Many of the first W courses approved will soon be up for recertification. The recertification process ensures that all W courses meet the standards set forth by the Faculty Senate. Dr. Valerie Balester, who chairs the W Course Advisory Committee, says many courses will have changed in the four years since they were first approved.

“Fortunately,” she adds, “changes we have seen in W courses so far in the recertification process have been positive. Over time, faculty learn better ways to incorporate writing into their content courses and more efficient ways to respond to writing. Some courses have also benefited from a lowering of the instructor-to-student ratio, as departments have realized how much time it takes to provide meaningful response to student writing.”

The W Course Advisory Committee recommends that courses be recertified a year before their expiration date. To find the expiration date for a course, go to the UWC’s Web site (writingcenter.tamu.edu) and click on “Approved W Courses” in the Faculty and Advisors’ section.

Also available on the Web site are detailed directions for the recertification process, as well as the necessary forms. Instructors can opt to send materials to the committee’s representative from their college for an initial assessment at the outset of the process.

For courses with multiple instructors, the committee asks to see a few representative syllabi. Additionally, the committee needs to be informed of any significant alterations related to writing in the course, such as a change in the percentage of the grade based on writing or a change in the amount of feedback being given.

In most cases, recertification can be completed entirely by email, although instructors are welcome to make an appointment to meet with the committee in person, if they prefer.

For more information about recertification, contact your college’s representative or Dr. Balester at v-balester@tamu.edu.