UPPER DIVISION WRITING REQUIREMENT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In this project we analyzed how students meet the Upper-Division Writing Requirement. We compared the pass rates and identified
differences in characteristics of students who take the Upper-Division Writing Examination (UDWE) and those who enroll in an
upper-division writing course (W-Course) in the period between fall 2002 and fall 2007.
•
The percentage of students who passed the UDWE (64%) is noticeably lower compared to the percentage of those who passed a
W-Course (92%) (Page 3).
•
The average UDWE pass rates vary by college from a low of 45% for Engineering to a high of 68% for Arts & Humanities (Page 7).
•
The average W-Course pass rates vary from 81% for CSB to 87% for Education and Engineering (Page 7).
•
Whites and females are more likely to take the UDWE (Page 8).
•
African-Americans are the least likely to pass the test (29%) and the course (78%) (Page 9).
•
Students with higher GPAs are more likely to take the UDWE (Page 10).
•
The average GPA of students who are failing the UDWE is at the level where students are likely to pass a W-Course (Page 10).
•
The average UDWE pass rates vary by major from a high of 90% for English to less than 40% for Kinesiology and Criminology
(Page 15).
•
Undeclared and Pre-Business majors were least likely to pass the course (Page 16).
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin – 3/14/2008
1
Introduction
All undergraduate students must demonstrate competency in writing skills at the upper division (junior/senior) level as a requirement
for graduation. Students may meet this requirement in one of two ways: either pass the Upper-Division Writing Examination
(UDWE), or obtain a “C”, “CR”, or higher grade in an approved upper-division writing course (W-Course).
The purpose of this project is (1) to look at the characteristics of students enrolling in a W-course and those taking the UDWE, and (2)
to compare the “success” rate of the UDWE versus W-course option. The success rate is identified as a pass / failure rate.
UDWE is given five times each year in January, March, June, August and October. There were a total of 21 approved upper-division
courses, identified in the catalog by the letter “W”. The analysis covered the period between fall 2002 and fall 2007.
Following are the findings of the analysis.
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
2
Summary Statistics for the UDWE and W-Course Options.
Fall 2002 – Fall 2007
Students who took UDWE
Total Unique Count: 5,837
Passed: 3,323 (57%)
Students who took only W-Course:
Total Unique Count: 13,862
Failed: 2,514 (43%)
Passed:
1st attempt: 11,860 (86%)
Overall: 12,756 (92%)
Failed: 825 (6%)
Withdraw: 281 (2%)
Retook UDWE second time:
992 (39%)
Passed: 423 (43%)
Took W-Course:
1,076 (43%)
Passed:
1st attempt: 963 (89%)
Overall: 1,023 (95%)
Took W-Course:
444 (78%)
Passed:
1st attempt: 383 (86%)
Overall: 420 (95%)
Failed: 569 (57%)
Other 125:
• Graduated: 20
• Enrolled*: 62
• Not Enrolled: 43
Total Fail/Withd: 1,106
• Not UGRD: 42
• Graduated: 49 (4%)
• Enrolled*: 502 (45%)
• Not Enrolled:
ƒ “120+” CumUnits: 106
ƒ “0-119” CumUnits: 407
• 3,746 students eventually passed the UDWE, which is 64% of the total number who took the test.
• Those who failed the test and then took the W-Course, passed the course at 95% rate, incl. 89% passing on the first course attempt.
• 12,756 students eventually passed the W-course, which is 92% of the total number who selected the W-Course option; 86% passed
the course on the first attempt.
* Enrolled: students who were enrolled in spring 2007 and/or fall 2007.
Not enrolled: students who were not enrolled in both spring and fall of 2007.
Note:
Pass includes: 114 or higher UDWE score, A, B, C, CR grades for W-Course.
Fail includes: 113 or less UDWE score, D, F, NC, WU (Withdrawal Unauthorized, IC (Incomplete Charged) grades for W-Course.
