Administrators Survey

1. In what year did you finish your last degree?

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2.How many years have you been with the NDSU system?

a.< 5

b.5-9

c.10-14

d.15-19

e.20-24

f.25+

3.What was your primary field of study as an undergraduate?

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4.Approximately how many writing courses were required for your major (graduate and undergraduate)?

a.1

b.2

c.3

d.4

e.5+

5.Approximately how many writing courses did you take throughout College/University in addition to the required courses (graduate and undergraduate)?

a.1

b.2

c.3

d.4

e.5+

7. How much do you feel you know about the first year writing program at NDSU? (Rate your response on a scale of 1-10 with one being very little and 10 being very knowledgable.)
8. Listed below are various goals of different college writing programs. How would you define the role of a college writing program? (check all that apply)

1. to help students develop the skills to read and write within their majors
2. to help students develop life-long literacy skills
3. to help students become better and more informed citizens
4. to encourage students to be politically active and involved
5. to provide students with an introduction to the humanities
6. to develop critical thinking skills
7. to encourage insightful analysis and independent research
8. to require students to develop reading and writing skills that will serve them in the work world
9. to help students develop reading, writing, and study skills that will enable them succeed in college
10. to help students develop networks of relations (other students, teachers, librarians) that will support them throughout their college career.

7. Which of the same goals to you think NDSU's writing program embraces? (check all that apply)

1. to help students develop the skills to read and write within their majors
2. to help students develop life-long literacy skills
3. to help students become better and more informed citizens
4. to encourage students to be politically active and involved
5. to provide students with an introduction to the humanities
6. to develop critical thinking skills
7. to encourage insightful analysis and independent research
8. to require students to develop reading and writing skills that will serve them in the work world
9. to help students develop reading, writing, and study skills that will enable them succeed in college
10. to help students develop networks of relations (other students, teachers, librarians) that will support them throughout their college career.

7. From your standpoint as an administrator, what do you see as the strengths of NDSU's writing program? (Please comment on any issues we, as students, might not be aware of or understand.)
8. From your standpoint as an administrator, what do you see as the weaknesses? (Please comment on any issues we, as students, might not be aware of or understand.)

12. Writing in the Disciplines, known as WID, is an writing program designed to incorporate one composition class and a variety of writing intensive courses in a student's specific. Such programs benefit students by using an approach to writing that the student can put to use in his/her desired major. Looking at the WID program from an administrator's point of view, is this an approach you would be interested in exploring for NDSU?

a.Yes

b.No

WHY, WHY NOT?

13. Learning Communities are gaining popularity as a program designed to group students according to their desired disciplines. Then students often live in the same area, and take many of the same classes, including composition. Therefore, the composition classes, though taught by English faculty, are geared toward the student's interests and major. This program may cause significant scheduling difficulties at first, but seem to offer students a small college feel and increases retention. Looking at a Learning Teams program from an administrator's point of view, is this an approach you would be interested in exploring for NDSU?

a.Yes

b.No

WHY, WHY NOT?

14. Writing Across the University, known as WATU, is a literary writing program founded primarily upon the principles of Ben Franklin. In this program, students are given the option to pick two courses out of many humanities-based courses based in writing that individual instructors have designed. This approach offers students more individual choice in the topic of their first year writing courses, although the approach is usually humanities focused. . Looking at a WATU program from an administrator's point of view, is this an approach you would be interested in exploring for NDSU?

a.Yes

b.No

15. If you could choose any one of these programs to explore in more detail, which would you be in favor of studying more closely and why?

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16. Do you think the issue of researching and possibly developing a new writing program for NDSU is a relevant issue, therefore demanding further exploration by the faculty, staff, and student body?

a.Yes

b. No

17. Do you think composition and/or writing intensive courses are beneficial to students in all majors?

a.Yes

2. No

c. If, no, what exceptions?

We would again like to thank you very much for taking time out of your schedule to participate in our survey. Your information is very appreciated and will be a tremendous help to our research study. If you would like a copy of the results of this survey, please add your e-mail address to the box below. (This will in no way compromise your anonymity.) If you would be willing to talk to one of us briefly (20 minutes) for an interview about these issues, we would look forward to the opportunity. Please find our e-mail addresses in the original e-mail letter you received requesting your help.