PNC Assessment - RECENT NEWS!    2011     2010      2009

POSTER for Assessment of Student Learning Academy shared at annual Conference - April 2012 A poster representing the latest update of assessment at Purdue North Central was shared at annual Higher Learning Commission conference in Chicago, IL. by Dave Pratt, Director of Learning and Technology.  View a copy of the poster that was shared. New Assessment Report voted on and accepted by Assessment Steering Committee - March 2012 A new reporting tool developed by the Assessment Steering Committee using Qualtrics (an online survey tool), will be the new format for academic programs to report their ongoing assessments to the campus.  This will replace the BALOTS online reporting tool that was used the previous two years.  Faculty grew dissastified with the reporting features of the existing system and felt as though the report asked for too many details.  View Assessment Reporting for more information.

Assessment Resources Assessment Home Recent News! Academy for Assessment of Student Learning Assessment Reporting Student Outcomes OTHER Related Assessment Steering Institutional Research General Education Accreditation Helpful Links

Assessment Fest 2012:  "LEAP Into Assessment" - January 2012

The 4^th annual Assessment Festival took place on January 5^th, 2012 with 62 faculty in attendance to view 11 program/ department posters displayed.  The event focused on the recently adopted Essential Learning Outcomes developed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. All posters focused on new and improved ways of utilizing assessment.  This year's format was different as it included not only the typical poster format, but a special presentation with a question and answer session led by Professor Tom Brady from the Engineering Department.

Participants were given a survey to complete in which 90% of 29 survey respondents reported that the event this year helped them become "more aware of what forms of assessment are being implemented by other programs across campus". The majority indicated that they are "more aware of data-driven decisions made on campus" and agreed that this event "helped increase a culture of assessment on campus". Participants reported that the event helped them understand program assessment better.

One faculty member commented, "This is a very important event that takes place on campus...keep it going".  Another mentioned, "We've come quite far in the past four years".  This event was led by the Assessment Steering Committee and sponsored by the Academic Affairs Office.  View a PPT summarizing the results of the event.  

----------------------2011 NEWS---------------------

BALOTS UPDATE-  March 2011

The following graphs provide the percentage of programs reporting on each of the phases in BALOTS (online assessment reporting tool for programs).  While a large majority of programs reported in the initial phases, several programs are missing reports on their later stages of assessment.

Third Annual Assessment Fest: Closing the Loop

The Third Annual Assessment Fest, which was held on January 6, 2011, brought faculty together to share assessment ideas, conviviality and good food. More than 60 individuals attended and viewed 14 poster exhibits illustrating assessment for 19 degree and 2 non-degree programs. The “Closing the Loop ” theme explored the possibilities of using information gathered from measurements of student performance to improve curriculum and the educational experience. All Departments prepared exhibits.

                               

The Fest is part of PNC’s effort to make program and learning assessment an integral part of its mission to provide excellence in instruction. Quality requires more than good intentions and hard work; an examination of results and continuous improvement are equally necessary. These have been a longstanding practice in the Education, Engineering and Nursing Department whose accreditation agencies have traditionally required assessment. The task is more challenging in the humanities where creativity and competence are less quantifiable. Imagination and experimentation, that is trial and error, are required. An unexamined life may not be worth living, nor is an unassessed degree not worth offering.    

The Third Annual Assessment Fest was organized by the Assessment Steering Committee (Linda Duttlinger, Janusz Duzinkiewicz [chair], Debra Hollingworth Pratt and Charlotte Strahm), who thank Vice Chancellor Schmid, Cynthia Roberts and the assessment heads of all the departments for their help with this event. Special thanks go to Christabel Rogalin (General Education) and Aaron Warren (Mathematics) for preparing non-degree assessment posters. Linda Duttlinger has most generously donated the chili for all three assessment festivals. Finally, thank you to all those who attended!

Below are the results from a survey given to 42 participants.

This event helped me better understand program assessment. Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 0% 2% 12% 50% 36%

As a result of this event, I am more aware of assessments being done by other programs across campus.

This event provided me with new ideas on how my own program can improve assessment efforts.

I am aware of some data-driven decisions that are made by programs on this campus.

The annual assessment festival has helped increase a “culture of assessment” on campus.

----------------------2010 NEWS---------------------

BALOTS UPDATE 4/29/10

Phase 2 of BALOTS identified the performance criteria, learning activities, and assessment methods of at least one student learning outcome in the program.  65% of programs are up to date on their program assessment reporting as of April 29, 2010.  Phase 3 incorporates reporting the findings of at least one assessment that has been conducted and suggestions for change based on that data.

Information UPDATED 4/29/10

There is now a video available which helps Assessment Coordinators with adding Phase 2 data into BALOTS.

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Poster Shared at Higher Learning Commission annual Meeting

Purdue University North Central was well represented at the annual conference of the Higher Learning Commission in Chicago, IL with a poster presentation sharing campus-wide efforts related to assessment.  PNC has been part of the Academy for the Assessment of Student Learning since spring 2009 and was invited to present at this year’s conference a poster which demonstrated the results of their project “Celebrating Assessment”.  Dr. Karen Schmid, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, commented that Purdue North Central displayed the “best looking poster” and that it was “received very well by conference participants.”  The poster is currently on display in the faculty lounge for those interested in viewing it.

Presentation on BALOTS at 2010 HLC annual Meeting

Dave Pratt co-presented with Christian Reiner, on the topic, “Standards, Structure, and Flexibility: Three Keys to Assessment Reporting” at the Higher Learning Commission’s annual meeting in Chicago, IL. This presentation focused on the elements of the new online assessment reporting tool (BALOTS) adopted and used by bachelor degree programs at Purdue North Central since spring 2009. Dr. Christian Reiner is the Director of Assessment at Purdue University West Lafayette.

