A Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Process at the Academic Program Level

1. A Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Process at the Academic Program Level Christina Horne, Nita Paris, & Valerie Whittlesey Kennesaw State University- 2005 SACS Meeting www.kennesaw.edu/ie/assess/index.htm

3. History of Assessment at KSU • From 1994 to 2003, all academic departments turned in annual reports to the Executive Assistant to the President & the Institutional Planner • “Describe the assessment methods that you use to improvement your departmental programs.”

4. Change in Criteria for Reaccreditation in 2004 • KSU will be reviewed by the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 2006 • SACS has new criteria for reaccreditation • “An academic program for which academic credit is awarded should establish and evaluate learning outcomes.”

5. Assurance of Learning at KSU • Establishment of an Assurance of Learning (AOL) Council in Fall of 2002 within Academic Affairs with a Chair of the Council (Asst. Vice President for Academic Affairs) • Council membership includes two faculty from each College, the Director for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Institutional Effectiveness

6. Assurance of Learning Council • Function of the AOL Council is to serve as a steering committee, advisory and consultative group to academic programs as they plan and implement their student learning outcomes assessment plans

7. Needs Assessment of the AOL Council • Review of old department/program reports • An initial meeting to determine the knowledge of student learning outcomes assessment in departments/programs

8. Needs Assessment Results • Knowledge of student learning outcomes assessment ranged from “no knowledge” to “advanced knowledge”.

9. 1) Articulating Student Learning Outcomes 2) Connecting Outcomes to Program Requirements 3) Connecting Outcomes to Methods that Collect Evidence of AOL 4) Articulating Expected Findings for the Evidence 5) Articulating the Plan and Timetable for Collecting Evidence of AOL 6) Collecting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Evidence of AOL 7) Using Results for Improvement Seven Elements of Assurance of Student Learning (AOL)

10. Establishing a Firm Foundation • Focus on Elements 1 and 2 • Collaborative Model of Faculty Assisting Other Faculty

11. Formal Workshops Informal Workshops Implementation of the Collaborative Model

12. Formal Workshop Goals • To summarize the seven elements of assurance of learning planning and reporting • To summarize the Assurance of Learning action plan for fall of 2003 • To summarize the role of the AOL Council • To summarize changes in the SACS reaccreditation guidelines

13. Informal Workshop Goals • To give feedback to faculty working on elements 1 and 2 of their student learning outcomes assessment plans on drafts of their work so far • Brown Bag sessions

14. Identifying Learning Goals • Teaching Goals Inventory from Classroom Assessment Techniques by Angelo and Cross (1993) • Rate the importance of each of 52 goals for your program

15. Exercise #1- Group Activity • Linking Outcomes to the Curriculum using Course Titles and Program Descriptions • Create groups of 4-5 participants

16. Exercise #1- Group Activity Instructions • What knowledge, skills, and attitudes should a graduate have based on reading the program descriptions • What knowledge, skills, and attitudes should a graduate have based on reading the course titles

17. Exercise #1- Group Activity • Sharing of results from the exercise

18. Sample AOL Report • Biochemistry • General Student Learning Outcomes • Four and its Associated Specific Student Learning Outcomes • Brief and Detailed Matrix connecting Outcomes to Program Requirements

19. Submission & Review of AOL Reports • All academic programs and general education addressed elements 1 and 2 • Reports due on Dec. 31, 2003 • AOL Council provided formative feedback on elements 1 and 2

20. Continuing a Firm Foundation • Focus on completing a partial report (elements 3, 4, 5) or a complete report (elements 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 • Collaborative Model of Faculty Assisting Other Faculty

21. Assurance of Learing Consultation Team • During fall 2004 and spring of 2005, a team of five Kennesaw State University faculty was assembled. • The team provides individualized (customized) assistance to faculty in academic programs and general education in areas where additional expertise and direction were needed.

22. Submission & Review of AOL Reports • All academic programs and general education submit a partial or complete AOL report • Reports due on Dec. 31, 2004 • AOL Council will provide formative feedback on the partial or complete reports

23. Submission & Review of AOL Reports • All academic programs and general education submit a complete AOL report • Reports due on Dec. 31, 2005 • AOL Council will provide formative feedback on the complete reports

24. Lessons Learned • Flexibility with deadlines dates for program reports and with the formatting of AOL program reports • Fear about AOL based on history with the Program Review process • Sequencing of the General Education AOL report

26. Questions and Discussion ?