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Vol. 2 Issue 1                                                   UNK Assessment                                                              Fall 2005
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 IN THIS ISSUE:

  Assessment Successes for 2005

   Using Assessment Data to Bring About Change

   UNK Student Assessment Committee

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Assessment Successes for 2005

  As we complete the Fall semester 2005, we can look at the accomplishments in Assessment of departments and programs across campus over the last year.  At this time last year, only 82% of the Department and Program Assessment reports had been submitted.  Even by May of 2005, 4 department/program reports had not been submitted. Of the Assessment reports that were due October 1st, 91% have been submitted. best award.jpg 

     In February 2005, the Office of Assessment held an assessment awards luncheon to recognize the 16 departments that had regularly submitted Assessment Reports during the 1994-2004 timeframe.  Recognition was also given to departments with exemplary work in student assessment, including research, conference presentations and publications.  This year the awards luncheon will focus on the quality of the department and program assessment reports and on work above and beyond the basic requirement for student outcome assessment.

   Other accomplishments included the organization of a student assessment committee to represent student concerns and provide an opportunity for their input; monthly assessment training events through the Center for Teaching Excellence; development of assessment plans by all departments offering General Studies courses; campus-wide data collection from students and faculty on their perceptions of the current General Studies and Writing Intensive courses; and the organization of the first UNK Platte Valley Assessment Conference.

   With these accomplishments in 2005, we are looking forward to even greater involvement of faculty, staff, students, and administration in the assessment process at UNK in the coming year. 

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Using Assessment Data to Bring About Change
CTE Event Nov. 9th

   The Center for Teaching Excellence sponsored a panel discussion on how departments use assessment data to bring about changes in their programs.  The departments represented were Modern Languages (FAH), Communication Disorders (COE), Political Science (NSS), and Family Studies and Interior Design (CBT).  In addition, Glen Powell, Director of Assessment for UNK provided background on NCA requirements and gave an example of how survey data on General Studies has been used in a campus-wide project.

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   In his presentation, Glen discussed the NCA shift from 1997 when the focus was on collecting student outcomes data, to the 2005 focus on using assessment data to make informed decisions within departments and universities.  NCA made this shift because accreditation teams found many institutions missed the point that assessment isn’t just data collection, it is taking the next step in using the data.  Providing evidence of using assessment data to guide meaningful change will be an NCA requirement for the assessment process at all institutions, beginning in 2006.

   Glen provided an example of a campus-wide use of assessment data in th General Studies Program.  In the spring 2005, the Student Assessment Committee carried out a survey of undergraduates' perceptions of the current General Studies (GS) program at UNK.  The results of the survey indicated that many students didn’t understand the need for GS and didn’t have a clear understanding of the program itself.  After reviewing the survey results, the General Studies Council developed a General Studies brochure that was provided to incoming Freshman at the summer orientation and is also available to all students when they register.

   Joan Blauwkamp, a professor in the Political Science department, discussed their assessment philosophy and approach.  Joan indicated that all good teachers are continually assessing their students and making changes to their courses without documenting all the changes.  The external assessment requirements of NCA and the university formalized the process with department-wide documentation which can facilitate change at the macro-level.  The Political Science department’s programmatic assessment focuses on core coursework and capstone projects.  Additional sources of information include the Senior Exit Survey and the Alumni Survey.

   Herbert Craig discussed the assessment process in the Modern Languages department, which includes both the gathering of data on student outcomes and a discussion of the results by the Assessment Committee and the entire department.  When the department created their Assessment Plan in 2002-2003, they developed a rubric and began systematically recording the Oral Proficiency of their students.  The faculty were able to compare students’ oral performance from different years and to observe trends.  As a result, they have modified what they do in classes to prepare students for the Oral Proficiency interviews.  Additional changes have occurred in the writing proficiency levels and in the focus on culture more then literature in the civilization courses.

 Scan10036.JPG     Kenya Taylor discussed the assessment process in CDIS.  Their assessment program assists the department in preparing students to meet the national clinical certification requirements (ASHA) in Speech-language pathology.  The assessment plan is based on a review of program mission, goals, objectives and competencies to demonstrate that students are prepared for employment in the field.  Results of assessment are used to inform teaching methods and content and to improve the effectiveness of the program.

    Dr. Taylor provided some useful guidelines for all assessment efforts including:

         * Make small changes/increments
         * Make assessment a normal, everyday process
         * Develop sufficient resources to support the assessment effort
         * "Double-dip" people, procedures, outcomes, uses
         * Think regular, steady improvement
         * Think marathon, not sprint

   Jan Kimmons discussed the assessment process for the interior design program in Family Studies and Interior Design. Graduates in this program are expected to take several professional qualifying exams: National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and two exams to be certified as kitchen and bath designers (CKD, CBD). Also, because of the present endorsement of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the possibility of accreditation from the Foundation for Interior Design Research (FIDER) there are very specific standards that must be met in curriculum. Both organizations make sample exams available to college programs for the purpose of assessment. In the spring of each year, these sample examinations are administered to seniors and the results are evaluated with regard to the need to adjust curriculum. Each semester the interior design faculty meets for a full day to plan strategy for how to incorporate these results into specific courses.

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UNK Student Assessment Committee

      The Student Assessment Committee (SAC) was formed last Spring semester to represent students’ concerns related to important assessment issues on the campus.  The committee was also formed to help disseminate information and educate fellow students about the assessment process at UNK.

      The focus of SAC in Spring 2005 was the development and administration of an online survey of student perceptions of the current General Studies program at UNK.  Over 600 students responded to the survey and provided input indicating that they didn’t understand the purpose of the General Studies program and felt it interfered with work in their majors.  The results of the survey were provided to the acting director of General Studies and to the General Studies Council.  As a result, the Council developed a brochure that describes the purpose and organization of the General Studies program that is available to incoming Freshman at orientation and to all students when they enroll.

      The current SA committee members include: Steven C Middleton, Chris Denton, Jennifer Beinhoff, Tom Schlund, Megan Boss, Adam D Sevenker, and Andrew C Hutchison.  Jeanne Butler, Coordinator of Assessment, is the sponsor.  The focus for the 2005-2006 academic year will include General Studies and Student Advising.  The SAC will be leading student focus groups during the Spring semester to get more detailed information about students’ reactions to the current General Studies program.  In addition, the committee will be working with Academic Advising to develop and administer an online survey of student satisfaction with student advising practices at UNK. 

      In developing a Culture of Assessment, all groups impacted by assessment at UNK need to be involved and contribute to the decision making process.   This includes faculty, administration, staff, and students.  The Student Assessment Committee offers students this opportunity to get involved.

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  Assessment Conferences

   The Office of Assessment and the Center for Teaching Excellence have funding to help faculty attend conferences on assessment.  The following is a list of conferences in 2006.