D16.0

INSTITUTE WRITING POLICY

A. GOAL STATEMENT

Rochester Institute of Technology undertakes to develop in students the ability to use written English effectively and to ensure:

   1.   that all students admitted to RIT gain writing skills adequate to the demands which their education at RIT will place upon them;

   2.   that all students graduating from RIT have gained the specific writing skills needed for successful entry into their chosen careers;

   3.   that all students at RIT acquire the underlying skills needed to develop their writing in response to growth or change in their careers, enhancement of their personal lives, and effectiveness as members of society.

B. IMPLEMENTATION

In order to realize this goal, Rochester Institute of Technology establishes as its objectives:

   1.   a writing placement procedure for all incoming baccalaureate students, as determined by the Language and Literature Department of the College of Liberal Arts, and for incoming graduate students, as determined by the Language and Literature Department in consultation with the Graduate Council;

   2.   adequate instruction in writing at entry level for baccalaureate students, and for graduate students as needed;

   3.   formulation, by degree program faculty, of lists of specific measurable writing skills needed for successful entry into each professional field or discipline for which RIT prepares students;

   4.   for each writing constituency, opportunities which ensure that students in each area have the opportunity to acquire these skills;

   5.   the requirement that every student graduating from RIT with a baccalaureate or graduate degree demonstrate competence in writing skills as established in and through this Institute Writing Policy.

C. INSTITUTE WRITING COMMITTEE

To supervise the implementation of these objectives, Rochester Institute of Technology establishes the Institute Writing Committee. The Committee will be chaired by the dean of the College of Liberal Arts or designee. It will include representatives from each college, the Learning Development Center, and the English Language Center. Representatives will be chosen through mechanisms developed in each organizational unit and will serve two-year terms with the possibility of reappointment. The Committee will report annually to the chief academic officer and to the Academic Senate on its success in fulfilling the goals and objectives of this writing policy. The Committee’s work may include the following:

   1.   serving as a clearinghouse for writing resources including professional development opportunities. It will help facilitate assessment of writing needs and requirements, design of learning opportunities, and development of testing procedures tailored to the requirements of the diverse programs;

   2.   working with program faculty to list writing tasks required for students’ educational and professional growth and to analyze the underlying skills which these tasks require. From these it will help the programs to construct a set of measurable writing skills specifically relevant to their needs.

   3.   working with faculty to develop opportunities for instruction in writing. These opportunities include writing in the following areas: Liberal Arts requirements, electives, or service courses; assignments and learning opportunities in courses in the major; self-instruction, special projects, or supervised work during co-op; advisement, tutoring, or other modes of teaching and learning.

   4.   working with faculty to develop effective means of assessing student competency and to establish appropriate levels of performance.

D.     GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WRITING REQUIREMENT GRADUATION

   1.   The Institute Writing Policy applies to undergraduate and graduate students entering the Institute.

   2.   A graduation requirement in writing proficiency will be expected of all students.

   3.   Baccalaureate students will be evaluated in terms of their writing proficiency by the end of their third year. Graduate students will be evaluated in terms of their writing proficiency in their first year. Each department will establish criteria, standards, and procedures for this evaluation.

   4.   The Institute Writing Committee will work with each departmental faculty and, as appropriate, with the Graduate Council to facilitate the formulation of these criteria, standards, and procedures and to ensure Institute-wide comparability in the implementation of this element of the Institute Writing Policy.

E. INSTITUTE RESPONSIBILITIES

   1.   The nature and standards of departmental writing requirements will be consistent with Institute policy and will be reviewed by the Institute Writing Committee.

   2.   All faculty at the Institute accept their appropriate responsibility to uphold an acceptable standard of writing competence in all courses they teach in which writing assignments are appropriate.

   3.   The Learning Development Center, the College of Liberal Arts, the English Language Center, the Institute Writing Committee, and all academic departments will collaborate to discover and provide supplemental instruction needed by seriously deficient students.

F. OFFICIAL BULLETIN STATEMENT: WRITING POLICY

The writing policy of Rochester Institute of Technology is meant to ensure that all graduates develop sufficient skill in use of written English to function as educated members of society and to meet any special demands for written communication likely to be placed upon them in their intended careers.

Students must demonstrate that they have the writing skills needed for successful entry into their chosen careers. At least three academic quarters before a student’s anticipated completion of baccalaureate degree requirements or, in the case of graduate students, during the first year of graduate study, departmental faculty will determine whether the student is meeting departmental writing standards. A full description of these standards and certification procedures is available from each department. Students whose writing does not meet these standards will have to take appropriate remedial measures recommended by the department. Students must meet the departmental writing standards before they can graduate.

The nature and standards of departmental writing requirements will be consistent with Institute policy and will be reviewed by the Institute Writing Committee.

Approved May 1978

Revised April 2002