WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

(Approved: Academic Council 5/1/95; General Faculty 11/14/95; revised Academic Council 5/5/97, Faculty Senate
5/6/02, General Faculty 5/14/02, Faculty Senate 10/14/02, General Faculty 11/19/02)

IMPLEMENTATION OF WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM: WRITING IN GENERAL EDUCATION AND WRITING IN THE MAJOR

1. Each designated Writing Intensive (WI) course in the major and in general education is identified as such in the quarterly class schedule.



2. For record-keeping purposes and to allow maximum scheduling flexibility, each designated WI course is assigned a 0-credit "lab" to represent the writing component of the course. The lab is graded pass/no entry (P/no entry). Students must register for this "lab" when they register for a course and cannot register for the course without the lab. They cannot drop either the course or the writing component lab separately. Likewise, removal of credit for the course grade will also remove credit for the writing component.
   
   Each writing section generates 2 grade sheets, one for the course grade, one for the WI grade (P/no entry). Both grades will appear on the student's transcript and permanent record (unless a student fails the writing component of a course, in which case there will be no entry).



3. Students taking WI courses within the general education program or within the major can 1) pass both the course and the WI component; 2) pass the course and fail the WI component; or 3) pass the WI component of the course but fail the course itself.
   
   
   1. A student who does not successfully complete the WI portion of four GE courses (excluding English 101 and 102) may satisfy the requirements for writing proficiency in GE in any of the following three ways:
      1. pass the WI portion of at least two GE courses and earn a grade of C or better in an approved advanced writing course.
      2. pass the WI portion of at least two GE courses and prepare an acceptable portfolio that includes writing on demand.
      3. earn a grade of C or better in an approved advanced writing course and prepare an acceptable portfolio that includes writing on demand.
      
      
      
   2. To fulfill the Writing in the Major requirement only (This option is not available to students fulfilling the Writing in GE requirement.), take the "Independent Writing Project" available within the program or a designated writing intensive independent reading course. Each department designates the appropriate course needed to complete the requirement. Students may use the "Independent Writing Project" or the designated writing intensive independent reading course to fulfill only one of the twocourse requirement.
   
   
   
   3. A student who passes WI portion of a course but fails the course itself may receive credit for fulfilling the writing requirement but may/will still need to repeat the course to fulfill the major or general education requirement.
   
   
   
   4. A student who drops a writing intensive course automatically drops the "lab" attached to the course. In other words, it will not be possible to drop a course and retain the WI component of the course.
   
   
   
4. Transfer students who have completed the transfer module that is part of the Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy will be considered as having met the Writing in GE requirements. Transfer students who have completed at least 75% (40 hours) of the transfer module may meet the Writing in GE requirement by completing one writing intensive course. Transfer students who have completed less that 75% (40 hours) of the transfer module must complete the University's general education requirements, including the Writing in GE requirement, as follows:

• 50%-74% (28-39 hours) of general education completed—successfully complete two WI courses, in addition to English 101 and 102.
• 25%-49% (14-27 hours) of general education completed—successfully complete three WI courses, in addition to English 101 and 102.
• fewer than 25% or 14 hours of general education completed—successfully complete all four designated WI courses, in addition to English 101 and 102.

When students who still need writing intensive credit in General Education courses already have credit for the General Education courses designated as writing intensive at WSU, those students may apply credit from other designated writing intensive courses to meet that requirement, including additional WI courses in the major beyond the required two. No writing intensive course in the major will be counted toward both General Education and writing in the major requirements.

Transfer students who do not successfully complete the WAC requirements above may satisfy the requirements for writing proficiency in GE by completing the appropriate substitution described under 5 a.b.c. under "Writing in General Education."

Transfer students must complete the two-course writing requirement in the major.

5. Returning students who have not been enrolled at the university for four or more consecutive quarters and who have not completed general education requirements must complete the Writing in General Education requirements as follows:

• at least 75% (40-55 hours) of general education completed—successfully complete one WI course, in addition to ENG 101 and 102.
• 50%-74% (28-39 hours) of general education completed—successfully complete two WI courses, in addition to ENG 101 and 102.
• 25%-49% (14-27 hours) of general education completed—successfully complete three WI courses, in addition to ENG 101 and 102.
• less than 25% (fewer than 14 hours) of general education completed—successfully complete all four writing intensive courses, in addition to ENG 101 and 102.

