Fall 1992

• The department decides to design and implement an assessment plan for the purpose of assessing both the major and the General Studies course.

• Interested faculty members become assessment coordinators for the department, one for the major and one for General Studies. The assessment coordinators research various methods of assessment to determine which activities best suit the department's needs.

• The department's curriculum planning committee reviews and revises the mission statement and goals and objectives statement for the major and the General Studies course. These documents are used as the starting point for the assessment plan.

• An assessment plan is designed and agreed upon which includes:

• Administration of Major Field Test (ETS) to seniors each spring semester

• Establishment of student portfolios for majors for assessing both knowledge in the major and writing across the curriculum

• Development of alumni survey to be sent out every two years

• Administration of General Studies test and student survey to all sections of the course over three semesters

• Assessment coordinator for the major begins developing an alumni survey

• Faculty members develop a pre- and post-test and an attitude survey for the General Studies course.

Spring 1993

• Alumni survey is sent out to 1991 and 1992 graduates

• General Studies test and survey are administered

• Major Field Test is administered to graduating seniors

Summer 1993

• General Studies test and survey are reviewed and revised

• Results of alumni survey are analyzed

• Report is prepared to present results of the Major Field Test and alumni survey to department curriculum planning committee

Fall 1993

• Portfolios are established for majors and collection of selected materials begins

• General Studies test and survey are administered

Spring 1994

• Major Field Test is administered to graduating seniors

• General Studies test and survey are administered

• Report is prepared on findings of the test and survey is administered in General Studies courses over three semesters

• Results of '94 Major Field testing are compared to those of '93

• Testing and survey cycle is repeated

Program Objective

Outcome Criteria

Assessment Measure

Population

Cognitive Knowledge

Students will be able to demonstrate mastery of basic knowledge gained in curriculum

Several standardized test items on existing exams

All students enrolled in course

Student Perceptions

Students understands goals and objectives of course

10-item, in-class survey

Sample of students enrolled in course

Faculty Perceptions

Faculty agree that goals and objectives of course are being met

Focused dialogue

Department faculty