Graduate Program Review: Implementing Continuous and Ongoing Assessment of Graduate Programs

1. Graduate Program Review: Implementing Continuous and Ongoing Assessment of Graduate Programs Duane K. Larick Associate Graduate Dean Summer Workshop, 2004

2. Program Review Website • Graduate School Homepage • http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/grad/ • Program Review • http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/grad_publicns/program_review/review.htm

3. Two Phase Review Process • Formal Review of Graduate Programs on an 8 Year Schedule. • Continuous and Ongoing Assessment of Graduate Programs

4. Formal Review of Graduate Programs • Review Schedule: http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/grad_publicns/program_review/review.htm • Three-Part Process • Internal self-study • External review • Post-review administrative meeting/response • Action Plan

5. What is Continuous and Ongoing Assessment? • Emphasizes development of program specific student learning outcomes and assessment procedures to determine if they are being achieve. • Shift to Student Learning Centered Concerns • “What do we want our students to know?” • “How well does the program promote learning?” • Moves to “How well did the student learn it?” • Assesses achievement of the outcomes on a continuous rather than episodic basis

6. How Do the Two Intersect? • Ongoing Assessment Will be Included as Part of the Self-Study (Section V) • http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/grad_publicns/program_review/SS%20Format%20-%20Final.pdf • Your Assessment Efforts Will be Evaluated by External Reviewers • Assessment Will Inform Changes for the Future – would impact all sections of self-study (academic, research and outreach) • Combined, They Will Strengthen COMPACT Planning

7. What We Propose to Do • Provide Training Necessary for Programs to Implement Continuous & Ongoing Review. • Modify the Current “Profile” Information and Work with University Planning and Analysis to Improve Utility of Centralized Data Collection and Processing. • Provide a Web Based Site for Program Review Management. • Demo Website • Increase Efforts Relative to Follow-up After the Graduate Program Review – Action Plan.

8. Upcoming Workshops • Developing Objectives and Outcomes for Graduate Program • September 7 or September 8 • Developing Assessment Plans for Graduate Programs • October 26 or October 27 • Each Program will be asked to designate at least one person to attend • That designee will work with the faculty in that program

9. Questions?

10. Common Graduate Objectives • To prepare students to achieve their professional goals in [blank] in a collaborative environment • To prepare students to conduct research effectively in [blank] in a collaborative environment • To maintain and improve the program’s leadership position nationally and internationally

11. Common Graduate Outcomes • Students will demonstrate professional competencies including: • Knowledge of concepts in the discipline • Ability to conduct independent research • Ability to work in teams • Ability to use appropriate technologies • Ability to find employment in discipline • Ability to teach others • Oral & written communication skills • Critical thinking skills

12. Examples of Assessment Opportunities • Pre-Program/Admissions • Quality indicators like GPA, GRE score, etc. • In-Program • Annual Progress Evaluation • Qualifying/Preliminary Examination; including proposal preparation & defense • Required seminar presentations • Portfolios – design, architecture, etc.

13. Examples of Assessment Opportunities - continued • At Program Completion • Presentations • Thesis/Dissertation; preparation, defense, etc. • Published works • Exit interview or survey • Job placement • Long Term • Alumni surveys • Evidence of lifelong learning • Career success