Assessment of Student Learning - Minnesota State University Moorhead

Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee Minutes

March 6, 2006

1:00 p.m.
Bridges Hall 250B

Present: Tim Borchers, chair; Ted Gracyk, Cassie Kramer, Jody Mattern, Amy Phillips,
Peggy Rittenhouse, Stacy Voeller, Alison Wallace

The meeting was called to order at 1:04 p.m.

Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting (February 27, 2006) were distributed for review and will be acted upon at the next meeting along with the minutes from the December 12, 2005 meeting.

D2L Site: Discussion opened on the benefits of using a D2L site to post plans and reports for comment and electronic discussion among members versus receiving plans and reports through email. It was agreed to use a D2L site and Borchers will notify members when it is set up.

Evaluation Process: The evaluation process was discussed. Members, working in pairs, will review plans/reports and present a report to the committee. The committee will approve/accept plans and reports based on discussion and recommendation of the Review Group. Programs applying for an Instructional Improvement Grant and programs submitting revised plans will receive priority in the review process this spring.

Plan - Physics: The plan was discussed and suggestions for improvement will be relayed to the department. 1) Clarify the scoring Rubric for Senior Project Grade; 2) Match Student Learning Outcome (SLO) title with rubric title; 3) Clarify which aspect of the rubric is being used for each SLO; 4) Clarify which rubric applies to the Student Academic Conference; 5) Clarify Student Learning Outcomes assessment cycle – discrepancy between plan and department minutes. Borchers agreed to meet with the department and also notify them of forthcoming discussion in Teacher Education of increasing expectations by NCATE.

Plan - History: The plan was discussed and suggestions for improvement will be relayed to the department. 1) Clarify where and how discipline knowledge is assessed; 2) Clarify “college sophomore” and “college senior”; 3) Submit measurement instrument (rubric) for review of senior paper; 4) Reduce the number of Student Learning Outcomes, particularly those that will be assessed by Liberal Studies Assessment. Borchers agreed to meet with the department and also notify them of forthcoming discussion in Teacher Education of increasing expectations by NCATE.

Evaluation Forms: The Assessment Plan Evaluation Form and Assessment Report Evaluation Form were discussed and suggestions for improvement were made. The revised forms will be sent to members electronically.

Review Groups: Members agreed to divide into pairs to review the following plans/reports:

Voeller/Wallace	Rittenhouse/Phillips	Gracyk/Mattern	Borchers/Kramer
Social Work	Anthropology/Earth Science	English	Construction Management
Special Education	MFA	Educational Leadership	MLA

Next Meetings:

March 20 – partners meet to review assigned plans/reports.
March 27 – meet as a committee.
April 3 – partners meet to review assigned plans/reports.
April 10 – meet as a committee

The meeting adjourned at 2: 48 p.m.