Assessment of Student Learning Committee

September 24, 2002
Minutes

Attending: Don Baldus, Teresa Brown, Katherine Hickman, Jean Hoth, Jane Kruger, Tammy Lee, Robin Paynter, Ivonne TjoeFat, Marilyn Treder

Absent Members: Carol Bailey, Steve Cole, Bonnie Flaig, Judy Harris, Nirmala Kotagal,

Barb Mollberg, Anne Niccolai, Paula Theisen Yuko Taniguchi

Welcome and Fun Facts

Members were challenged to match “Fun Fact” statements to the correct committee members.  Barb Mollberg won with 9 correct answers and Marilyn Treder took second place with 5 correct answers.

Overview 2002-2004 Plan and Pilot Projects

§         An overview of the assessment of student learning 2002-2003 plan was provided.  Members will serve both an advisory role as well as an active role in implementing assessment of student learning initiatives. It was clarified that the Assessment of Student Learning Committee represents a subcommittee of the Institutional Effectiveness Committee.  Don Baldus, Judy Harris, Katherine Hickman, Tammy Lee, Anne Niccolai, and Paula Theisen have agreed to serve on both committees.

§         Implementation of General Education pilots has started.  The English department plans to administer the ACT CAAP “Essay (pre/post exams) to 108 students (four sections of English 1117). The math department has developed an elementary algebra problem that will evaluate students’ ability to set up and solve word problems. Pre and post exams will be given throughout the fall semester in 7 sections (approximately 300 students) enrolled in Math 0098. The science department plans to administer pre/post WebCT exam questions that will evaluate students’ ability to perform statistical and graphical analysis.  They plan to target second year science students.  Implementation of the pilot assessment will take place during Spring 2003 when the sample size of second year science students is greater.

  Committee Member Responsibilities

Members agreed to work as a department/program in developing assessment of student learning communication messages for one assigned month.  Their one month responsibility will be:

1.      Post one student learning assessment highlight from their department/program on the RCTC assessment website. (Post during the first week of the month)

2.      Publish a brief summary of the highlight in the College Crossing.

3.      Write a brief summary of an assessment book, video, or conference that you attended and post the summary on the RCTC assessment website.

4.      Record minutes for one committee meeting and post on website.

Below are the month assignments.

Statement of Purpose

A draft Statement of Purpose was developed (thank you Katherine Hickman for summarizing our discussion).  Committee members agreed to review the daft statement and discuss at the October meeting. 

Draft - Purpose of the Assessment of Student Learning Committee

To assist faculty and students in determining student acquisition of knowledge, skills, and values through multiple measures of course outcome identification with the goals of involving students in the learning process and providing feedback for improving student success.

Committee Roles

§         Identify effective methods of assessment of student learning.

§         Identify whether faculty and student expectations of learning are being met.

§         Maximize student success and satisfaction with the learning process through timely feedback.

§         Maximize faculty utilization of continuous assessment measures to enhance student/faculty communication and improve faculty teaching strategies.

Next Meeting – Tuesday, October 22, 3:00 p.m.

§         Review feedback from Levels of Implementation surveys

§         Complete Statement of Purpose

§         Discuss updates on the pilot projects