November 29, 2006

8:00 a.m.
Livingston Lord Library 120D

Present: Jean Sando, chair; Ellen Brisch, Tim Decker, Rajiv Kalra, Mike McCord,
Margaret Sankey, Brian Smith, Stacy Voeller

Absent: Ellen Hill

Announcements: The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Assessment Workshop is scheduled for March 21-23, 2007 in Lisle, IL. Members are to let Sando know if they wish to attend so registrations can be processed.

Minutes: McCord moved. Smith seconded to approve the minutes of November 15, 2006. The motion was approved unanimously.

Strategic Planning (Academic Affairs): Sando reported that the Academic Affairs Master Plan includes communicating annually the results of assessment of student learning in the Dragon Core to internal and external constituents as a subgoal under Goal #4.

Competency Crosswalks: Competency area crosswalks were distributed and reviewed. Discussion ensued on concerns that Middle Cluster courses may not be extending the Foundation Four Student Learning Outcomes but the Student Competencies of DC 1A-3. 

CMST Assessment Update: Sando reported that video taping is underway and will continue through next week. A significant number of presentations should be available for the workgroup to review this summer. All the taped presentations will probably be used instead of a sample as some students requested they not be taped. Members are to forward concerns they become aware of to Sando.

IPSEL Update: Voeller reported that notification letters are expected to be sent out on Friday. All proposals received some funding, but maybe not as much as was requested. If a Project Director had multiple individual proposals only one proposal was funded. If someone requested an individual proposal and was listed on as a member of a team on another proposal then both were funded. Proposals that requested funding for Dragon Core, including Foundation Four, assessment will have to work in conjunction with the DCAC. Proposals that included writing-intensive assessment will be expected to work with the University Writing Committee. Project Directors will be given two weeks to accept a grant and must state the exact dates that EDDs will be used.

IPSEL Workgroup Formation: The processed to determine workgroups for the DCAC proposals were discussed. The spring semester English workgroup has been selected and each will receive 1-credit of release time. It was agreed to request nominations from academic deans and the Project Directors for the other workgroups. Chairpersons from departments teaching Critical and Multicultural Thinking (CMT) courses will be asked to recommend members for the CMT workgroup. The workgroups for DC 1A-Oral Communication, 1B-Written Communication, and 3-Mathematics / Symbolic Systems should have at least one member outside the host department. It was suggested the Faculty Association (FA) be notified of the final workgroup lists. Sando agreed to notify FA President Cindy Phillips of the workgroup selection process. The workgroups would meet between finals and summer session and it might be necessary to use one Saturday during spring semester as an orientation meeting. There are 11 days between spring semester and summer session. Sando will need to meet with each workgroup so staggered start dates would be used. It was suggested that first summer session dates could be used if faculty are not teaching.

Communication: Sando reported that Academic Affairs Council requested the DCAC publish a newsletter and more actively use the Dragon Core website to communicate the assessment planning process. Members were asked to consider whether DCAC and Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee (SLOAC) should continue to have separate websites or merge into one.

Dragon Core Assessment Plan: It was suggested that artifact workgroups for DC 3-7 meet in August as there are five duty days prior to the start of classes. These workgroups would discuss artifact collection, including what, how, and when materials should be collected, as well as create a rubric for each competency area. It was suggested to request chairpersons recommend faculty to serve on the artifact workgroups. Academic deans from the two professional colleges would be contacted to suggest members as well. Sando agreed to discuss the suggestions with VP Midgarden.

Writing-Intensive: Sando reported on her meeting with Campus Writing Director Shaw regarding writing-intensive assessment. She stated that DCAC would work in conjunction with the University Writing Committee to develop an assessment plan but assessment would be handled by DCAC and SLOAC.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 6, 2006, at 8:00 a.m., in LI 120D.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.

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