs to be assessed using valid instruments. The instruments used in previous years need evaluated, updated, and revised.
Action
Writing Center Will Offer A Variety Of New Training Opportunities
The Writing Center will offer year-long training opportunities for its tutors, in addition to the already-in-place bi-yearly workshops. These opportunities include workshops, online training, and specialized instruction in specific areas.
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 effectiveness of the tutorial process.
Criterion
Client survey
The Writing Center will survey a representative sample of clients each semester. 90% of clients will be satisfied with the services offered.
Finding
97% Fulfillment
A survey completed by 875 Writing Center clients indicated that 97% of respondents "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that they would recommend using the writing center to others based on their satisfaction with services offered.
Action
Improve Exit Surveys To Assess Effectiveness Of Tutorial Process
The surveys used to assess client satisfaction should be revised to pinpoint more clearly areas for improvement.
Goal
Knowledge And Skills
To help all clients become better writers and to develop more confidence in their writing abilities.
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 effectiveness of the tutorial process.
Criterion
Client survey
The Writing Center will survey a representative sample of clients each semester. 90% of clients will be satisfied with the services offered.
Finding
97% Fulfillment
A survey completed by 875 Writing Center clients indicated that 97% of respondents "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that they would recommend using the writing center to others based on their satisfaction with services offered.
Action
Improve Exit Surveys To Assess Effectiveness Of Tutorial Process
The surveys used to assess client satisfaction should be revised to pinpoint more clearly areas for improvement.
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, 90% will indicate that they can apply principles learned in the tutoring session, and that the tutoring session has improved their writing skills.
Finding
Over 90% Fulfilled
Of clients who took the Spring 2009 writing center survey, 95.3 % indicated that they "strongly agree" or "agree" that they can apply the principles learned from writing center consultations. 91% of respondents indicated that they "strongly agree" or "agree" that the writing center "helped improve my skills."
Of clients who took the Fall 2008 writing center survey, 96% of respondents answered "strongly agree" or "agree" to the question asking if they felt they could apply the principles taught during the consultations. 91/6% indicated that they "strongly agree" or "agree" that the writing center helped them improve their skills.
Action
Build New Assessment Tools To Assess Student Learning
The WCTR currently relies on anecdotal evidence and survey responses to assess if students believe they are able to apply new skills as a result of Writing Center instruction. While useful, we need to find opportunities to assess actual student learning.
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
Train And Support 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
Center Will Be Recertified By CRLA
The requirements were met and the paperwork was filed for the Writing Center to receive recertification with the College Reading and Learning Association. As of July 22, the application is under review and is expected to be approved.
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, 90% will indicate that the tutor they worked with asked about their concerns and gave clear explanations.
Finding
99% Fulfillment
During Fall 2008 and Spring 2009, 99% of student surveyed at the end of each semester indicated that the tutors they worked with asked about their concerns. Additionally, 98% responded that tutors addressed their concerns, and 97.5% indicated that tutors 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. Each tutor will complete a tutor self-assessment twice during each semester.
Finding
Tutor Evaluation
Upon review of previous year's evaluation process, the new director and assistant director discovered flaws in the assessment tools. While all tutors were evaluated each semester and did receive a rating of 3 or higher, we did not have tutor self-assess. We will be reviewing and rewriting the instrument for self-assessment.
Indicator
Tutor Certification
An accounting of the number of tutors who have reached the Regular, Advanced, or Masters 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
Training Needs And Certification Goals Met.
The Writing Center kept documentation of all tutors' training and tutoring hours.The Writing Center provided training opportunities for 23% of current tutors to reach Master's level of certification.
Indicator
Identify Conference Participation
An accounting of the number of conferences attended and papers presented at regional, national, and international conferences
Criterion
Conference Participation
At least 60% of tutors will present research at professional conferences and will attend other conference presentations.
Finding
43% Of Tutors Presented Research At Conferences
Twelve tutors (of 28 employed during Spring 2009) presented research at a regional conference. This number reflects 43%, far short of the 60% goal. More opportunities for presenting at conferences must be identified.
Action
Continue To Improve Ways Of Assessing Tutor Training And Professional Development
The WCTR will work to better track and assess tutor training. Attending training seminars is not enough; tutor learning needs to be assessed using valid instruments. The instruments used in previous years need evaluated, updated, and revised.
Action
Writing Center Will Offer A Variety Of New Training Opportunities
The Writing Center will offer year-long training opportunities for its tutors, in addition to the already-in-place bi-yearly workshops. These opportunities include workshops, online training, and specialized instruction in specific areas.