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Methods Used in Recent Undergrad Outcomes Assessment

College Academic Unit Method (for those reporting since 01-02)
AS Anthropology Locally developed exam administered in 2000-level course, pre-post. Faculty evaluation of short essays written in 4000-level course.
AS Applied Mathematics Various graduating students had one or more of the following: survey/exit interview, national exam, senior project, entry in national competition, or app to grad school.
AS Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences New degree program (June 2000) -- no assessment of learning described in report.
AS Atmospheric/Oceanic Sci. (PAOS)  
AS Biology -- EBIO Short exams in several upper-division classes, each testing one knowledge goal. Compared results from 3 groups in each class: junior/senior majors, freshman/sophomore majors, and nonmajors. The goal assessed in each class was different from the goal of the class.
AS Biology -- MCDB ETS Major Field Achievement Test (MFAT) administered to self-selected group of 18 volunteers from senior-level courses; graduation statistics; survey of post-graduation plans.
AS Chemistry and Biochemistry  
AS Classics (1) External assessor visited 1000-level course and evaluated papers submitted. (2) Internal assessors (outcomes assessment coordinator plus instructors) rated exams and essays from 7 courses. (3) Translations of passages by students in 2nd-semester and 6th-semester Latin courses scored.
AS Communication  
AS Comparative Literature/Humanities Review of written work, individual examination of seniors' program of study for coherence (both scheduled for spring 03).
AS East Asian Languages and Civilizations  
AS Economics  
AS English Evaluation of 2000- and 4000-level papers by professor at Wisconsin-Oshkosh
AS Environmental Studies  
AS Ethnic Studies  
AS Film Studies Evaluation of product (films) by professionals working in field, of written essays from senior course by a CU-Denver prof.
AS Fine Arts Evaluation of student studio work by a professor at U of Arizona, and of written work in art history by a professor at U of Kansas
AS French/Italian  
AS GenEd: Crit Thinking  
AS GenEd: UMAP  
AS GenEd: Writing/Rhetoric Surveys of students, interviews with instructors, and classroom observations, all conducted by a grad student in education. Plan evaluation of actual writing in 03.
AS Geography  
AS Geology  
AS Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures  
AS History Evaluation of sample seminar papers by faculty committee, scored on 5 skills criteria
AS International Affairs Evaluation of capstone seminar papers by U of Wyoming prof
AS Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Cross-sectional comparison of 1000-level and 4000-level students on a locally developed exam.
AS Linguistics  
AS Mathematics Nationally normed test (MFAT) required of graduating seniors. No detailed yearly results reported, just "scores over the years generally in the xxx range."
AS Philosophy  
AS Physics Experimental study of online homework system (vs. traditional homework) effect on exam scores and other outcomes in large intro course.
AS Political Science Faculty committee evaluated teaching portfolios of 16 faculty. (In past had evaluated student portfolios, and will return to this in 03.)
AS Psychology  
AS Religious Studies Narrative evaluation of student strengths/weaknesses by instructor of senior-level course (RLST 4830).
AS Sociology  
AS Spanish/Portuguese  
AS Speech, Language, and Hearing Science  
AS Theater and Dance Written diagnostic exams (frosh and seniors), videotaped performance and portfolio reviews (yearly), exit interviews.
AS Women's Studies Course instructor and interim program director scored 3 essays written by all 10 students in capstone course on 3 of 5 knowledge goals and 3 of 4 skills goals.
BU Business Administration  
EB Education (college)  
EN Aerospace Engineering Assessment efforts include active review of curriculum in several forums (e.g., Curriculum Improvement Team); input from External Advisory Board and industry; FCQ data; evaluation of senior design projects; and data gathered from senior and alumni surveys
EN Architectural Engineering Assessment efforts include: Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC) reviews entire curriculum and student work over a 3 year cycle - JEC includes representatives of industry, student and faculty; FE exam data; FCQ data; senior surveys and exit interviews.
EN Chemical Engineering Assessment efforts include a review of course dossiers, including sample student work, by a departmental External Advisory Committee (entire curriculum reviewed over 3 year period); alumni surveys, senior surveys, and FE exam data. An assessment report is prepared
EN Civil Engineering Assessment efforts include: Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC) reviews entire curriculum and student work over a 3 year cycle - JEC includes representatives of industry, student and faculty; FE exam data; FCQ data; senior surveys and exit interviews.
EN Computer Science Uses FCQs as basic assessment measure for courses and teaching; the newly-established Senior Survey will also be used for assessment of our program. In the coming year, we plan to explore additional techniques for assessment, (e.g., student interviews and faculty meetings devoted exclusively to assessment issues).
EN Electrical Engineering Course assessments gather data from faculty regarding their efforts to implement changes, how the students in their courses are doing (providing evidence), and suggesting improvements for future semesters. Also utilizing FCQs, senior surveys, new student & parent surveys, and industrial surveys.
EN Electrical and Computer Engineering Course assessments gather data from faculty regarding their efforts to implement changes, how the students in their courses are doing (providing evidence), and suggesting improvements for future semesters. Also utilizing FCQs, senior surveys, new student & parent surveys, and industrial surveys.
EN Environmental Engineering Assessment efforts include: student transcripts and degree worksheets, course dossiers, advisory board course reviews, FCQ data, FE exam data, student/faculty meetings, student advising surveys, senior surveys and alumni surveys.
EN Mechanical Engineering Annual review of: course FCQ data, student performance in classes and on the FE exam, senior exit survey and proficiency exams as needed. Every three years, student focus group interviews are conducted and a Task Force report is prepared for selected courses.
JR Journalism  
MB Music Citation of highlights of student accomplishments, campus music events

PBA: L:\ir\outcomes\aoc\methods.xls
Last update 3/24/03

Last revision 12/28/05


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