Policies and Procedures

The Center is located above the main library in the Instructional Materials Center (IMC) rooms 215-218. The Center is open from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. During fall and spring semesters, the CR&WC is also open on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., thereby providing a total of sixty-six weekly hours of operation for CSTCC students, who are encouraged to visit the CR&WC for additional study and help at any time during hours of operation. Anyone may obtain updated information on the CR&WC via the main telephone line (423) 697-2410 or the Web site <http://www.chattanoogastate.edu/Humanities/RWC/>.

Tutoring schedules for Faculty, Professional, and Peer Tutors are posted in the Center.

• The primary goal of Tutors is to promote independent learning.
• CR&WC Tutors offer encouragement as they provide additional assistance with pre-identified problems determined by instructors through diagnostic grammar tests, essays, and so on.
• Guiding students through additional writing and grammar exercises geared toward specific areas of deficiency, tutors clarify the writing process for students, directing them through the completion of their drafts if extra help is needed for the introduction, body, or conclusion—but not usually for the entire paper.

• graded grammar tests,
• diagnostic tests,
• essays, and
• paragraphs.

In addition to tutoring, the College Reading and Writing Center provides other services. Students may take DSPW and DSPR 0700 and 0800 reassessment tests here when they have referrals. Center staff members also administer skills tests when instructors have provided testing materials. The Center houses a cart with a television and a VCR which may be used in the CR&WC or checked out for classroom use, and it has three closed circuit televisions. The computer lab, room 215, houses thirty computers, each with Internet access and the following software:

• Merit Reading Software is a program containing several chapters of critical thinking skills tests.
• Ten Steps to Building Reading Skills (Townsend Press) is a program that consists of twenty skill tests to help the student improve his/her skills in the areas of “Clear Thinking,” “Vocabulary in Context,” “Main Ideas,” “Supporting Details,” “Locations of Main Ideas,” “Implied Main Ideas,” “ Relationships,” “Inferences,” and “Active Reading.” There are ten questions on each test.
• Ten Steps to Advancing Reading Skills (Townsend Press) is a program that consists of twenty-two skill tests to help the student improve his/her skills in the areas of “Vocabulary in Context,” “Main Ideas,” “Supporting Details,” “Implied Ideas/Central Point,” “Relationships,” “Fact and Opinion,” “Inferences,” “Purpose and Tone,” “Argument,” and “Combined Skills.” There are ten questions on each test.
• The Kurzweil scanner contains Kurzweil 1000 scanning software that reads printed or electronic text so that the text is accessible to people who are blind or have limited vision. For more information, one may visit <http://www.kurzweiledu.com/products_k1000.asp>. Headphones are needed to use this software. This scanner is to be used for educational purposes only.

Any CSTCC instructor may schedule orientation sessions for classes. During orientation, instructors should be present. Peer and/or professional tutors will briefly present information on what is offered in the CR&WC; and then class time usage will revert back to the instructor, who probably will want to provide students with practice assignments. A log is kept for scheduling purposes. During regular semesters, any CSTCC instructor is welcome to schedule his/her class for time in the CR&WC. To schedule a class, instructors should contact the CR&WC staff in advance of the use date. Instructors should supply specific information: instructor's name, course number, number of students, specific time frame, and purpose. Prior to the scheduled arrival time of the class, CR&WC personnel will reserve computers for class members. (Laptops may be used.) Fifteen minutes after the arrival of the scheduled class, reserve signs will be removed from unoccupied computer stations. If an instructor for some reason needs either to cancel or change a reserved lab time, he/she should do this in a timely manner so that the very best usage can be made of CR&WC resources.

The Center encourages adjunct instructors to use room 218 for office hours or as an on-campus place of refuge. A partitioned area here is set aside for their use. Currently, one computer in the area has access to student information. (Instructors must request their own SIS accounts through their divisions.) The Center hopes to acquire two more computers to be placed in this area for adjunct use, and a work order has been submitted to have a telephone installed within the partition. Adjunct instructors and faculty members are welcome to use the CR&WC as a communication hub between them and their students. The Center can keep a folder for each instructor who requests one. The folder can then be used for materials going from instructor to students or from students to instructor.

