November 21, 2005

11:00 a.m.
Bridges Hall 250B

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

The meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m. Borchers introduced Cassie Kramer, a biosciences teaching major, as one of two student representatives on the committee. Borchers asked for names of an additional student to serve on the committee.

Minutes: Moved by Gracyk, seconded by Voeller that the minutes of November 14, 2005 be approved. It was suggested and agreed that the minutes should include more detail. The motion to approve the minutes passed unanimously.

IRB Approval: Borchers distributed a copy of an email regarding whether departments need to fill out IRB paperwork to do assessment of student learning and the response received from Lou DiMaio, IRB chair. IRB approval is not necessary for routine assessment, but would be necessary if results are used in research.

Assessment Report Deadline: Borchers reported his discussion with Vice President Midgarden regarding an extension of the January 31, 2006 deadline for Biennial Reports/Assessment Reports, noting that the end of February would be acceptable. He added that the SLOAC workload would be “crunched” in March and April. He suggested that an open forum be held in early January to review assessment plan and report procedures. Moved by Mattern, seconded by Gracyk to extend the deadline for Biennial Reports/Assessment Reports to the end of February. A friendly addendum to state the deadline as February 24, 2006 was attached. The motion as amended passed unanimously. Borchers agreed to notify departments/programs via “official email” regarding the extension.

Borchers added that final drafts of 6-Year Reports are due May 2, 2006 and it may be necessary to schedule a couple of long meetings at the end of the semester. Ten departments/programs have 6-Year Reports due in 2006. There was discussion on the procedure for reviewing reports and whether each committee member reviews all the reports. It was noted that the IAEC divided into subgroups and reviewed a portion of the reports. It was agreed that all members would review plans and reports and that a “checklist” suggested at the previous meeting, be created for reviewing reports and plans.

The Plan for Assessing Student Learning: The revised plan, based on suggestions from the November 14, 2005 meeting and emailed to the committee, was reviewed. Borchers noted that he had also separated the plan into three distinct sections: Principles, Policies, and Procedures. The goal is to have policy section approved at the December 6, 2006 Academic Policy Advising Committee (APAC). The committee proceeded to review the “Assessment Policies” section. Minor wording changes were suggested and the following major points were discussed:

1. It was agreed that certificates should be assessed as well as undergraduate and graduate majors. Some of MSUM’s certificates are “stand alone” programs and do not require completion of a baccalaureate degree, examples being the Certificate in Publishing or Preprimary Education. It was agreed that minors would not be assessed.
2. Departments/programs will formally “approve” the assessment plans and reports for which they are responsible. Approval, such as meeting minutes or meeting date noting the vote, would be acceptable sources.
3. Discussion on whether departments/programs must assess all their student learning outcomes each year or whether a portion can be assessed during the 6-year cycle ensued. If departments/programs do not assess all their student learning outcomes should they indicate which outcomes will be assessed and provide a rationale? Dialogue continued on whether a minimum number of student learning outcomes should be assessed yearly. It was agreed that: all would be listed and that rationale would be provided for any that were not assessed. All learning outcomes should be assessed during a six-year cycle.
4. Following discussion it was agreed to add that any changes in department/program student learning outcomes as printed in either the Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin must be approved by the SLOAC.
5. It was discussed and agreed that Information regarding Instructional Improvement Grants should be included in the policies.
6. Following discussion it was agreed that the SLOAC chair will submit a report to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
7. It was agreed that departments/programs receiving an Instructional Improvement Grant will submit a report with the subsequent biennial report to the SLOAC and Vice President for Academic Affairs regarding the grant. This statement will also be included with the Instructional Improvement Grant information/application.

The committee proceeded to review the “Recommended Procedures” section. Minor wording changes were suggested and discussion ensued on item #2 dealing with appointment of a department/program assessment coordinator and/or assessment committee. It was agreed that the coordinator/assessment committee would have responsibility for “initiating” the assessment process versus “responsibility” for creating the process.

Moved by Phillips, seconded by Mattern to approve the changes to the policies (contained on page 3) of The Plan for Assessing Student Learning as discussed and submit to Academic Affairs Council and department chairs for review and feedback prior to requesting formal approval at the December 6, 2005 APAC meeting.

Next meeting: November 28, 11:00 a.m., in BR 205B

Dialogue opened on whether “models of assessment” should be discussed at a future meeting. Borchers noted that Higher Learning Commission (HLC) materials regarding assessment were in the initial committee packet and he would send an additional packet of materials of readings he has collected.

The meeting adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

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