Withdraw includes: W (Withdrawal), I (Incomplete Authorized) grades for W-Course.
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
3
Proportion of Students Enrolled in UDWE
and/or W-Course by Academic Year.
UDWE and W-Course Enrollment
by Academic Year.
28%
30%
26%
29%
30%
72%
70%
74%
71%
70%
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
Grand Total
34%
66%
3,336
3,043
2,952
2,702
1,202
2005-06
1,388
1,303
2004-05
1,153
1,405
UDWE-Test
W-Course
1K
2006-07
2005-06
2004-05
2003-04
2002-03
2006-07
2003-04
2002-03
0K
2002-03
Students Count Duplicated
3K
2K
UDWE Option
W-Course
3,341
UDWE-Test
4K
•
Enrollment in W-Courses is growing, along with the university’s enrollment overall.
•
Overall, 70% of students fulfilling upper-division writing requirement select a W-Course, while 30% take the UDWE.
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
4
12%
12%
11%
11%
85%
84%
83%
84%
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
Total
83%
2002-03
Total
55%
2006-07
45%
57%
2005-06
43%
55%
2004-05
45%
56%
2003-04
44%
54%
2002-03
46%
13%
*
•
The “Pass / Fail” ratio was consistent across the past five years for both the UDWE and W-Course options.
•
The proportion of the tests passed (55%) was considerably lower than the proportion of the W-Courses passed (84%).
* The basis for the proportion is the number of all tests / w-courses taken (not the number of individual students).
Note: The UDWE pass score is 114. The score includes 2 essays and a multiple-choice CAAP portion. Following is the score
formula: (CAAP x 1.22) + ((Essay A + Essay B) x 2.5). Essays are graded by two readers on a scale from 1 to 6. Maximum score
possible for an essay portion is: (12 + 12) x 2.5 = 60
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
5
UDWE and W-Course Enrollment by College and Academic Year
UDWE and W-Course
Proportions by College and
Academic Year
UDWE and W-Course Enrollment by College and by Academic Year.
UDWE-Test
W-Course
Null
24
15
27
23
23
174
168
180
181
217
AH
4
4
339
353
395
2
9
422
402
•
AST
123
120
104
101
114
157
183
224
231
276
remained somewhat
750
740
768
803
850
consistent for the colleges in
CSB
9
ED
406
6
265
3
233
6
the past five years, with the
8
440
216
522
exception of Agricultural
467
187
401
337
Sciences & Technology,
where the UDWE-test
ENG
38
57
79
79
74
157
155
144
134
125
proportion gradually
declined and Engineering
EXT
HHS
Overall, the proportions
12
14
8
23
73
47
320
271
353
307
377
427
150
159
138
185
251
221
245
10
7
6
4
9
56
47
25
169
136
180
169
210
218
277
301
15
22
264
207
173
SM
46
51
524
553
297
307
where it steadily increased.
Note: Craig School of
Business requires a specific
“W” class.
SPE
SS
44
32
437
394
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
6
Pass/Fail
forthe
theUDWE
UDWE
W-Course
Options
by College
and Academic
Pass/FailRatio
Ratio for
andand
W-Course
Options
by College
and by Academic
Year. Year
UDWE-Test
W-Course
Pass/Fail
Other
28%
32%
37%
29%
32%
32%
72%
68%
63%
71%
68%
68%
AH
Fail
85%
84%
85%
84%
87%
Pass
85%
•
Success rates for the UDWE and
W-Course options are somewhat
AST
57%
48%
55%
51%
48%
52%
43%
52%
45%
49%
52%
48%
consistent across the past five years at
83%
84%
90%
87%
86%
86%
15%
19%
15%
15%
81%
77%
81%
81%
Engineering were there were some
100%
CSB
ED
*
14%
50%
33%
56%
50%
67%
50%
43%
46%
47%
46%
47%
50%
57%
54%
53%
54%
53%
44%
the college level, with the exception of
88%
59%
83%
83%
41%
variations in the pass rates for the
UDWE option.
