University of Nebraska Kearney

Attachment 4, Minutes October 7, 2004

Revised Plan for General Studies Assessment
October 7, 2004

At the request of the Director of Assessment (Dr Glen Powell,) the Coordinator of Assessment and the Director of General Studies (Drs Butler and Wozniak, respectively) developed this plan in consultation with the General Studies Assessment subcommittee. The plan involves 9 data collection activities listed and described below. The activities and a timeframe for each are summarized in the Matrix toward the end of this narrative. Most of the activities listed are the responsibility of the General Studies Office with the exception of the assessment of specific General Studies courses which is the responsibility of the Departments offering those courses.

The first rounds of General Studies assessment have suggested that the objectives written for the General Studies Program may be inappropriate for student outcome assessment.

1.    Individual Course Analysis. A survey will be constructed in a similar form to the Dixie College Survey but based on UNK General Studies objectives. Each question will address a specific General Studies Objective appropriate for the course. Students will respond by indicating how well the objective was incorporated into the design of the course and how well the objective was accomplished over the semester. For example:

The survey will be administered on-line to students in sample of General Studies courses. A similar survey will be constructed for the instructors of the courses. The results of particular interest is how well the students' views match the instructor's.

2.    Standardized General Studies Test. UNK will purchase a test designed to assess the student outcomes for general education programs. It will be administered to a sample of students (N = 200) who are at or near the end of their general studies program. Perhaps an additional sample of beginning students could also be selected. The selection of the test and the procedure for sampling students will be reviewed by the Assessment subcommittee.

3.    Department Contributions. Assessment of individual General Studies courses will become the responsibility of the departments. The manner and frequency of the assessment will be left up to the department, but any assessment of General Studies courses should be reported annually to the General Studies Council. Since an assessment of General Studies courses will included in their Academic Program Review, departments should assess their General Studies courses annually and begin building a data base to strengthen their self-study in the APR.

4-5. Writing and Speech Samples. This is a continuation of the writing assessment that was done last year. It is possible to assess students' speeches by video taping their speeches and applying a rubric to their performances. The writing assessment would also continue with some modifications based on last year's data. Given the prospect of the governance change concerning WI courses , some of this assessment may migrate to the unit responsible for WI courses. At the least, the Director of the UNK Writing Center should have a significant role in the process.

6.    Registrar's Exit Questionnaire. We review the Registrar's questionnaire and consider adding other relevant questions. The current questions in the Registrar's exit questionnaire are:

1. I have been challenged academically to do my best in my UNK General Studies courses.
2. I have been able to integrate material learned in UNK General Studies classes into other classes.
3. I was satisfied with the advising in my major department.
4. I was satisfied with the instruction in my major courses.
5. I have been challenged academically to do my best in my major.

7.    Sampling of standardized test scores from the Educational Testing Service. For example, ETS provides summary data of students who take the Graduate Record exam. This could be expanded to include the Law Boards, etc.

8.    Diversity Attitude Surveys. We will assess the incorporation of an appreciation of diversity into the students' attitudes by using a survey that is administered to a sample of students who have finished their CD requirements. The assessment of diversity values can be accomplished via an on-line survey. Given the prospect of the governance change concerning CD courses , some of this assessment may migrate to a different academic unit.

9.    Focus Groups. Members of the General Studies Council will lead focus groups that work through a set of programmed questions concerning the GSP. For example, the GSC faculty from Natural and Social Sciences would lead a focus group comprised of faculty from the College of Education. Likewise, they would lead a focus group comprised of students from the College of Education. A summary of the plan for this data collection is attached to this document.