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news:
Ten receive grants
By Danielle Grossman
On-line Summer Forty-Niner
The Cal State Long
Beach Assessment Project Grants were awarded to ten recipients
Monday for the 2001-2002 academic year.
According to Michelle
Saint-Germain, assessment coordinator for Academic Affairs,
the grants are given to programs or departments for the research
and development of student learning skills within that field.
The grant allows a program to decide what skills are needed
for students to succeed, and analyze the effectiveness of
teaching methods.
"I think the
grants affect students the most," Saint-Germain said.
"It clarifies why it is important for a student to learn
the skills, and it selects the best way to demonstrate and
show the skills [the students] have learned."
Project grants
are awarded to programs or departments, but may also be awarded
to specific classes, such as the critical thinking class.
Saint-Germain said developing critical thinking skills and
logic is most important for students entering the workforce.
One of the grants
was awarded to the gerontology program. The program plans
to begin the fall 2001 semester with a retreat comprised of
faculty, graduate students, alumni, and community professionals
who will assess what skills are necessary for gerontology
graduate students .
"I feel wonderfully
excited," said Barbara White, the gerontology program
director. "We're going to look at what we would like
students who will be receiving a master's in gerontology to
know upon graduation. We're going to gather content about
our curriculum, look at the curricula of other state programs,
and look at the standards for the Association for Gerontology
in Higher Education."
According to Saint-Germain,
approximately $100,000 is budgeted to Academic Affairs to
provide for grants, workshops, and learning materials. In
order to be considered for a grant, the department or program
must submit a request for proposal outlining the objectives
and intentions for the grant.
"The proposal
has to be well-written, clear, and has to show that the activities
are relevant to the mission statement," said Saint-Germain.
"It has to show that they're trying to improve instruction
and student outcomes."
After the proposals
are submitted by deadline, the assessment committee has a
week to read over them. The committee is comprised of people
from every college, student services, and the faculty development
center, making it a broad representation from all over campus,
said Saint-Germain.
About two-thirds
of the proposals receive some funding. Once the grants are
awarded the programs or departments have a year to use the
money, after which they must submit a final report analyzing
the program. In the fall, when CSULB will be reviewed for
reaccredidation, the final reports may be used to show improvement
and development within the university.
Information about
the new recipients can be found online at http://csulb.edu/~senate/assessment/index.html.
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