•
85%
89%
86%
86%
86%
87%
College of Arts & Humanities has
the highest success rate for the UDWE
(68%), while Engineering has the
ENG
61%
54%
59%
44%
58%
lowest (45%)
55%
83%
39%
46%
41%
56%
42%
45%
50%
52%
47%
46%
51%
49%
50%
48%
53%
54%
49%
51%
34%
37%
36%
39%
36%
36%
16%
66%
63%
64%
61%
64%
64%
79%
45%
43%
44%
43%
56%
57%
90%
85%
90%
85%
87%
•
Craig School of Business has the
lowest W-Course success rate (81%),
HHS
83%
82%
85%
85%
84%
84%
while Education and Engineering have
the highest (87%).
SM
88%
88%
88%
84%
85%
* UDWE ratio for CSB is not shown
due to the small number of students
48%
45%
SS
55%
57%
52%
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
UDWE Report
55%
Total
86%
85%
82%
83%
82%
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
83%
who took the test in that school.
Total
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
7
UDWE and W-Course Enrollment by Student Level (Fall 2002 – Fall 2007)
UDWE-Test
W-Course
Males are less likely to take the UDWE
•
White students constitute half of the
3,984
UDWE takers (but the proportion of whites in
the total undergraduate student body is only
100
N/A
Senior
PBAC 78
1,733
Junior
•
36%).
127
Sophomore
0K
Freshmen 16
Students Count Unduplicated
6K
2K
Most of the students take the UDWE
and/or W-Course at their senior or junior level.
8K
4K
•
UDWE and W-Course Enrollment by Gender
(Fall 2002 – Fall 2007)
UDWE and W-Course Enrollment by Ethnicity
(Fall 2002 – Fall 2007)
100%
15%
8%
23%
50%
51%
0%
UDWE-Test
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
8
Pass/Fail Ratio for the UDWE and WCourse by Gender
Pass/Fail Ratio for the UDWE and W-Course by Student Level
UDWE-Test
W-Course
7%
47%
46%
45%
20%
15%
73%
80%
UDWE-Test
11%
13%
W-Course
14%
48%
10%
44%
Pass/Fail
Other
Fail
Pass
67%
53%
54%
55%
Soph..
Junior
Senior
85%
83%
52%
56%
Male
Female
81%
86%
Male
Female
33%
Fresh..
Fresh..
Soph..
Junior
Senior
Pass/Fail Ratio for the UDWE and W-Course by Ethnicity
UDWE-Test
W-Course
10%
35%
37%
62%
71%
63%
White
Hispanic
29%
Black
41%
16%
14%
16%
Other
Fail
Pass
86%
82%
78%
82%
White
Hispanic
Black
Asian
82%
85%
59%
42%
Asian
Native- Unknown
American
Native- Unknown
American
•
Whites and females have the highest percentage of passing the UDWE test and the W-Course.
•
African-Americans are the least likely to pass the test and the course.
UDWE Report
10%
58%
65%
38%
12%
Pass/Fail
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
9
Average Cumulative GPA* for UDWE and W-Course Options
by Pass / Fail
W-Course
Avg Cumulative GPA
2.96
2.43
Pass
Fail
2.62
Other
2.88
Total
•
Average cumulative GPA for students taking the UDWE is higher than for the W-Course option (3.13 vs. 2.88).
•
Students who failed the UDWE had an average cumulative GPA of 2.97, which is at the level where students were likely to have
passed the W-Course.
* Data includes fall 2002 – fall 2007 period.
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
10
UDWE and W-Course Enrollment by Course and by Term.
