A group of WSU students is working to improve the accessability of the Junior Writing Portfolio for transfer students.

Pete Semon, Andrew Titus, Grant Warren and Bryan Leghorn researched the issue for their English 402 class and presented their findings to the university. The group argues that transfer students arrive at WSU with too little information to adequately complete and pass the writing portfolio graduation requirement.

Their report highights research from the Writing Assessment office that conducted research from 2005 to 2007. The report showed 86.2 percent of non-transfer students with English as a first language passed the test, compared to 69.2 percent of students who didn’t speak English as a first language. For transfer students, the figures were 83.1 and 61.6 percent, respectively.

To fix the requirement, the group recommended creating a more visible Writing Portfolio Web site, an online portfolio tutorial for transfer students and better communication to transfer students before they arrive.

The group presented the report to the ASWSU Senate, on which Semon serves. The Senate drafted a resolution supporting the group’s cause, which passed unanimously at its Dec. 3 meeting.

“I came up with the idea from another senator earlier on in the year, mentioning that they wanted that to be their project,” Semon said. “Basically, that senator wanted to see (the writing portfolio) get eliminated. I didn’t see that as being realistic.” The group gave the report to Susan Poch, associate vice president of the Office of Student Achievement. Poch presented it at a monthly meeting, where a team of representatives from Multicultural Student Services, Enrollment Management, New Student Programs, and the Center for Advising and Career Development talk about programs regarding transfer students.

Poch said recruiters from Spokane and Western Washington also participate in the meetings.

“I (presented the report) because it’s something that relates to transfer students and that the transfer team needed to know about,” she said.

Poch said the team is considering the recommendations, and invited Semon and his group to attend the January meeting to further discuss their recommendations. She said this issue is nothing new, and the transfer team appreciates the group’s project and input.

“It’s a very good project,” she said.

ASWSU Dist. 5 Sen. Javin Bakke plans to take over the project after Semon graduates this weekend.

Diane Kelly-Riley, director of the writing assessment program, said there is difficulty for some of the 60 percent of students who transfer into WSU with credit.

She said New Student Programs recently made its programs mandatory for transfer students.

“They have to come to some kind of orientation session,” she said. “I think that will go a long way to increase the knowledge transfer students have.” Kelly-Riley said transfer students who turn in the writing portfolio often perform better on the requirement than those who begin college at WSU.