When returning students who still need writing intensive credit in General Education have already taken the earlier versions of General Education courses now designated as writing intensive, those students may apply credit from other designated writing intensive courses to meet that requirement, including additional WI courses in the major beyond the required two. No writing intensive course in the major will be counted toward both General Education and writing in the major requirements.

Returning students who do not successfully complete the requirements above may satisfy the requirements for writing proficiency in GE by completing the appropriate substitution described under 5 a.b.c. under "Writing in General Education."

Returning students must complete the two-course writing requirement in the major. In the event a returning student has completed earlier, non-WI versions of courses now offered as the department’s WI courses and no further WI courses in the major are available, the student will complete the independent writing project to cover one of the courses; the requirement for the second course can be waived with the approval of the department.


6. WSU graduates returning to earn another undergraduate degree must complete the Writing in the Major requirements.



7. Students pursuing a dual major may have the writing requirements for one major waived at the discretion of that department/college.

Each college/unit is responsible for monitoring the progress of its majors in completing the university Writing Across the Curriculum requirements. Oversight and Faculty Development 1. The Writing Across the Curriculum Committee is a standing subcommittee of the Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee (UCAPC), and the chair of that committee also serves as a non-voting member of UCAPC. The Writing Across the Curriculum Oversight Committee has oversight responsibility for writing in both GE and in the Major. The committee includes the following members: one faculty member from each undergraduate college who teaches or has taught Writing Intensive courses; the Director of the University Writing Center; the Director of Writing Programs (or department designee), Department of English Language and Literatures; a representative from the English as a Second Language (ESL) program; a representative for the General Education Oversight/Assessment Committee; and a student member. The Writing Across the Curriculum Committee is charged with recommending action and policy to the Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee for Writing Across the Curriculum requirements. The WAC Committee has responsibility for the following areas: Writing in General Education requirements; Writing in the Major requirements; approval of criteria for Independent Writing Projects; monitoring and assessment of Writing Across the Curriculum, including Independent Writing Projects, Writing Intensive Courses, and WAC faculty development programs and activities. 2. The WAC Coordinator is responsible for devising and offering ongoing faculty development programs, many of which are developed in conjunction with the University Writing Center and the Center for Teaching and Learning. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Writing Across the Curriculum program was developed by a number of individuals over a period of several years. The proposal approved by General Faculty on November 14, 1995, included the following acknowledgments: The University Undergraduate Committee and Academic Policy Committee wishes to thank Lillie Howard, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs, for her assistance to us and her many efforts to bring Writing Across the Curriculum to fruition. We also wish to acknowledge the many individuals who prepared earlier drafts of this proposal: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOR 1991/1992 PROPOSAL Richard Bullock, Director of Writing Programs, Department of English Language and Literatures, in the formulation of this proposal, as well as the assistance of other members of the ad hoc Committee on Writing Across the Curriculum: Deans Perry Moore, James Brandeberry, Jane Swart, Don Carlson, and Richard Millman; Associate Deans William Rickert, Charles Willis, and Rishi Kumar; Chairers Peter Bracher, Herb Brown, and Ed Rutter; and faculty members Leo Finkelstein, Harry Lipsitt, Jim Schwartz, and Marjorie Pappas; and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Lillie Howard. We also acknowledge the assistance and participation of Rudy Fichtenbaum, Vice President of the Faculty (1990-1991), Susan Praeger, Chair, University Curriculum Committee, Gerald Meike and Richard Mercer. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOR 1994 PROPOSAL The 1994 Ad Hoc Committee for Writing Across the Curriculum -- Greg Bernhardt, Tom Sav, Edgar Rutter, Barbara O'Brien, Harry Lipsitt, William Rickert, Lillie Howard, Gail Fred -- as well as the support of Provost Will Hutzel and all of the Deans. We also acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Richard Bullock, Chris Hall, Henry Limouze, and other members of the Writing faculty in the Department of English Language and Literatures; of President of the Faculty, James Sayer; Jeane Fraker, Toby Pinkerton (student), and all other members of the University Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee; and the general University Faculty.