Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. College of Arts and Sciences Assessment Report. Criterion Y / N Comments/recommendations

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1 Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne College of Arts and Sciences 2007 Assessment Report Criterion / Comments/recommendations All departments/programs have assessment plans Assessment measures are linked to program goals Assessment Plan Standards in Paragraph III.B.1. of SD have been followed. All departments/programs submitted reports Departments/programs use assessment for program improvement (please include examples from each program). Departments/programs base recommendations on data Prior year recommendations were implemented School* support for assessment requested/needed All A&S departments have assessment plans. The following A&S programs lack assessment plans: American Studies, Ethnic and Cultural Studies, Film Studies, International Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies. es es The following departments/programs with plans failed to submit reports: International Language and Culture Studies, Philosophy, Physics, Sociology, ative American Studies. Many programs reported program improvements made as a result of assessment. See note 1 for those that did. In some cases implementation is still in progress. o requests received. School*-level review effective /A Departmental reporting is based on SD Our departments are not asked to supply this information. University-level support for A&S departments will need to be introduced

2 assessment requested/needed Recommended changes to department/program plans Recommendations to Assessment Council to the E-Lumen assessment system and receive training on it once it is in place. o changes recommended. The college believes that the attention to assessment plans in the program review process should provide the impetus for departmental changes. one made. *includes ACCS & Honors Program Revised and approved by the Assessment Council, February 2005 otes 1a. Audiology and Speech Sciences is using assessment results to improve the quality of student writing through a special section of W233 developed by the writing program. It is also using assessment results to identify and acquire resources needed to improve the program, which included including a need for more clinic space and computers. 1b. Chemistry is responding to weaknesses identified in its alumni surveys, and is changing survey questions to improve the assessment process. Chemistry also reports making changes to its Introductory Biochemistry reports based upon weaknesses identified by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Professional Training (CPT). 1c. Political Science responded to its alumni survey by considering additions to its curriculum suggested by alumni. The addition of a new certificate program in Certificate in Civic Education and Public Advocacy and related courses have been made possible by the addition of a new faculty member. The department s ability to offer new courses is constrained by its small number of full-time faculty. 1d. Psychology improved its exit examination by asking for a report which compared IPFW results to those of peer institutions. 1e. The Liberal Studies program identified a need for more graduate-only seminars for its Master s degree students. Since most M.L.S. courses are controlled by other departments, a university effort is needed in this area. The recent revision to the M.A. in English which established a core of graduate-only seminars is a good first step in this area. 1f. The Journalism program is using survey data to improve their offerings for example in response they increased the number of sections of photography classes offered.

3 1g. In light of collected data and discussions, the Mathematics Department recently decided to revise their M.A.T. degree. 1h. In light of weaknesses identified in student portfolios, the Department of English and Linguistics is beginning the process of revising its undergraduate core requirements for the English major. 1i. The Department of Communication is taking measures to improve data collection by moving towards an electronic portfolio system. 1j. in response to assessment data, the Department of History is has implemented the suggestion of requiring history majors take HIST G217. Specific Departmental/Program Comments Anthropology: The department reported that no assessment was required by the departmental assessment plan for the academic year. While the plan requires no reporting, the committee would be interested in any ongoing program improvements based on previously collected data. Audiology and Speech Sciences: Overall, the department is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is needed in improving the assessment process, please contact the Chair of the the Office of Assessment (Erin Specific comments about degree programs follow. B.S. - A wonderfully detailed report that is seriously using assessment to improve the program. Departmental needs noted in the report were passed on to the Dean of the College and the Assessment Council. Biology: Overall, the department is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is needed in improving the assessment process, please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and A.A. - o graduates in , therefore no data provided. B.S. - A detailed and conscientious assessment report. In most cases assessment criterion have been developed for program goals, and are being met. In one case (post-test 70% criterion), the department reports that it is analyzing the issue. Since this is essentially the same response given in last year s report, the committee would be interested in details of the progress being made in such analysis.

