University of Nebraska Kearney

Political Science Evaluation

The Department of Political Science would like to take this opportunity to learn more about the quality of your experiences as a major in the department. We want to use your answers to better provide future students with quality preparation. To do that we need to ask you to respond to several statements. The statements are in bold-face and you are required to respond simply by indicating your level of agreement/disagreement with each statement. Mark an "X" in the box below the term which is closest to your thinking. Do not place an "X" between the boxes.

Do not put your name on this questionnaire. The anonymity of all students completing this evaluation is very important to us. In order to assure that anonymity, we will have all of the written answers to this survey typed by clerical staff who will then destroy the actual written answers.

Language is very important in the world of politics and government. With that in mind, how would you react to this statement?
 

•	The size and quality of my vocabulary has been enhanced through my study of Political Science.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
•	Understanding is also built on experience and in Political Science we attempt to provide students with a variety of classroom experiences. React to the following statement with your classroom experiences in mind.
	I have experienced diverse subject matter and a wide array of thoughts about important political and social issues.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
•	The "science" of Political Science involves using scientifically derived methods and tools for analyzing political and social phenomena. Respond to this statement with your coursework in statistics, research methods, judicial process and other classes in mind.
	I can easily read arguments in Political Science based on the empirical findings.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
•	Political Science can be based on discussions of "doing the right thing." The emphasis on moral or normative debate is certainly important in politics and we are interested in knowing about the role of normative debates in your coursework. How would you react to this statement about your experiences?
	There were many times professors used class to debate important normative topics. Those debates made me think more deeply about good policy and good government.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
•	Knowing more about terms, methods, and debates is only a part of good political analysis. You should also understand how modern processes of governing work (for example, legislative and judicial processes). What do you think about the following statement?
	My knowledge of political processes is much better than before I began my studies.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
•	It is important to be able to write well. What type of response do you have to this statement about your writing experiences?
	I have become more adept as a writer and a significant part of my improvement came from work related to my training in Political Science.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
•	Thinking about politics is as important as understanding its processes, institutions, and other kinds of political phenomena. With political thought in mind, react to this statement.
	I am capable of recognizing various kinds of political argument and analysis.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
•	It is important that the environment within which your education takes place be conducive to learning, achievement, and participation. This is not possible if students are attacked or treated unfairly on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, personal favoritism, or other such factors. The Department of Political Science is committed to establishing and preserving such an environment, so we are therefore committed to avoiding and correcting hostile learning environments. With this in mind, react to the following statements
	I did not experience hostile learning environments caused by my Political Science professors.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
	I did not experience hostile learning environments caused by other students in my political science classes.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree
	My Political Science professors worked to establish and preserve learning environments suitable to course objectives and conducive to learning, participation, and achievement.
		Strongly Agree   Agree   Slightly Agree   Slightly Disagree   Disagree   Strongly Disagree

We also need to know a little about your personal experiences here. 

•	In which area of concentration did you study?
		International Relations/Comparative Politics
		Pre-law
		Public Administration
		Public Policy
		General
•	How many years did you study Political Science at UNK?   _________ (# of years)
•	What was your grade point average (GPA) at graduation?
		3.50-4.00
		3.00-3.49
		2.50-2.99
		2.00-2.49
		less than 2.00
•	On average, how many hours per week did you work at a job during your last two years at UNK?
		I didn't work
		0-19 hours per week
		20-29 hours per week
		30-39 hours per week
		40 or more hours per week

Now take some time to write your own responses to questions that will help us understand more about your experiences and the future of the department. Answer each question on the attached, lined paper. Please, rest assured your answers will be read but we will not know who wrote each individual response since no names (nor handwriting) will be put on the final copies. 

1. For this question, assume you are a faculty member in the Department of Political Science. Answer the question with five years into the future in mind. How would you shape the departmental culture, curriculum and commitment to the well-being of students? Provide general comments as well as specific directions for us to follow.
    
2. Have the ways you initially perceived the field of political science changed in subsequent years of study here at UNK? Explain some of the more significant changes, paying special attention to the kinds of learning experiences that most significantly affected you.
    
3. Please add any additional comments you wish to make pertaining to your education at UNK and in the Department of Political Science in particular.