The first-year writing program believes that students should have a voice in the decision to take either ENGL 1050: Foundations in Written Communication or the linked sections of ENGL 1050: Foundations in Written Communication and ENGL 1040: Writing Studies Lab. Accordingly, the program has adopted a self-directed placement process that lets students determine the most appropriate writing class for them, given their personal experiences writing and their conversations with campus academic advising staff.