Total UDWE*
Total W-Course
AAIS 104W
ANTH 105W
ANTH 116W
ASP 105AW
ASP 105BW
BA 105W, IS 105W
ECON 102W
ENGL 115W
ENGL 160W
ENGR 105W
ESL 110W
ETHS 104W
GEOG 189W
IE 182W
IT 198W
LING 110W
LING 111W
MCJ 102W
PHIL 133W
PLANT 110W
SOC 130W
Fall
2002
497
1,324
Spr
2003
908
1,378
Fall
2003
466
1,494
Spr
2004
687
1,458
134
5
217
52
172
7
112
170
Fall
2004
472
1,515
72
86
214
1
Spr
2005
831
1,528
76
79
164
Fall
2005
434
1,619
101
86
234
3
Spr
2006
768
1,722
82
140
249
Fall
2006
440
1,636
99
143
172
3
487
4
429
498
6
458
432
5
496
420
2
452
405
27
319
12
329
8
360
2
332
18
326
16
335
10
366
21
340
11
433
46
56
41
120
35
95
33
60
27
37
38
28
83
33
57
22
57
70
63
45
24
114
92
139
202
60
14
23
43
17
44
19
49
48
14
49
21
42
75
24
55
33
50
54
20
58
16
38
90
25
49
33
40
51
12
38
25
28
43
45
17
39
46
Spr
2007
948
1,700
76
112
167
5
454
13
Fall
2007
383
1,855
102
134
210
2
471
389
15
19
430
28
230
33
44
52
13
46
51
215
10
28
46
26
46
88
8
156
23
25
61
16
30
59
Total
6834
17,229
608
944
2,103
21
22
5,002
13
144
3,959
43
285
331
20
284
1,318
66
197
557
233
431
648
•
The largest W-course enrollment is in BA 105W (formerly IS 105W) (29%), ENGL 160W (23%), and ANTH 116W (12%).
•
There has been a noticeable growth in enrollment in Engl 160W and IT 198W.
Percent
100%
4%
5%
12%
0%
0%
29%
0%
1%
23%
0%
2%
2%
0%
2%
8%
0%
1%
3%
1%
3%
4%
* Note: UDWE January, March, and June sessions are reported under spring terms; August and October sessions are under fall terms.
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
11
Average Cumulative GPA and Pass/Fail Ratio by W-Course and UDWE (Fall 2002 – Fall 2007)
Pass
Fail
UDWE
Grand Total
2.97
3.26
AAIS 104W
2.90
ANTH 105W
3.02
ANTH 116W
3.03
ASP 105AW
2.40
2.41
2.55
2.89
ASP 105BW
2.96
ECON 102W
3.18
ENGL 160W
2.94
ENGR 105W
2.91
ESL 110W
3.06
ETHS 104W
2.87
GEOG 189W
3.24
IE 182W
2.84
IT 198W
2.95
LING 110W
3.03
LING 111W
3.02
MCJ 102W
3.01
PHIL 133W
3.10
PLANT 110W
2.83
SOC 130W
2.93
1
2.98
2.97
45%
Pass/Fail
91%
Other
90%
Fail
83%
3.07
2.42
2.76
ENGL 115W
55%
2.88
Pass
2.89
3.07
BA 105W, IS 105W
3.13
Pass / Fail Ratio
2.86
91%
18%
77%
2.76
2.49
2.39
2.65
2.34
2.38
2.68
2.33
2.53
2.52
2.19
3.07
95%
2.97
86%
2.83
2.98
2.79
2.90
88%
40%
45%
87 %
85%
2.97
83%
2.96
87%
2.98
2.51
2.97
2.38
87 %
2.90
2.46
2.31
76%
2.89
2.81
2.89
92%
73%
20%
91%
87%
2
3
41
2
3
41
2
3
4
Avg Cumulative GPA
Avg Cumulative GPA
Avg Cumulative GPA
• Students enrolled in the UDWE had a higher average GPA (3.13) than any of the W-Courses.
• AAIS 104W, PLANT 110W, ENGR 105W, ASP 105AW, and ECON 102W had some of the highest pass rates (91%-100%),
while their students’ GPA was at some of the lowest levels (2.76 – 2.90).
