Assessment Plan
Plan for Assessment of Student Academic Achievement
IV. Plan for Assessment of Student Academic Outcomes
C. Use of Data
UW-Eau Claire views assessment not as an end but as a means by which education will improve. The Assessment Plan has been developed in such a way as to be an integral part in the process of institution improvement by providing useful information at many levels.
The University Assessment Committee will review all assessment data generated to monitor accomplishment of goals at the Baccalaureate level and will disseminate data to appropriate individuals/groups. Reports will be prepared and sent to the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs who has responsibility to lead and administer the academic programs of the university. The following committees also have specific responsibilities for reviewing, monitoring, and implementing assessment activities/results at UW-Eau Claire:
- Schools' Curriculum Committees -- It is the responsibility of each school's curriculum committee to recommend
policies for the academic programs of the Schools as they relate to the
creation and/or abolition of departments, degree requirements, academic
programs, and standards. As prescribed in the Faculty
and Academic Staff Handbook, the Schools' curriculum committees
take action on academic program changes, including action on changes
in courses, minors and submajors, majors, degrees, departments, schools,
and other changes with curricular implications. Assessment data will
assist the members in evaluating how proposed and existing courses
may contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Baccalaureate
Degree.
- The School of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee has specific responsibility for the approval of all course syllabi for general education credit except interdisciplinary studies courses. This faculty committee has developed separate evaluation surveys which are administered to students enrolled in and the faculty who teach general education courses. The instruments evaluate how the general education courses meet the general goals/guidelines for such courses; the surveys are administered yearly to students in a representative sample of general education courses and the faculty who teach the selected courses. The committee compiles results and meets with the faculty involved in teaching the general education courses and the chair of the department to discuss particular curricular issues that may have been discovered.
- This periodic review of general education courses ensures that the courses actually meet general education criteria. This "front-end" process helps guarantee that the students have experiences in course work that will allow them to develop the knowledge and skills required of a broadly educated student. It also makes it more likely that the goals are achieved once the students complete the baccalaureate experience. If assessment data indicate that certain goals are not achieved, this consultative process will assist with the correction that is required in the curriculum.
- Interdisciplinary Studies Committee (IDIS-C) -- This faculty committee was formed in October 1994 as an outgrowth of the university-wide efforts to redefine the baccalaureate degree. It has established criteria to help guide those who propose General Education courses for interdisciplinary credit and has the responsibility to approve course syllabi for general education credit in the subcategory Interdisciplinary Studies. Assessment data will be particularly relevant to the work of this committee as many, if not all, of the goals of the baccalaureate degree at UW-Eau Claire can be viewed as interdisciplinary.
- Academic Policies Committee (APC) -- This governance committee is responsible for recommending policies for academic programs of the University as they relate to items such as the creation and/or abolition of schools, departments, degree requirements, academic programs and standards, policies concerning grading, final examinations, class attendance, credit by examination, admission and transfer standards, and such related issues. The committee's charge also includes recommending policies and implementing procedures for audit and review of academic programs, in accordance with policies of the Board of Regents and/or System Administration. Assessment data will be forwarded to APC for examination and action regarding general education curriculum as appropriate.
- Departmental Curriculum Committees -- Each academic departmental curriculum committee or its equivalent is responsible for reviewing curriculum, class schedules and course loads, University catalog copy, and program revisions. Departmental curriculum committees will review assessment data to effect change of general education courses at the departmental level. Review of assessment results should provide the impetus for curricular discussion and reform, where appropriate.
- University Senate -- The Senate is the deliberative body empowered to act for the University Faculty and University Academic Staff in matters of faculty and academic staff responsibility and concern. The University Assessment Plan and certain curricular changes are reviewed by the Senate.
- The University Planning Committee -- This committee is chaired by the Chancellor of the institution and has primary responsibility to chart the course of the university over the long range. A yearly report will be submitted to the Planning Committee on the results of assessment activities and the accomplishment of the goals that will be used in the planning process.
