Albion believes that writing proficiency is an important part of a liberal arts education. All first-year students (with the exception of those who receive a 4 or 5 on the CEEB Advanced Placement Test) are required to take a written placement examination during orientation. Transfer students are required to take the same placement examination if they have not satisfactorily completed first-year English. Students who are identified as having serious writing deficiencies must enroll in English 100, Writing Essentials, their first semester. Students who perform exceptionally well on the examination are invited to defer enrollment in a writing course until the sophomore year, when they may enroll in English 203, Advanced Expository Writing; English 205, Introductory Creative Writing; or English 207, Contemporary Journalism. All other students are encouraged to enroll in English 101, English Composition, or English 101H, Honors Composition.

In order to graduate from Albion, all students must pass a Writing Competence Examination unless they received a 4 or 5 on the CEEB Advanced Placement Test in English or were excused because of a high score on the Albion College Writing Placement Examination taken by entering students.

The Writing Competence Examination (WCE) must be taken before the middle of the sophomore year. Students who do not pass on their first attempt must try the examination a second time before the end of their sophomore year. Upon a second failure, students must contact the director of writing and schedule a meeting to review their most recent WCE. After this initial consultation with the director of writing, students will be required to participate in appropriate writing practice and/or tutoring prior to attempting the examination a third time. See below for the steps required by the director of writing.

Students who have completed 15 units or more, but who have not fulfilled the writing competence requirement¾or taken appropriate steps with the director of writing to prepare for this examination¾will be required to register for subsequent semesters with the sophomore class. Appropriate steps with the director of writing include all of the following:

1. an initial meeting with the director to review the student's most recent failed WCE;

2. arrangements determined in consultation with the director for appropriate writing practice and/or tutoring from Writing Center staff;

3. review of writing strategies and guidelines, and practice WCE writing until the student is authorized by the director to attempt the WCE again.

No student may receive a degree from Albion College unless the writing competence requirement has been fulfilled. The WCE will be scheduled at least six times each academic year, and no special arrangements will be made for seniors who have not passed by the last examination, except for those students who have consulted with the director of writing and taken appropriate steps to improve their writing.

Back to Academic Programs