USU Blanding launches composition course to support student success

by Andrea DeHaan
USU Communications Ed.
Utah State University has introduced a new composition course, ENGL 1050, at its Blanding campus to support students seeking to enhance their confidence as readers and writers.
First offered in fall 2024, this course represents a significant step in bridging gaps for students returning to college or those who need additional preparation before tackling advanced university-level coursework.
In May, Department of English faculty traveled to Blanding to discuss issues arising from an outdated placement system.
“The advisers on the Blanding campus – because it’s a smaller campus – were able to have this high-touch communication with students to have a sense of what they needed, but they didn’t have the [tools] to be able to place students effectively into classes and so reached out to us,” said Director of Composition Beth Buyserie.
She noted that some students merely lacked confidence in their writing skills while others needed a refresher after several years away from school.
“Under the prior system, students could self-register for ENGL 1010 even with a low ACT score or ACCUPLACER score, and they often did so,” said Kimberly Hiatt, Statewide TRIO Student Support Services program coordinator.
The three-hour-long placement test, known as ACCUPLACER, was not required, making it ineffective, and even if students sought remediation, they ended up in a 900-level course that did not count toward graduation requirements.
Thanks to coordination between USU’s English Department and Statewide Campuses, ENGL 1050: Academic Reading – alongside a directed self-placement questionnaire – is helping more students build the skills needed to succeed in college.
Calling the new system “engaging and effective,” Hiatt said that she has seen “an increase in students self-placing themselves in ENGL 1050.” She added, “I expect the addition of ENGL 1050 to decrease the DFW (drop-fail-withdraw) rates in ENG 1010 and 2010 taught at USU Blanding.”
ENGL 1050 offers students more flexibility, allowing students to take it before or after ENGL 1010 – a requirement for most students. This adaptability ensures that students receive the support they need at the right stage in their academic journey.
A standout feature of ENGL 1050 is its emphasis on local community connections. Instructors incorporate reading materials relevant to students’ communities, encouraging them to see the value of their experiences in an academic setting.
“When students read about their local communities in an academic setting, they can apply the knowledge they already possess in the classroom,” said Zackary Gregory, one of the course developers.
“This shift helps move away from a perspective that students start at a deficit and instead builds their confidence.”
ENGL 1050 aims to reduce DFW rates in core English courses at USU Blanding while preparing students for the demands of Communications Literacy 2 (CL2) courses.
By removing unnecessary barriers and focusing on confidence-building, the course supports students’ retention and graduation goals.
With more focus on retention and a desire to remove excessive prerequisites, 1050 is designed to be part of the solution.
The success of ENGL 1050, which will be known as Community-Engaged Reading and Writing beginning fall 2025, could pave the way for its adoption across other campuses.
“We’re starting with some of the statewide campuses because they have said ‘We need this,’” Buyserie said. “[These] campuses are smaller communities, and so they’re able to work quickly to address the needs of their students.”
By focusing on flexible, community-centered learning, the Department of English aims to ensure that every student has the tools to succeed academically and professionally.