PROJECT GOAL

The purpose of this project is to identify, refine, and evaluate the assessment methods the College is using in each major for the institutional outcome of Communication. At the completion of this project, we will know the following for each major:

• What measures are currently being used to assess "Communication," according to the institutional definition. (by Dec. 2011)
• The frequency and process for this assessment (by Feb. 2012)
• The preliminary aggregate results, by major. (by May 2012)
• Whether there is evidence to revise the College's definition of Communication. (by June 2012)
• The process used to hardwire the departmental assessments into the College's annual assessment cycle. (by Oct. 2012)

REASONS FOR THE PROJECT

This project is a continuation of our efforts to develop comprehensive and systematic processes for assessing our 5 institutional outcomes. We have concluded (as a formal action project) the first institutional outcome we selected - Critical Thinking. This current project is an important next step in assessment and a demonstration of our committment to continuous improvement, as identified in our 2011 Systems Portfolio and affirmed through the Systems Portfolio Appraisal Feedback Report recently received from AQIP.

ORGANIZATIONAL AREAS AFFECTED

• All academic departments -- department leadership and teaching faculty
• Dean's Council
• Office of the Dean for Academic Affairs
• Office of the Dean for Assessment and Learning Support

KEY ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESS(ES)

• Assessment processes (goals as previously described)
• Teaching (modifying teaching/learning based on assessment results)

PROJECT TIME FRAME RATIONALE

We believe this is an aggressive timeline of this project but want to keep the time pressure on so as to build and maintain momentum. It is all too easy for assessment to become something that is supplanted by the tyranny of the urgent.

PROJECT SUCCESS MONITORING    

We will monitor our progress by breaking down the elements of the project into smaller segments with individual time targets, as described in section 1 (Project Goal).

PROJECT OUTCOME MEASURES   

This Action Project will be a success when we achieve a method for assessing "Communication" in every major and have implemented a process to report the assessment activities through the College's annual assessment report.