4 M.A. Assessment goals are linked to criterion where available, and criterion are being met. Chemistry: Overall, the department is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is B.S. - A wonderfully detailed report that is seriously using assessment to improve the program. Improvements made and departmental needs noted in the report were passed on to the Dean of the College and the Assessment Council. The committee suggests that the department contact the Director of Writing for assistance in improving the quality of writing in undergraduate research reports. Communication: Overall, the department is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is B.A., B.S.,M.A., M.S. - The department gives a detailed assessment. for both their undergraduate and MA programs. The department uses five randomly selected papers from 300-level (sophomore and juniors mainly) communication courses and five randomly selected 500-level (seniors) communication courses to assess both written and verbal skills. The department uses effectively, bar graphs to show the improvement over the previous assessment. There is a general improvement at the 300-level, but the most significant improvement is at the 500- level. They also intend to have alumni survey, the next being (previous one was in 2005). The department intends to migrate to the electronic portfolios systems. The department should be commended for taking assessment seriously. English and Linguistics: Overall, the department is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is needed in improving the assessment process, please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Assessment Committee (Steve ipfw.edu) or the Office of A.A.- The department had nothing to report for its AA program since no students graduated with this degree during B.A.- The report for the B.A. program was satisfactory. The department has been in the process of revising its assessment plan and will continue to do so in light of the new baccalaureate framework. The department is clearly serious about assessment and continues to utilize multiple measures of success. It might be useful to specify how the sample of papers were selected for the interim and exit assessments (randomly?) and why four (of 15) were selected for evaluation.

5 M.A., M.A.T. - The report for the MAT and MA programs was also satisfactory. We agree (as we did last year) that implementing a portfolio assessment procedure will represent an improvement to the current internal exit measure. Geosciences: The department reported some problems with its assessment processes which prevented the collection of useful data. These problems are being reviewed by its Committee to Review Academic Programs (CRAP-an unfortunate acronym). If more assistance is needed in improving the assessment process, please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Assessment Committee (Steve ipfw.edu) or the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu). Specific comments about degree programs follow. B.A and B.S. Interim measures are based on the Structural Biology course, and data was not made available by the instructor who left IPFW after the Spring 2006 term. The department is in the process of attempting to hire a structural geologist. The department reports dissatisfaction with its exit test, and reports the department will tackle this problem once it is is back at full strength. A survey of undergraduates is conducted every other year, and the department indicates it should have results for next year s report. History: Overall, the department is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is needed in improving the assessment process, please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and B.A. - The History department lists three ways they assess their BA program; student portfolio (HIST H217, HIST J495, and any other two papers selected by the students above 100-level), survey of graduating history majors, and review of course syllabi, assignments, and examination. o data is presented for this year as the next assessment is scheduled for The department has implemented the suggestion of requiring history majors take HIST G217. We commend the department for it. International Language and Culture Studies: This department failed to submit an assessment report. Please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Assessment Committee (Steve ipfw.edu) or the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in identifying resources needed to make assessment a useful tool for program improvement. Mathematical Sciences: Overall, the department is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is needed in improving the assessment process, please contact the Chair of the College

6 of Arts and Sciences Assessment Committee (Steve ipfw.edu) or the Office of A.A.,B.S.,MAT - The Department of Mathematical Sciences utilizes multiple measures of assessment, such as examining their students academic work and their students opinions and attitudes regarding the program. The Department has again provided a detailed and well-organized report. otably, the Department continues to implement modifications to their program and monitor specified outcomes. For example, in light of collected data and discussions, they recently decided to revise their MAT degree. In addition, they are now offering an undergraduate geometry course and hosting an annual pizza dinner that includes alumni talking about their experiences. The Department clearly takes assessment seriously. Another excellent report. Please note that the table format used for the report is acceptable but not necessary. Philosophy: This department failed to submit an assessment report. Please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Assessment Committee (Steve ipfw.edu) or the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in identifying resources needed to make assessment a useful tool for program improvement. Physics: This department failed to submit an assessment report. Please contact the Chair of the the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in identifying resources needed to make assessment a useful tool for program improvement. Political Science: Overall, the department is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is B.A. - A narrative report which reported that is seriously using assessment to improve the program. A summary of the data upon which the department based its findings would be useful. Improvements made and departmental needs noted in the report were passed on to the Dean of the College and the Assessment Council. The committee was impressed by the department s use of a discipline-specific writing course developed by the department which, based upon anecdotal data provided by the department, might serve as a model for other departments. The committee suggests that the department might find the development of a formal rubric for evaluating and reporting on the success of the senior capstone seminar useful. Psychology: Once again the department provided a wonderfully detailed assessment report which indicates the commitment of this department to program improvement. If more assistance is needed in improving the assessment process, please contact the Chair of the College of Arts