• GEOG 189W, PHIL 133W, ENGL 115W, and BA 105W had the lowest pass rates.
UDWE Report
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
12
5
UDWE Report
2.56
2.70
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
3.47
147
145
144
3.40
3.40
3.50
3.45
3.51
3.43
3.40
3.62
3.57
3.49
143
3.28
3.24
3.39
3.45
3.38
142
140
139
138
137
135
134
133
3.39
3.33
3.74
GPA at the level of
passing a W-Course
132
131
130
129
128
127
126
3.31
3.31
125
3.28
123
124
3.31
3.20
3.35
122
121
120
3.18
3.22
118
119
3.21
3.16
117
3.29
3.62
3.28
3.50
3.40
3.40
3.74
3.45
3.51
3.49
3.39
3.47
3.57
3.40
3.43
3.24
3.39
3.38
3.45
3.29
3.33
3.31
3.20
3.35
3.31
3.12
3.18
3.22
3.02
3.02
3.16
3.31
3.12
3.01
3.00
3.28
2.91
300
116
3.06
3.4
115
2.90
2.97
3.21
3.06
400
114
113
3.12
3.12
3.02
3.10
2.82
2.89
2.94
350
112
111
3.02
109
3.10
3.01
108
110
3.00
2.91
2.82
2.97
2.90
2.82
250
107
106
105
104
2.94
2.86
2.92
2.74
2.73
Number of Students
200
103
102
2.89
2.86
2.92
2.84
2.56
2.70
2.94
2.89
150
101
100
99
2.82
2.84
2.94
2.83
2.93
2.71
2.89
2.81
2.66
3.17
2.63
2.52
2.91
2.83
2.97
3.53
3.70
100
98
2.74
2.0
97
2.2
2.73
2.4
96
95
94
93
92
2.89
2.83
2.93
2.89
2.81
2.71
2.66
3.17
3.70
3.71
3.42
50
91
90
89
88
87
86
2.8
85
2.63
2.91
2.83
3.2
84
83
2.52
2.6
82
81
80
76
2.97
3.0
72
3.53
3.6
40
3.71
3.8
30
3.42
0
18
Avg. Cumulative GPA
Distribution of UDWE test scores and Average Cumulative GPA (Fall 2002 – Fall 2007)
4.0
•
Students with higher GPA are likely to get higher scores on their UDWE.
•
Students who scored 107 or more on the UDWE had GPA”3.00 +” and were likely to have passed a W-Course (1,683 students).
13
40
72
82
83
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
132
133
134
0
UDWE Report
2
2
3
2
1
5
9
51
52
60
58
67
70
78
80
2
9
43
62
1
1
1
2
11
64
78
80
66
62
60
99
97
100
46
50
10
53
106
121
114
120
18
17
22
14
16
14
40
34
41
41
40
28
29
20
14
18
12
10
First Test
Number of Students
60
4
14
15
15
15
20
1
7
20
5
1
2
3
5
6
5
6
4
7
3
9
2
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
3
1
1
2
Second Test
Number of Students
Distribution of Scores for students who took the UDWE twice. (Fall 2002 – Fall 2007)
•
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
On average,
students were able
to improve the
scores by 5% when
they took the
second test.