Faculty Tutors: Faculty tutors are full-time English, reading, and speech instructors who spend some of their office time in the CR&WC making their expertise available to all CSTCC students. While faculty tutors' scheduled tutoring times are posted in the Center, students should realize that other commitments sometimes interfere with faculty members' CR&WC tutoring times. When Faculty Tutors are not working with tutees, they will engage in their own projects and preparations.

Professional Tutors: The primary goal of the Professional Tutor is to promote independence in learning. Using research-based strategies and professional expertise, the Professional Tutor personalizes instruction in order to facilitate student insights into learning and learning processes.

Peer (Student) Tutors: The primary goal of the Peer Tutor is to promote independence in learning. Using research-based strategies, the Peer Tutor personalizes instruction in order to facilitate tutee insights into learning and learning processes. Additionally, the Peer Tutor provides a student perspective on learning and success at Chattanooga State while respecting the individual differences (cultural, physical, etc.) in learners.

• General Responsibilities:
• Peer Tutors assist in providing the instructional services offered by the Writing Center.
• While individualized or small-group tutoring is the Peer Tutor's primary focus, he/she assists with campus-wide writing workshops, classroom presentations, and computer software.
• Peer Tutors perform some clerical duties (e.g. filing, answering the telephone) and maintain supplies for designated areas.
• Peer Tutors write (when appropriate) and compile material to be used in campus-wide workshops.
• Peer Tutors schedule tutoring appointments and keep accurate records of student attendance and progress using appropriate forms provided by the Writing Center.
• Peer Tutors will be in the Writing Center at their designated hours. Activities during tutoring hours will be limited to those activities included in the Peer Tutor job description.
• Peer Tutors must fill out time cards daily.
• Peer tutors should monitor the lab continuously, reminding other students (when necessary) of the following:
  • No open food or drinks
  • No active cell phones
  • No children
  • The necessity of signing in and out (and providing all information requested on sign-in form)
  Additionally, peer tutors should
  • Keep chairs pushed in
  • Walk around frequently to see who's on which site
  • Be visible-not just “camped out” at a computer
  • Position themselves throughout the CR&WC, wear their name tags, and keep “Tutor” signs nearby
  • Fill out time cards daily.
• Employment Requirements for Peer Tutors: Availability of tutoring positions varies by semester. Those interested should check with the CR&WC Coordinator about possibilities.
  • Eligible students must have already completed at least one college level English class.
  • Peer Tutors must have an average of at least a “B” in all English courses attempted.
  • Peer Tutors must register for ENGL1000 and complete the course.
  • Peer Tutors must be interested in writing.
  • Peer Tutors must receive an acceptable evaluation in order to be considered for future employment in the Writing Center.

Reassessment Tests: A student may take the reassessment test without enrolling in DSPR0700 or DSPR0800 with written permission from the Director of Transitional Studies. If a student has completed DSPR0700 with a course average of 90% or greater and has a final exam score of 84% or greater, he/she may be given the DSPR0800 assessment. The test is timed (25 minutes for DSPR0700 and 20 minutes for DSPR0800) and administered on a Scantron® (no photocopies). DSPR0700 shall use PRE-TEST FORM A for the reassessment. DSPR0800 shall use the Nelson/Denny form E for the pre-test to be administered on an original Scantron® form (no photocopies). The following information should be legibly printed on the Scantron® form:

• Student Name and Social Security Number
• Course and Section Number, Date
• Test Number or Form Letter, and the Instructor's Name

Exemptions (Test-Outs): In order to exempt a DSPR0700 course, the student must score 84% (a minimum score of 21) on the reassessment test (Post-Test Form A). Exemption of a DSPR0800 course requires that the student make twelfth grade equivalency (a minimum score of 21) on the Nelson/Denny test. ONLY the Nelson/Denny form E is to be given for DSPR0800 exemption. Only one attempt is permitted for reassessment. If the student has already taken the reassessment test, he/she is not allowed to retest. Students who have already taken a reading course and received grades of E, F, I, or W cannot be reassessed for exemption.

