College of Applied Science and Technology
General Education Program Assessment
Learn More About the General Education Program
General Education Assessment Process
The collection and compilation of artifacts will be organized and managed by University Assessment Services, per the Provost’s charge. Each fall and spring semester, faculty teaching courses in the Inner, Middle, or Outer cores and the targeted Shared Learning outcome [Public Opportunity, Diverse and Global Perspectives, Critical Thinking and Inquiry and Lifelong Learning] under review will be invited to submit student artifacts that address the assessment items as outlined by a rubric which has been designed for each of the four Shared Learning Outcomes. This is a voluntary system with no penalty for not participating and faculty retain the autonomy to select the assignment for review.
1.) Invitation to participate
During the first week of the Fall and Spring semesters faculty teaching general education courses in a targeted Shared Learning Outcome will receive a letter inviting them to participate in the semester’s General Education assessment. Included in the letter will be the rubric representing the Shared Learning Outcome for which the assessment is targeted and for which the faculty member can identify an assignment that meets the criteria. Specific instructions will be provided regarding how the faculty should proceed if they elect to participate. The faculty member has 10 business days to respond to the invitation; a follow-up e-mail reminder will be sent 5 business days following the initial invitation.
2.) Faculty elect to participate and submit required information
After reviewing the rubric, faculty may elect to participate in the assessment process by identifying one (1) assignment [discovery activity, paper, speech, exam, etc.] that addresses the majority of the criteria outlined. Faculty will be instructed to complete an on-line Intent to Participate Form.
3.) Artifact preparation by faculty/students
Students will submit the designated assignment to faculty as usual. Faculty will collect the assignment to be submitted and bundle it for pick-up. Faculty will be provided an e-mail reminder regarding their participation in the Gen Ed assessment process.
4.) Artifact pick-up and return
Based upon the preferred date/time indicated by the faculty member on the original Intent to Participate form, a date, time, and location will be confirmed with the faculty member two weeks prior to pick-up. The faculty member will also receive an e-mail reminder of the scheduled pick-up date/time/location two days prior to its occurrence. Faculty may request a change in artifact pick-up at anytime via the UAS General Education Assessment – Change Artifact Pick-up page. A final date/time/location will always be confirmed with an e-mail message.
A member of the University Assessment Services staff will collect all artifacts on the confirmed date/time/location. The artifacts will be taken directly to the UAS office where they will be duplicated and returned within one (1) business day. All artifacts will be returned to the Department/School Office in a secured envelope which is labeled for the faculty member. To insure receipt of the returned artifacts a two-part signed receipt form will be used.
5.) Artifact review
The Gen Ed Assessment Review Teams will be populated by tenure track and 50% or greater appointment non-tenure track faculty and administrative professionals with teaching responsibilities. The review teams will be comprised of 2-3 persons who will review each artifact based upon the rubric for the Shared Learning Outcome. The team must reach a consensus since an “average” score is not possible based upon the rubric’s design.
6.) Data compiled
The data derived from the review teams will be compiled in conjunction with institutional background data to provide the most accurate results regarding student performance among the Shared Learning Outcomes.
7.) Data reported to Council for General Education
Results of the annual Institutional Artifact Portfolio assessment will be reported by University Assessment Services directly to the Council for General Education (CGE). The results will be reported by academic year and provided to the CGE on or before September 30th. The CGE will then evaluate the assessment results to make informed decisions about the General Education Program. A summary of CGE’s response to the annual results will be published in the Spring issue of University Assessment Services’ newsletter Progressive Measures.