120
100
14
UDWE Pass Rate and Enrollment by Major* for students who selected the UDWE Option (Fall 2002 – Fall 2007)
Pass Rate
Liberal Studies-Blended Pgm
Liberal Studies
69%
Nursing
70%
Crim-Law Enforcement
55%
History
80%
English
90%
Social Work
41%
Health Sci-Comm Health
48%
Agricultural Business
54%
Communication
69%
English-Cred Pgm
84%
Child Development
46%
Kinesiology-Exercise Science
56%
Pre-Physical Therapy
76%
Comm Disorders - Spch Path
67%
Construction Mgt
52%
Political Science
82%
39%
Crim-Victimology
51%
Rec Adm-Leisure Serv Mgt Emph
57%
Art
70%
Interior Design
76%
Mathematics
81%
Undeclared
43%
Civil Engineering
53%
Art - Graphic Design Option
Kinesiology-General Kines
59%
37%
Kinesiology-Physical Ed
58%
Biol-Physiology & Anatomy
76%
Chemistry
71%
Electrical Engineering
51%
Sociology
72%
Geomatics Engineering
47%
Pre-Nursing
43%
Ag Ed-Teacher Prep
58%
Comm Disorders - Deaf Educatin
70%
Biol-Organismic & General
79%
Pre-Psychology
61%
Nursing-Rn
54%
Food & Nutr Sciences-Diet & Fd
54%
Theatre Arts - Acting
82%
M Comm & Journ-Advertising
76%
Comm Disorders - Interpreting
77%
Economics
58%
0%
UDWE Report
21%
21%
14%
15%
21%
12%
6%
20%
26%
21%
15%
16%
20%
15%
22%
20%
15%
8%
28%
25%
18%
14%
11%
10%
41%
21%
18%
22%
21%
20%
16%
12%
12%
17%
20%
7%
12%
12%
7%
21%
19%
21%
24%
23%
13%
57%
Psychology
Crim-Corrections
Students who took UDWE twice
65%
50%
% of Total
100%
0%
20%
Total Count of Students who took the UDWE
Example of how to read
the chart:
•
337 Psychology
majors took the UDWE;
69% of them eventually
passed the UDWE, and
14% took the UDWE
twice.
•
English majors had
the highest UDWE pass
rate (90%), while
General Kinesiology and
Crim-Corrections had
rates below 40%.
* Majors with 31 and
more students who took
the UDWE in the past 5
years.
40%
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
15
W-Course Pass Rate and Enrollment by Major* for students who selected W-Course Option (Fall 2002 – Fall 2007)
Business - Restricted
87%
Liberal Studies-Blended Pgm
1,610
93%
Pre-Business
1,052
77%
Liberal Studies
94%
Social Work
94%
Bus Ad-Accountancy
94%
Psychology
739
89%
History
89%
Bus Ad-Marketing
95%
92%
Communication
91%
205
Bus Ad-Finance-General
94%
201
92%
Pre-Nursing
180
80%
178
91%
174
Construction Mgt
90%
168
Agricultural Business
92%
UGRD
96%
Bus Admin-Information Systems
92%
141
Civil Engineering
96%
138
Bus Ad-Entrepreneurship
96%
137
Child Development
96%
136
M Comm & Journ-Broadcast Journ
94%
136
English
92%
123
Crim-Victimology
91%
122
Art
91%
117
143
Spanish
95%
117
Electrical Engineering
94%
116
M Comm & Journ-Advertising
92%
115
Political Science
89%
114
Biol-Physiology & Anatomy
91%
110
Mathematics
87%
UDWE Report
109
96%
50%
% of Total
students in the past five years.
156
90%
0%
enrollment of 100 and more
160
Art - Graphic Design Option
Bus Ad-Human Resource Mgt
* Majors with W-Course
165
74%
Nursing
likely to fail.
182
88%
Undeclared and Pre-
Business majors were most
200
Crim-Corrections
Undeclared
•
189
96%
Pre-Psychology
passed the course.
223
206
75%
M Comm & Journ-Public Relation
the W-Course option eventually
254
247
Bus Ad-Management
87% of 1,610 “Business-
Restricted” majors who selected
429
386
Health Sci-Comm Health
Sociology
•
542
466
96%
Undeclared
chart:
708
95%
Crim-Law Enforcement
Example of how to read the
100
100% 0
200
400
600
800
1000 1200 1400
Students Count Unduplicated
1600
1800
Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning – Dmitri Rogulkin - 3/14/2008
16