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Help Us Meet Your Assessment Training Needs!
UNK Assessment has developed a survey to identify the types of assessment training that UNK faculty and administrators would like to have available. To give us a better idea of the assessment topics you’d like to see included in our training sessions, please complete the Assessment Training Survey available at the following link before December 15th. If you’ve already completed the Assessment Training Survey, we appreciate your input!
http://surveys.unk.edu:8080/opinio/s?s=12957
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Using Standardized Tests to Assess Student Outcomes
Panel Discussion
October 27, 2004 at 3:00 pm
 On October 27th, representatives from each college led a panel discussion on how each of their departments is using standardized testing for their majors, for their General Studies students, or for both. The panel members included, Sandra Lebsack and Marsha Yeagley from the College of Business and Technology; Herbert Craig from Fine Arts and Humanities; Kenya Taylor from the College of Education; and Theresa Wadkins from Natural and Social Sciences.
Participants were asked to discuss the following questions from the perspective of their own departments:
- Why was a standardized test chosen, rather than another form of direct assessment?
- How was the test chosen?
- What objectives does the test evaluate?
- Do all students take the assessment or just a sample of the total group?
- How satisfactory has the test been in providing the information that is needed?
- Recommendations for others using standardized tests for assessment
Information provided by each of the panel members can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate link.
- Use of standardized tests in B&T as a field exam for all majors.
- Use of standardized tests in Modern Languages to assess students’ skills and knowledge after completion of the lower level courses.
- Use of standardized tests in Communication Disorders to fulfill accreditation requirements for certification of majors.
- Use of standardized tests in Psychology to assess the knowledge and skills of majors and students in the General Studies course.
At the end of the Panel Discussion, Glen Powell, Director of Assessment, discussed the incorporation of standardized tests as part of a department’s assessment process. He outlined both the reasons for and against using standardized tests and provided guidelines for selection of an appropriate test to assess student outcomes. The Guidelines for Using Standardized Tests for Assessing Student Outcomes provides departments with useful information in making the decision of whether to use locally developed or standardized tests as part of their assessment process.
Guidelines for Using Standardized Tests in Assessing Student Outcomes
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Analyses of Assessment Topics Addressed in the North
Central Accreditation Team's Final Report
By Glen Powell
Director of Assessment
 The final report developed by the North Central Association visiting accreditation team was received in early October. I have been engaged in identifying and analyzing the topic areas and the concerns expressed regarding assessment at UNK. The review and analysis that is presented reflects my analysis of their findings and recommendations regarding the Assessment Program at UNK. This analysis was conducted by comparing their findings with our records in comparison to the performance indicators in the 1997 edition of the Handbook of Accreditation and the 2002 Addendum to the Handbook of Accreditation (2nd ed) in order to determine the situational context against which the evaluation and recommendations were made. This analysis and the subsequent recommendations are meant to facilitate planning that addresses their concerns. The accreditation team recommended that a follow-up visit be conducted in 2007-08 with the specific purpose of monitoring our progress with implementing student assessment of academic achievement. This is a working document that is being shared with the intent of facilitating discussion and planning and is not a “finished” product.
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Assessing General Studies Across the Curriculum
Bill Wozniak, Director of General Studies
The General Studies Council approved a revised assessment plan on October 7, 2004. The plan includes 9 data collection activities that include both direct and indirect measures of student outcomes. Most of the activities listed are the responsibility of the General Studies Office with the help of the Assessment Director and Coordinator. We will begin pilot testing these data collection methods before the end of the fall semester, 2004.
The following nine assessment activities are included in the revised assessment plan for General Studies:
1. Individual Course Analysis.
2. Standardized General Studies Test.
3. GS Course Assessment by Departments.
4. Writing Assessment.
5. Oral Presentation Assessment.
6. Registrar’s Exit Questionnaire.
7. Sampling of Standardized Test Scores.
8. Diversity Attitude Surveys.
9. Focus Groups.
The assessment of General Studies has become a high priority for the UNK campus. Given some of the restructuring of the Academic Offices and the hiring of Drs. Murray, Powell and Butler, the assessment of the General Studies program should move forward in a more concerted and productive fashion. I hope that we will move forward quickly as the UNK academic community incorporates assessment activities into its “normal” operations. It should be a relatively painless task, given the great collegiality that we enjoy on this campus.
Matrix of General Studies Assessment Components
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
 Check Out the New UNK Assessment Website
At
http://aaunk.unk.edu/asmt/default.asp.
