DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION MASTER ASSESSMENT PLAN. DEPARTMENT: Communication ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR: Michael Karlberg MISSION STATEMENT:

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1 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION MASTER ASSESSMENT PLAN DEPARTMENT: Communication ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR: MISSION STATEMENT: Michael Karlberg We teach communication studies that nurture inclusive civil discourse, critical thinking, and cooperative solutions in a diverse global community. We offer opportunities to develop strong communication skills within a challenging liberal arts program. LEARNING OUTCOMES: WRITING: Students are able to write proficiently at college level. CRITICAL THINKING: Students are able to employ critical thinking skills. SPEECH: Students are able to speak proficiently in context. CONCEPTS: Students are able to apply communication concepts. METHODOLOGY: Students are able to understand methods for generating knowledge. TEAM WORK: Students are able to work cooperatively in small groups. ETHICS: Students are able to reflect on the ethical dimensions of actions. ASSESSMENT PLAN: The department s assessment plan consists of two related initiatives: 1) Direct and indirect measures of each student learning outcome will be used to formulate and implement plans aimed at improving each learning outcome. Every year the department will focus on a different learning outcome. Direct measures will include samples of student assignments collected from student exit portfolios, collected from our required research methods course (398), and collected from our capstone ethics course (498). Indirect measures will include exit portfolio reflections on each learning outcome, as well as survey data about each learning outcome collected from senior exit surveys and alumni surveys. Rubrics will be created for the assessment of each outcome. The Outcomes Assessment Schedule, below, provides details regarding the time-table for this initiative. Exit survey questions and alumni survey questions are also included below. 2) A curriculum mapping process will be used to ensure that all majors receive introductory and advanced training for all learning outcomes. The Curriculum Mapping Grid and Course Outcomes Grid, below, will be used in this process.

2 OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE: Year Outcome Direct Measures Indirect Measures Use of Information 2012/13 Writing exit portfolio writing sample 2013/14 Critical Thinking exit portfolio writing sample 2014/15 Speech exit portfolio speech exit portfolio reflection on writing exit survey writing data alumni survey writing data exit portfolio reflection on critical thinking exit survey critical thinking data alumni survey critical thinking data exit portfolio reflection on speech exit survey speech data alumni survey speech data 2015/16 Methodology 398 assignment exit portfolio reflection on methodology exit survey methodology data alumni survey methodology data 2016/17 Concepts 498 assignment exit portfolio reflection on concepts exit survey concepts data alumni survey concepts data 2017/18 Team Work 498 assignment exit portfolio reflection on team work exit survey team work data alumni survey team work data 2018/19 Ethics 498 assignment exit portfolio reflection on ethics exit survey ethics data alumni survey ethics data Assess writing samples using writing rubric, review portfolio reflection and survey data, formulate and implement plan to improve writing outcomes. Assess critical thinking samples using critical thinking rubric, review portfolio reflection and survey data, formulate and implement plan to improve critical thinking outcomes. Assess speech samples using speech rubric, review portfolio reflection and survey data, formulate and implement plan to improve speech outcomes. Assess methodology assignments using methodology rubric, review portfolio reflection and survey data, formulate and implement plan to improve methodology outcomes. Assess concepts assignments using concepts rubric, review portfolio reflection and survey data, formulate and implement plan to improve concepts outcomes. Assess team work assignments using team work rubric, review portfolio reflection and survey data, formulate and implement plan to improve team work outcomes. Assess ethics assignments using ethics rubric, review portfolio reflection and survey data, formulate and implement plan to improve ethics outcomes.

3 EXIT SURVEY QUESTIONS: Response scale: Strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, strongly disagree To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to speak proficiently in diverse contexts? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to write proficiently at college level? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to apply communication concepts in diverse contexts? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to understand research methods for generating knowledge? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to employ critical thinking skills? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to work cooperatively in small groups? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to reflect on the ethical dimensions of actions?

4 ALUMNI SURVEY QUESTIONS: Response scale: Very important, important, neutral, unimportant, not at all important Since graduating with a major in Communication, how important have the following capabilities been in your work: The ability to speak proficiently in different contexts. The ability to write proficiently. The ability to apply communication concepts in diverse contexts. The ability to understand methods for generating knowledge. The ability to think critically. The ability to work cooperatively in small groups. The ability to reflect on the ethical dimensions of your actions. Since graduating with a major in Communication, how important have the following capabilities been in your civic life: The ability to speak proficiently in different contexts. The ability to write proficiently. The ability to apply communication concepts in diverse contexts. The ability to understand methods for generating knowledge. The ability to think critically. The ability to work cooperatively in small groups. The ability to reflect on the ethical dimensions of your actions. Response scale: Strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, strongly disagree To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to speak proficiently in diverse contexts? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to write proficiently? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to apply communication concepts in diverse contexts? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to understand research methods for generating knowledge? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to employ critical thinking skills? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to work cooperatively in small groups? To what extent do you agree that your communication major prepared you to reflect on the ethical dimensions of actions?

5 CURRICULUM MAPPING GRID: Required courses Elective Courses WP Elective Courses Course: 101 or SPEECH Students are able to speak proficiently in context. WRITING Students are able to write proficiently at college level. CONCEPTS Students are able to apply communication concepts. METHODOLOGY Students are able to understand methods for generating knowledge. CRITICAL THINKING Students are able to employ critical thinking skills. TEAM WORK Students are able to work cooperatively in groups. ETHICS Students are able to reflect on the ethical dimensions of actions. 1 = Introductory; 2 = Advanced Courses not included above = 236, 238, 339, 300, 400, 436, 450, 451, 456, 459

6 COURSE OUTCOMES GRID: Course number & name: Instructor: CORE PROGRAM-LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES Assignments Level SPEECH: Students are able to speak proficiently in context. WRITING: Students are able to write proficiently at college level. CONCEPTS: Students are able to apply communication concepts. METHODOLOGY: Students are able to understand methods for generating knowledge. CRITICAL THINKING: Students are able to employ critical thinking skills. TEAM WORK: Students are able to work cooperatively in small groups. ETHICS: Students are able to reflect on the ethical dimensions of actions. Note: Courses have additional course-level learning outcomes. Course-specific assignments: Pa = Participation Wr = Writing Pr = Presentation(s) Ex = Exam(s) Gr = Group project(s) SL = Service Learning 1 = Intro 2 = Advanced add categories as needed