Assessment of Student Learning

University of Minnesota, Morris

______________________________________________________________________________

DATE: October 11, 2007

SUBJECT: Assessment of Student Learning Committee Minutes

PRESENT: Jim Togeas (Chair), Therese Buchmiller, Donna Chollett, Tom Johnson, Michael O’Reilly,

Hsing-Wen Hu, Nancy Helsper, Abby Swafford, and Chris Vinderslev

ABSENT: Mary Elizabeth Bezanson

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The meeting began at 9:05 AM in the Blue Stem Room with a brief introduction of committee members.

ASLC Minutes

The ASLC Minutes dated 04/27/07 approved.

NCA Report

Togeas gave a brief overview about the NCA Report for the benefit of new ASLC members.

Togeas said the NCA instructed us two years ago to produce a report on assessment of academic programs and of General Education; noting this report is due on or before November 1, 2007. Togeas said last year the ASLC developed a plan and format to produce the report and began collecting information from individual disciplines. Togeas produced a report at the end of August, (it was available at the Fall Faculty Retreat), but noted that not all of the disciplines were in the report at this time. (One copy in two parts of the Assessment Report was available for viewing during the ASLC meeting). Togeas said he had drafted a report using the Mathematics Discipline as a prototype and sent it to the Chancellor and Interim Dean (Kuechle) and also sent it to the Mathematics Discipline for reaction. He noted that McQuarrie said it was an accurate reflection of the Mathematics Discipline, and the Chancellor and Interim Dean approved the format. Togeas reported receiving assessment reports from all disciplines, except Geology, noting some very interesting assessment. Togeas said the report is due in Chicago on November 1, and would like to have the report revised and in the mail by October 22. Other discussion included:

• The committee discussed if the report should be shared with everyone – do some sort of review
• A member asked what the charge of the ASLC committee is and if the ASLC is in the position of assessing disciplines.
• A member said disciplines are looking for help and advice and that the ASLC should be aware of and review what is going on now.
• The ASLC Website – Request to update Discipline Assessment links.
• Helsper said the NCA wants us to look at what disciplines are doing for assessment, not for the ASLC to evaluate discipline assessments.
• Togeas will send out the charge[1] of the ASLC to members; noting it is useful for the committee to look at the assessment reports.

Assessment of General Education (Draft)

Togeas discussed the draft report on general education with members, asking for revisions or modifications.

Other discussion

• O’Reilly believes it is beneficial for GenEd emphasis to improve informal cultural/intellectual activities on campus, and suggested to check out the websites of peer universities and compile a list of their cultural/intellectual activities.
• It was noted that UMM uses the GenEd Survey, Graduate Exit Survey, NSSE. Helsper noted during the past seven years, the survey for Graduating Seniors has been done and said in every GenEd Category, the student is asked the importance and if it was achieved.
• A member said that assessment is an integral part of everyday teaching in a course, and asked if we need another approach to satisfy NCA. He said it seems as if NCA wants something else “not just passing a test is enough to show a student has learned.”
• It was suggested to create a survey, which measurers outside cultural activities, a member noted that cultural questions are asked in all university surveys, but noted the question is not specific to before or during college.

Togeas said revisions to the report would be ready by beginning of the week; Tom Johnson volunteered to review the revisions.

Before the next meeting, Togeas will meet with the Chancellor and Interim Dean to discuss the plan for the assessment cycle plan, and if a plan should be constructed before, the new Dean is here.

The meeting adjourned at 10:00 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Pederson

---

[1] Section 8.  Assessment of Student Learning Committee

A.    Membership

The Assessment of Student Learning Committee consists of ten members, including one faculty member from the Division of Education, and two each from the Divisions of Humanities, Science & Math, and Social Sciences, and two students.  The Dean or his designee will serve as ex officio.

B.     Powers

The Assessment of Student Learning Committee oversees and provides support to all aspects of the assessment process, receives all data and materials generated by assessment activities, recommends improvements in the assessment program and disseminates reports on the results of assessment and the initiatives based on assessment intended to improve student learning.