Program findings are presented and budget analyzed

The Washington State University writing programs were allocated $668,267 for the 2008-2009 year according to the Washington State University budget statement.

“The fact that we have such little money for the writing program and what we can do [with it] are really a pretty good deal for the university,” said Diane Kelly-Riley, director of the writing assessment program.

One benefit for the university has been the awards and accolades the program has received. The writing program was awarded the “Writing Program Certificate of Excellence” in 2009 by the Conference on College Composition and Communication, according to the WSU Writing Portfolio Eighth Findings report.

“We’re the only institution to have a university-wide writing program and university-wide writing portfolio,” Kelly-Riley said.

The WSU writing program began in 1993 for two main reasons.

“The state legislature mandated an assessment of general education programs back in the late 80’s,” Kelly-Riley said. “Major employers in the state of Washington also said that they weren’t satisfied with WSU graduates’ writing abilities, and that if we didn’t improve students’ writing abilities, they weren’t going to hire undergraduates anymore.”

“The tier-two process is a matter of catching students at a stage in progress before they enter their major’s writing courses and giving them the support they need, trying to make sure that they are at a place where they are ready to do that more sophisticated writing,” said Donna Evans, English teaching assistant.

Since then, “More than 55,500 students have completed the writing portfolio,” Evans said.

Kelly-Riley says the Writing Program serves four main purposes: Evaluating students’ writing before they get into their writing in the major courses, recognize students whose writing is exceptional, prepare students to be effective communicators, and collect data related to departments’ and university performance.

“In terms of the climate for higher education right now for accountability and accreditation, it’s really an essential program that helps WSU complete its mandate for those issues as well,” Kelly-Riley said. “It also provides good information for departments trying to improve program quality.”

The 2007-2009 Tier II average ratings show 9.5% needs work ratings, 7.1% outstanding ratings, and 83.3% acceptable ratings, according to the WSU Writing Portfolio Eighth Findings report.

“That 10 percent of students [who receive needs work ratings], and that’s about 500 students that you’re talking about, really do need some sort of structured support,” Kelly-Riley said.

“There’s also the idea that the junior portfolio process itself is a learning process,” Evans said. “It’s a matter of building from the time you enter the university up to that point when you enter into your major courses and you’re building your writing skills in order to accomplish something. I think it makes students more aware of the need to work on writing.”

The writing program is the only standardized test all students are required to take at WSU and the test itself is self-supported by student fees, Kelly-Riley said.

“As you can see, we’re kind of down to the bone in terms of what the budget is,” Kelly-Riley said. “I think it would be really detrimental to the program if we did have to take budget cuts.”

Contacts:

Diane Kelly-Riley
509-335-1323

Donna Evans
509-335-2581

Eighth findings
http://www.writingprogram.wsu.edu/units/writingassessment/reports/WP2007-09assessmentreport.pdf