Saint Joseph College student
       

Writing Portfolio Program

Saint Joseph College believes that the achievement of competent writing skills is an inherent part of an undergraduate education and that students should leave college with a level of competency to succeed in the professional setting and graduate school. For these reasons, each student develops a writing portfolio during her years as an undergraduate.  The writing portfolio is used to accomplish the following goals:

  • Help students track their writing progress while at Saint Joseph College
  • Allow students to look back at individual pieces of writing as well as reflect on cumulative progress
  • Assess how students at Saint Joseph College write and use this information to guide curriculum development
  • Assist students in achieving competency in writing before graduation through guided evaluations
  • Enable students to succeed in professional settings and graduate programs

Download a sample


Submission Dates by Graduation Status

FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS or SOPHOMORES
First week in May: All students completing freshman or sophomore year need to submit the required number of papers. May through July preliminary evaluations of portfolios for students completing sophomore year take place. Last two weeks of August preliminary evaluations are mailed.

JUNIORS
Before mid-April: All students completing junior year need to submit final papers to their portfolio. During the last two weeks in April, faculty evaluate portfolios. In May, portfolio score sheets are mailed, and notation of portfolio status is placed on transcripts by the Registrar's Office.

SENIORS
Seniors who have not completed their portfolio need to continue to submit papers. Papers need to be submitted as early as possible during the fall semester. Results of evaluations are mailed to students as soon as possible.

STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO GRADUATE MIDYEAR OR IN AUGUST
Such students need to plan ahead in order to have their final evaluation occur at the end of the spring semester of their junior year. If such students cannot meet this date, they should consult with the Center for Academic Excellence about an appropriate time to have their work evaluated.

**Students who have not met the writing portfolio graduation requirement will not be able to graduate or participate in the commencement ceremony.

Submission Schedule

Portfolio papers are usually submitted in units of two. At the completion of every 12-15 credits earned at Saint Joseph College, students should select at least one paper to submit for their portfolio. Thus, full-time students should have two portfolio papers ready for submission at the end of the first year and add two more papers at the end of sophomore year, at which time a preliminary evaluation occurs. Transfer students and part-time students follow a different schedule.

Please refer to the schedule below:

For First-Year (non-transferring) Students
Total Credits Earned # of Papers Submitted
24-30 credit hours 2 papers
48-60 credit hours 4 papers (2 from above)
75-90 credit hours 6 papers (4 from above)
For Transfer Students
Total Credits Earned # of Papers Submitted
24-30 credit hours 2 papers
48-60 credit hours 4 papers (2 from above)
75-90 credit hours 6 papers (4 from above)
Transferred as first-semester sophomores
48-60 credit hours 2 papers
75-90 credit hours 4 papers (2 from above)
Transferred as second-semester sophomores
48-60 credit hours 1 paper
75-90 credit hours 3 papers (1 from above)
Transferred as first-semester juniors
75-90 credit hours 2 papers
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October 7, 2011