2010 Assessment Festival a Success!

The 2nd Annual Assessment Festival, hosted by the Assessment Steering Committee and sponsored by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs office, was held Thursday, January 7 following the faculty workshop.  The theme for this year’s assessment festival was “Assessment Road Trip”.   According to Dr. David Pratt, Chair of Assessment Steering Committee, “assessment at PNC is similar to a road trip:  we’re committed to our destination, we’re in it together, and it is definitely a journey”.  Despite the poor weather, over 50 found their way to LSF 144 where the event was held.  In addition to a chili and cornbread luncheon, participants of this year’s festival were able to view posters summarizing assessment efforts completed recently by bachelor degree programs across campus.

View a slideshow of the event!

AAC&U Value Rubrics Available Online

Access rubrics

HLC Academy Group Welcomes Dr. Kathleen McKinney!

The Higher Learning Commission Academy for the Assessment of Student Learning group at PNC was pleased to bring Dr. Kathleen McKinney, of Illinois State University to campus for a presentation on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) during the fall faculty workshop.  SoTL has been defined as a "systematic reflection on teaching and learning made public." In collaboration with the Faculty Affairs Committee, and with support from the VCAA’s office, Dr. McKinney was able to make a one hour presentation and facilitate several small group discussions. 

Dr. McKinney’s presentation was well received by the faculty.  Survey results following the lecture found that 90% Strongly Agreed or Agreed that Dr. McKinney was an “effective and dynamic speaker”, and 75% Strongly Agreed or Agreed that the presentation “helped me understand the importance of SoTL in my profession”.  Also, 85% of the faculty responded that they were interested in learning more about the topic.  One faculty member commented that the presentation was “very timely and important for PNC!”

                   

Dr. Kathleen McKinney is Cross Chair in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and Professor of Sociology at Illinois State University. Her most recent book is Enhancing Student Learning Through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. McKinney is involved in the SoTL movement working with the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) Campus Program and the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSoTL) of which she is a founding member. McKinney is a 2003-2004 Carnegie Scholar. She has also received numerous teaching awards including Illinois State University’s Outstanding University Teacher, and the American Sociological Association’s Hans O. Mauksch Award for Contributions to Undergraduate Education and Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award.

Following the faculty workshop, a new faculty group was established called, “Scholars Investigating Successful Student Learning” (SISSL).  During this orientation meeting, Dr. McKinney shared ideas on how to promote a successful support group.  Twenty four faculty members participated and many expressed interest in continuing with the group and pursuing scholarship related to teaching and learning.  The SISSL group has planned their first meeting for Wednesday, September 9^th, from 12:00-1:00 in the university faculty dining room area.  All faculty who are interested in SoTL are invited.

----------------------2009 NEWS---------------------

BALOTS First Entry a Success

One hundred percent of PNC bachelor degree programs entered in the first stage of information required of BALOTS, a new online reporting tool for program assessment.  This first stage of reporting included each program to report a contextual description of their program as well as provide the Student Learning Outcomes.  Dr. Shirley Keeton has been working to analyze the outcomes to determine similarities and differences across programs, and to compare program outcomes with our current general education outcomes.

The next reporting date for BALOTS is October 31, where programs will be adding more specific information about their Student Learning Outcomes and ways in which they are measuring it.

Assessment Fest '09 a Success!
More than sixty faculty participated in the Assessment Festival on Thursday, January 8th put on by the Assessment Steering Committee and Vice Chancellor's Office.  A chili and cornbread lunch was served and assessment materials from each program were made available to participants.  All documents shared at the festival can be found here.  See a cool slide show of the event.

Assessment Steering Committee (from left to right) includes:
Dave Pratt (chair), Debra Pratt, Linda Duttlinger, Cindy Roberts, Janusz Duzinkiewicz, and Carin Chuang

New Online Tool Adopted for PNC Programs!
In order to standardize the way that programs report assessment data, Purdue North Central is adopting an online tool called BALOTS in order to collect and report data on program outcomes more systematically.  Designed by Christian Reiner & Jason Fish from Purdue University, BALOTS is already being used successfully by many programs on the West Lafayette campus.  Soon, BALOTS will be configured to be used at PNC. 

An orientation to this online system is scheduled for January 23^rd from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in LSF 02 and open to all. View what BALOT’s home page looks like.  View a portion of a PowerPoint created by Reiner & Fish which describes the features of BALOT’s compared to the six fundamental questions asked of the Higher Learning Commission. 

Accepted into the Academy!
As part of preparing for the upcoming accreditation visit, PNC has applied and been accepted to the HLC Academy for Assessment of Student Learning.  This honor is given to institutions in order to improve the assessment of student learning through "action projects" that occur on each campus during a four-year period. These projects and their results are shared electronically and through interaction with other institutions of higher learning.

Team of Nine Faculty Attend IUPUI Assessment Workshop!
Nine faculty members from various colleges across campus represented PNC at the Annual IUPUI Assessment Institute in Indianapolis last October.  While some were new and some were experienced with assessment, all came away with valuable information and best practices for assessment.  Many ideas were shared during and after the conference by the nine attendees.  Vice Chancellor, Dr. Schmid, who suggested the idea of attending this conference, led the group in discussions following the conference about what could be done to help improve campus assessment practices.

The INDI-9 Faculty include (from left to right) Jerry Holt, Shirley Keeton, Cyndi Montgomery, Jason Curtis, Dave Pratt, Silvia Lorente-Murphy, Jonathan Swarts. Jeff Shires, and Aaron Warren.