Assessment Committee
Minutes
Members Present: Jose Aguinaga (Library), Laura Henriques (Science Education), Susan Mulvaney (Testing & Evaluation Services), Emily Parentela (Engineering), Michelle Saint-Germain (Public Policy), Dave Whitney (Psychology), Mark Wiley (Faculty Development), Mason Zhang (Biological Sciences).
2. The committee approved the agenda as distributed and the minutes of the last meeting.
3. Coordinator’s Report & Announcements:
a. Travel Money. Last year we had $7,500 for travel awards and should expect to have a similar amount this year. In the past the Assessment Website has had a list of upcoming assessment conferences to be viewed in conjunction with the call for travel requests. Michelle Saint-Germain will begin collecting information and dates about upcoming conferences. A discussion about how to respond to unsolicited travel requests ensued. If deemed worthy, funding could be made after travel has been completed. Revisions to the call for travel were also made.
b. Final Report Status. Michelle Saint-Germain has reviewed the files to determine which assessment grantees have filed final reports. A list is being compiled with the likely result that each committee member will be asked to solicit the reports from a few past awardees.
c. Accountability Reports: Michelle Saint-Germain has reviewed the 2001-02 and 2002-03 accountability reports from departments to see what progress has been made.
d. Coordinator’s Time: The assigned time for Assessment & Program Review Coordinator is 50% and PRAP is consuming the bulk of her effort and time.
Mark Wiley requested agenda time on 30 October for a decision regarding whom to select as three campus representatives to a conference in
4. The University is able to send a team of three members to the American Association of Colleges and Universities conference which is to be held in
5. Campus Assessment Plan: Discussion continued regarding the current campus assessment plan and our need to revise the document. The need for connections between the assessment plan and the Program Review Guidelines was discussed. A subcommittee of PRAP, Grad Council and Assessment will be formed with the task of helping to develop a new Program Review document that meaningfully incorporates assessment. Dave Whitney and Mark Wiley volunteered to serve as the Assessment Committee Representatives to the subcommittee.
As the committee continued to discuss the Assessment Plan it was decided to invite Wayne Dick, Chair Academic Senate, and Gary Reichard, Provost, to our next meeting so that we have a clearer understanding of the direction of assessment in the new reorganization from both a policy and administrative viewpoint. We believe that assessment plan should articulate how various factions on campus fit together (IR, testing, policy & planning, program review, etc.)
Between now and the next meeting committee members are invited to identify how various aspects of the university should be connected via assessment and where there are gaps in communication between the connections. By brainstorming the places where assessment should be we will be better poised to create the framework for our campus assessment plan.
6. Discussion continued about do-able and useful assessment activities on campus that need to be highlighted and made more public to be used by faculty.
7. Susan Mulvaney and Michelle Saint-Germain will contact committee members who have not been attending to see if they intend to serve.
Respectfully submitted,
THESE MINUTES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED.