Introduction to the Writing Proficiency Requirement
The Writing Proficiency Requirement (WPR) is one aspect of the university-wide General Education (Gen. Ed.) Program. The WPR is a graduation requirement for all students who are working towards an undergraduate degree at UMass/Boston. The Writing Proficiency Evaluation (WPE) refers to the way that the university-wide Writing Proficiency Requirement is met in three of the five colleges at UMass/Boston: College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS); the College of Liberal Arts (CLA); and the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM). Students in the College of Management (CM) and the College of Public and Community Service (CPCS) must meet the University requirement. Every student at UMass/Boston must demonstrate an intermediate level of writing proficiency, even if they do so in a different manner.
Students in the College of Management demonstrate writing proficiency through required coursework. Students in the College of Management should follow this link for information regarding the WPR: http://www.management.umb.edu/undergrad/undergrad_wpt.php
Students in the College of Public and Community Service demonstrate competencies with a writing portfolio. Students in the College of Public and Community Service should follow this link for information regarding the WPR: http://www.cpcs.umb.edu/undergrad/curriculum_degree_
requirements_portfolio.htm
Students in CLA, CSM, or CNHS are required to take the Writing Proficiency Evaluation after you have taken the Intermediate Seminar and reached 60 credits. The Writing Proficiency Evaluation (WPE) is an assessment of the skills that you have developed in your General Education (Gen. Ed.) course work. WPE applies to all students in these three colleges; students in CNHS, CLA, and CSM need to read this manual carefully because some policies do differ from one College to another. In CNHS, CLA, and CSM, there are two ways that we evaluate your writing to met the WPR: a timed essay exam; or, an essay that is accompanied by a portfolio of papers that were written in courses at UMB. Both of these options are called the Writing Proficiency Evaluation, and either one fulfills the WPR.
An important feature of our website is to offer you some advice that we think will help you to prepare for the WPE. Perhaps the most important way to prepare for the WPE is to understand the role that the Elements of Writing Proficiency plays in the WPE. In the General Education (Gen. Ed.) program courses are constructed to develop certain capabilities and student learning outcomes; the WPE assesses a student's ability to perform the capabilities and program outcomes. Your Gen. Ed. course work is a pathway to help you prepare for the WPE. The Elements of Writing Proficiency lists the particularcapabilities that the faculty will use to judge whether or not your writing is at an immediate level of proficiency. It is important that you read and reread the Elements so that you understand the criteria used to evaluate your writing proficiency.
Remember that the goal of the WPE, as an aspect of the Gen. Ed. Program, is for you to acquire the skills and habits of mind generally defined as critical thinking. Critical thinking, which includes critical reading, writing, and verbal reasoning, will develop as you progress through your first two years at UMB. Although the Gen. Ed. courses are designed to help you prepare for the WPE, you are responsible for monitoring your own capabilities through self-assessment, reflection, and goal setting as you progress towards completing 60 credits and the WPE.
Finally, it is important for you to collect any course papers that meet the portfolio requirements as you take your Gen. Ed. courses. If you collect course papers, you will be able to have a choice regarding which mode of writing assessment you feel most comfortable taking; if you collect appropriate papers, and decide to use the Portfolio option to fulfill the WPR, you will have the three required supporting papers.
If you have any questions please phone or come by the Writing Proficiency Office (WPO). We are located in the Campus Center 2/2100. Our telephone number is (617) 287-6330. We will make every effort to provide you with information, practical advice, tutoring, workshops, and support to help you meet this requirement in a timely way.