IEA_ABOUT US

THE EXAMINATION OF WRITING COMPETENCY (EWC) / ENG 299

EWC Facts

WHAT?
THE EXAMINATION OF WRITING COMPETENCY (EWC) IS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

♦ 3-HOUR PROCTORED EXAM
♦ STUDENTS WRITE AN ESSAY THAT RESPONDS TO A QUESTION FROM A GENERAL
CATEGORY
♦ STUDENTS MAY ATTEND AN INFORMATION/REGISTRATION SESSION PRIOR
TO THE EXAM
♦ STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PASS THE EXAM WILL BE OFFERED HELP AND THEY MUST
RETAKE AND PASS THE EXAM IN ORDER TO GRADUATE

WHO?
ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (BACCALAUREATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREES),
INCLUDING TRANSFER STUDENTS

♦ ALL FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN WHO ENTERED FALL SEMESTER 2001 AND THEREAFTER
♦ ALL TRANSFER STUDENTS WHO ENTERED FALL 2002 AND THEREAFTER
♦ STUDENTS SEEKING A SECOND UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE, IF THEIR FIRST
DEGREE IS NOT FROM NSU
♦ STUDENTS WHO ARE READMITTED AFTER BEING ABSENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY. FOR EXAMPLE,
STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN BACHELOR'S PROGRAMS WHO, PRIOR TO FALL 2001, FIRST ENTERED NSU AS AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE SEEKING STUDENT AND THEN HAD A BREAK IN MATRICULATION BEFORE ENROLLING IN THE BACHELOR'S PROGRAM AFTER FALL 2001

WHEN?
AS SOON AS THE FRESHMAN COMPOSITION COURSES (ENG 101 & ENG102)
HAVE BEEN COMPLETED

♦ ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS — BEFORE 90 CREDIT HOURS ARE COMPLETED
♦ TRANSFER STUDENTS — AS SOON AS YOU BEGIN TAKING CLASSES AT NSU
♦ THE DATES AND TIMES OF THE EXAM ARE ANNOUNCED WELL BEFORE
EACH EXAM IS GIVEN

WHY?
THE EWC IS ONE COMPONENT OF THE WRITING COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

♦ SATISFIES THE SCHEV REQUIREMENT FOR VIRGINIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
♦ DEMONSTRATES STUDENT COMPETENCIES IN CERTAIN SUBJECT AREAS AND
THE UNIVERSITY'S COMMITMENT TO PRODUCING GRADUATES WHO WILL SUCCEED AS RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYEES, CITIZENS AND ALUMNI.
♦ THE UNIVERSITY BENEFITS FROM THE DATA COLLECTED FOR CURRICULUM
IMPROVEMENT AND FACULTY/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
♦ STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR
WRITING AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS.

•Resources
	♦ Guidelines for Taking the Examination of Writing Competency ♦ The Examination of Wrtiting Competency \| Scoring Guide (Rubric) ♦ Criterion-Online Writing Assessment Tool