The new UNK Assessment website, developed by Jeanne Cutler and Kim Elliott, includes the Assessment Plans, Reports, and Instruments for all academic departments and programs; university-wide assessment data; information on the APR process; assessment resources; academic support information; UNK self-study and NCA report; and general information about the Assessment Office at UNK.
The Assessment Reports and other confidential data have been password protected so no one outside of UNK can access that information without the permission of the appropriate department chair or program director.
Please provide any feedback about the website to Jeanne Cutler cutlerj@unk.edu
Assessment Training Event
December 2, 2004
3:00 – 4:30
Developing Online Surveys for Assessment
Darren Addy and Jeanne Butler will present a workshop on developing online surveys using Opinio. The workshop will be held in the computer lab in Otto Olsen 202, so participants can work with the Opinio software and begin to develop a survey to use in their department’s assessment process. Seating is limited, so contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at teachingcenter@unk.edu to reserve a seat in this workshop. If you have started developing an assessment survey and want to put it online, bring your survey questions and get started!
Funding for Departments Developing General Studies Assessments
The Assessment Office will provide funding to faculty who are developing General Studies Assessment Plans and instruments for their departments. The Departmental GS Assessment Plans will be due on May 1st, so funding will be provided for work completed by that date. Review the Guidelines for receiving a stipend for GS assessment development and then complete the Application Form to be eligible to receive this development stipend from the Assessment Office. After completing the application, email it to assessment@unk.edu.
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About the Logo
From Danger to Opportunity
The Chinese ideogram for "crisis" is made up of the symbols for "danger" and "opportunity."
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Crisis
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This symbol exemplifies the development of an Assessment Culture at UNK. The impending NCA visit was the crisis that initiated the assessment process.
In response to the crisis, the Assessment Committee was charged with assisting colleges and departments in developing an assessment plan, implementing the plan, and providing a report outlining an assessment process and results. Initially, the assessment initiatives at UNK were viewed by some as a threat or danger. The focus at this stage was on input—to the plans and to the reports for the academic programs and departments.
As the assessment culture develops and matures at UNK, the focus is shifting from input to outcomes. A focus on input emphasizes the collection, analysis, and reporting of data. Outcome-based assessment moves beyond data analysis and reporting, with the focus shifting to the use of information on student performance to bring about positive change to the curriculum and to academic programs.
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Assessment Conferences and Workshops
IUPUI 2004 Assessment Institute in Indianapolis
October 31 – November 2, 2004
Indianapolis, IN
Cost: $285/individual, $275/per group
http://www.planning.iupui.edu
POD Network Annual Conference (The Professional and
Organizational Development Network in Higher Education -
Faculty Development)
November 4-7, 2004
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Cost: $200/per
http://www.podnetwork.org/conferences/2004/index.htm
24th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience
February 4-8, 2005
Phoenix, AZ
Cost: $445-525
http://www.sc.edu/fye
GENERAL EDUCATION AND ASSESSMENT: Creating Shared
Responsibility for Learning Across the Curiculum
February 17-19, 2005
Atlanta, Georgia Cost: $360/per http://www.aacu.org/meetings/generaleducation/gened2005/
registrationfees.cfm
2005 North Carolina State University Assessment Symposium
April 16-17, 2005
Raleigh, NC
Cost: $185/per http://www.ncsu.edu/undergrad_affairs/assessment/files/resources/
conf2004/symposium.htm
AAC&U Institute on General Education
May 20-25, 2005
Newport, RI
Cost: $5000/team
AAHE Assessment Conference
June 12 – 14, 2005
Toronto, CanadaCALL FOR PAPERS: TBA
Cost: $445 approx.
http://www.aahe.org/assessment/
18th International First-Year Experience Conference
June 2005
CALL FOR PAPERS: TBA
http://www.sc.edu
AAHE Making a Difference in Student Learning:
Assessment as a Core Strategy
November 3-5, 2005
Lisle, IL
Cost: $750/per (includes lodging and meals) http://www.aahe.org/convenings/convenings.folworkshops.htm
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Upcoming Assessment Activities at UNK
September 23, 4:00-5:00 NSU Cedar Room
IRB Workshopfor faculty who conduct research with human subjects or assessment activities that may qualify for research status.
September 27, 3:00-4:00 NSU Cedar Room
CTE Seminar
UNK Assessment Past, Present and Future
October 27, 3:00 - 4:00
Panel discussion on using Standardized tests as direct measures of General Studies and Field specific knowledge.
December 2, 3:00 - 4:30 Otto Olsen 202
Developing Online Surveys for Assessment
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