7 and A.A. Based upon the fact that most of the small number of students who complete this program go on to bachelor s degree programs, the department s survey of graduates failed to indicate any need for changes top this program. The department reports that it is not a major focus of their assessment efforts, and had no suggestions for program improvements. The committee concurs with this assessment. B.A. The department reports on a subset of its assessment measures each year, with a three-year rotation. This year s report focused on the exit exam. This year the department requested a special report from ETS comparing IPFW results to those in peer institutions. Based upon this analysis, the department reported that Our department mean total score is at the 90 th percentile of the department mean scores for the special comparison group. Each of the subscores is at the 70 th percentile or higher; in fact, only one subscore is below the 85 th percentile. It is quite fair to say that compared to students at comparable universities, our students performance is very good indeed. The committee applauds the department s performance as well as its assessment of that performance. The department had no recommendations for changes based upon this year s assessment. Sociology: This department failed to submit an assessment report. Please contact the Chair of the the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in identifying resources needed to make assessment a useful tool for program improvement. American Studies: This program has no assessment plan. Please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Assessment Committee (Steve ipfw.edu) or the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in helping the program develop a process for using assessment to improve the program. Ethnic and Cultural Studies: This program is inactive, and presently has no coordinator. Film Studies: This program has no assessment plan. Please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in helping the program develop a process for using assessment to improve the program. Gerontology: Overall the program is doing fine work in assessment, in spite of the fact that the program is assessing a certificate program since it has no majors to assess. If more assistance is Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in identifying resources needed to make assessment a useful tool for program improvement. Specific comments:

8 Gerontology Certificate: This is a nice attempt. Would recommend that the certificate program use something concrete, like a gerontology course(s) as one of the bases for their assessment. The survey data is limited and as such, the findings are tentative. International Studies: This program has no assessment plan. Please contact the Chair of the the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in helping the program develop a process for using assessment to improve the program. Journalism: Overall the program is doing fine work in assessment, in spite of the fact that the program has no majors to assess. If more assistance is needed in improving the assessment process, please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Assessment Committee (Steve ipfw.edu) or the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in identifying resources needed to make assessment a useful tool for program improvement. Liberal Studies: Overall, the program is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is M.L.S. The program s use of a focus group to identify strengths and weaknesses of the program seems very useful. Strategies to improve survey response should be identified. Improvements made and program needs noted in the report were passed on to the Dean of the College and the Assessment Council. ative American Studies: This program failed to submit an assessment report. Please contact the Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Assessment Committee (Steve ipfw.edu) or the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in identifying resources needed to make assessment a useful tool for program improvement. Peace and Conflict Studies: This program has no assessment plan. Please contact the Chair of the the Office of Assessment (Erin Frew-Frewe@ipfw.edu) for assistance in helping the program develop a process for using assessment to improve the program. Women s Studies: Overall, the program is doing fine work in assessment. If more assistance is A.A., B.A. - As indicated last year, the Women s Studies program has produced a revised assessment plan. This new assessment plan looks very promising. It includes assessment of portfolios (interim and exit), student self-evaluation measure, and an alumni survey. It

9 might be helpful to develop a set of specific criteria and rating scales to use in the evaluation of the portfolios.