Results are minimally different from the last assessment report of a year ago. Any competent research methodologist would note that the differences are most likely due to the small sample sizes and the differences in the standards used by the faculty doing the evaluation. Overall, assessment of student performance is above-average. This indicates that political science majors are learning what we want them to learn. Students are particularly successful in developing communications skills. The relatively strong oral communication skills reflect a somewhat greater emphasis on this by faculty in recent years. Students show a relative weakness (though still above average) in certain aspects of the research process related to research design and measurement and the effects of these on conclusions.

Curriculum
There are no clear implications for the curriculum from these results. Our students do well. We knew that. These results support the curriculum revisions made by the department before any assessment results were known (suggesting that faculty do in fact know and respond to the strengths and weaknesses of students without the added burden of "assessment"). The department will be offering a new 200-level course designed to replace Pol 110 as the introduction to the discipline for political science majors. The new course is designed to introduce students to the nature of conceptual processes in the discipline and to the major questions and theories of the various fields of political science. It will also serve to introduce students to the professional literature earlier in their program of study. Many of these topics are now treated briefly in the research methods course (Pol 310); students will be introduced to them earlier, which will allow them to exercise these skills in other courses. It will also permit the methods course to focus more on the research process. These changes should improve students’ skills on those items where they are shown to be relatively weak, as well as improving on their strengths in communication.

Budgeting
There are no budgetary implications in these results.

Retention and Recruitment
There are no implications for retention and recruitment. Prospective students are interested in the variety of careers available to majors and how successful our graduates are in those careers. We provide this information, which is much more likely to be persuasive. I have never had a student, prospective student, or parent indicate any interest in data such as these.

Public Relations
These results indicate that our students are above average – well above, on some skills. This is consistent with how others view our department. These results are also irrelevant for public relations. On campus, we’re judged by the quality of our faculty and the abilities of our students as others experience them. Off campus, we’re judged by our students’ success and performance in their careers. Or, in the case of MnSCU, whether we’re above or below the system (including community colleges) average in cost per credit hour.

Revisions to the Assessment Plan
No revisions are planned or needed.