June 2008 WPE Registration Period has Ended.

June 2008 WPE Schedule

April 28, 2008 (M): Preview of topics.
May 5, 2008 (M) thru June 3, 2008 at 5 p.m. (T): Registration Period.
June 7, 2008 (Saturday): 10:00 a.m. Reading Set A Timed-Essay Exam.
June 7, 2008 (Saturday): 2:00 p.m. Reading Set B Timed-Essay Exam.
June 9, 2008 (M): Portfolios due by 4:00 p.m. in the WP Office (CC 2/2100).
June 9, 2008 (M): 10:00 A.M. Reading Set C Timed-Essay Exam.
June 19, 2008 (Th): Results of the timed essay exams emailed to students and posted on WISER. E-mails will be sent to the address given at registration.
June 20, 2008 (F): Resutls of portfolio submissions emailed to students and posted on WISER. E-mails will be sent to the address given at registration.
June 20, 2008 (F): thru June 27, 2008 (F): Counseling for students who must retake the WPE and for those who want to appeal.
June 30, 2008 (M): Appeals due in WPO CC 2/2100 by 4:00 p.m.
July 2, 2008 (W): Appeal results emailed to students and posted on WISER. E-mails will be sent to the address given at registration.

The Schedule for the next WPE (Oct. 2008):

September 9th (T): Preview of topics.
September 15th (M) –October 20th (M) at 5:00 p.m.: Registration Period.
October 24th (Th): Portfolios due by 4:00 p.m. in the WP Office (CC/2/2100).
October 30th (Th): Results emailed to students and posted on WISER. E-mails will be sent to the address given at registration.
October 31th (F): Counseling period for students with retake results & whose who want to appeal.
November 7th (F): Appeals due by 4:00 p.m. at WP Office (CC/2/2100).
November 11th (T): Appeals results e-mailed to students and posted on WISER. E-mails sent to the address given at registration.

Please note: The requirements for the Portfolio were recently revised. Please click on the Portfolio Requirements (also on left menu) to read the current policies. In order to prepare for the WPE, you should understand the criteria that will be used to assess your writing. If you are not familiar with the grading criteria, please read Elements of Writing Proficiency (left menu) for details.

Writing Proficiency

What is the Relationship Between my Gen. Ed. courses and the WPR ?

WPR logo The General Education program is designed to have specific learning outcomes, the capabilities, or habits of mind that UMB faculty want students to have so that they can perform well in upper level courses. The criteria of the WPE are aligned to capabilities taught in the Gen. Ed. Program. You should carefully study the Elements of Writing Proficiency so that you understand what you are supposed to be able to do, and to understand how your essay for the WPE will be evaluated.

Additionally, the Gen. Ed. courses give you the opportunity to write supporting papers for the Portfolio option. After you complete the Gen. Ed. pathway courses-- English 101 and 102, the First Year Seminar, and the Intermediate Seminar-- you should have written one paper in each course that could be used as a supporting paper in a Portfolio. The Intermediate Seminar is intended to lead you into, and help you to prepare for the WPE. You should take this course before you attempt the WPE (remember, however, if you have more than 75 credits you will be required to take the WPE even if you have not taken an Intermediate Seminar. Of course, papers that are produced in other courses, if they meet the portfolio guidelines, can also be used as supporting papers.

There is a direct relationship between the first time pass rates of the WPE and students who have completed the General Education pathwaycourses. The first time pass rate for students who do not take the General Education pathway courses is much lower than for students who do.

NOTE: Although one aspect of the Intermediate Seminar is that it helps you to prepare for the WPE, you may not apply for a waiver of the Intermediate Seminar simply because you have completed the WPR.