Revised Placement: Students who have been exempted from DSPR0700 will be sent to the College Reading & Writing Center for DSPR0800 assessment. The student must have written permission from the Director of Transitional Studies. When exemption has been determined and a photocopy of the form has been made, the CR&WC staff will give the student the “Exception to Placement” form to take to the Department Head of Humanities for an official signature. The student will then take the form to the Director of Transitional Studies for signature and rescheduling. If the student is taking other developmental courses, it is advisable that all reassessment is completed before making schedule changes.

Objective Tests and Records Procedures for Reading (DSPR 0700/ 0800): There are several test forms for each objective. These tests are kept on file in the College Reading & Writing Center. Instructors should take only the number of tests they plan to use in class. If the supply is getting low, they should inform the CR&WC staff so additional copies may be printed and filed. Once reading instructors have graded tests and recorded scores, they should file tests in students' individual folders.

The Grammar Usage Tests: Grammar usage tests are given (in class) to DSPW0800 students at the beginning and the end of each semester. Students who are unable to take the test on the scheduled day may make up the test in the College Reading &Writing Center. The instructor will send the CR&WC a list of names of those students. A blue Scantron® score sheet is used for the grammar usage test, and the student is given 25 minutes in which to complete the usage test. When the student has finished, the proctor should place the completed Scantron® form in the English usage “completed” folder (in the back of file cabinet #5). The test will be graded and the instructor informed of the student's score.

Challenge Test (DSPW0700 Students): If a student completes DSPW0700 with a final grade of 90% or greater, he/she will be given the option of challenging up to college level. The student must have written permission from the Director of Transitional Studies in order to take the challenge test. The student will be given a topic and will have 30 minutes to write an essay on the topic. The test booklets include an area on the inside cover on which the student may brainstorm and have several lined pages on which to write the essay. When the student has completed the essay, the proctor places the test booklet in the “English- - To be Read” tray on top of file cabinet #2. The essay will be graded by at least two Master-level English faculty members according to the “Challenge Test Placement Guide” and returned to the CR&WC.

The Computer Lab (#215) houses 28 relatively new Dell computers with flat screen monitors and 2 older computers, 2 printers, books, worksheets, and a work table providing staplers, staple removers, hole punchers, tape, and paper clips. This room is utilized for the following purposes:

• An open computer lab for all CSTCC students
• Technical assistance to students using computers
• A computer lab that instructors can reserve for specified classes and for specified reasons such as research, orientation to the CR&WC, and the composing of timed essays
• A lab that can be reserved for student registration
• A lab that can be reserved for WebCT student orientations
• Storage of books which students may check out and/or use within Center
• Storage of DSPR 0700 and DSPR 0800 worksheets
• Storage of texts for reading instructors
• An area where tutees can tutor tutees
• The place where timed essay tests are administered to ENGL 1010-991, ENGL 1010-992, ENGL 1020-991, ENGL 2410-991, and ENGL 2710.
• A location housing printers to which lap-top classes print
• A location to which all CSTCC lap-top users can print
• A location in which adjunct instructors can work

The Tutoring Room (#218) is currently used for the following:

• Tutoring provided by professional staff, student workers, and faculty
• An open study area for students
• Space for students to work on group projects
• An area where adjunct instructors can hold office hours and meet with their students
• Closed Circuit viewing
• The viewing of educational tapes on VCR
• Sign language testing for video students
• Storage of DSPW 0700, DSPR 0800, ENGL 1010, ENGL 1020 student folders
• Storage of DSPR0700 and DSPR0800 folders
• Storage of various worksheets
• Location housing a computer with SIS access for adjuncts or faculty
• A storage area for CR&WC vital information and supplies
• Writing workshops
• Committee meetings
• A testing area when the testing room is being used for a class
• Storage area for hand truck and containment for file cabinets

The Office Area (#217) provides space for Scantron, telephones, copier, fax machine, laptop cart, COW, printer paper, and printer to which most instructors on the second floor of the IMC are networked. It functions as

• Office space for professional staff
• Containment for file cabinets containing all reading tests and all tests for DSPS0800
• Tutoring space at counter when necessary
• A work area wherein instructors can use the office Scantron, copier, fax machine, hole puncher, staplers, and printer

The Testing Room (#216) is used for the following:

• Administering of timed challenge tests for reading and writing
• Administering of make-up tests-some timed, some not timed
• Administering of alternate test forms
• Available sometimes as a practice area for students working on speeches
• Use as a classroom