MEMO
Date:
Saturday, April 18, 2009
To:
George Grant, Dean, College of Community and Public Service (CCPS)
From:
Stephen Burton, Chair, University Assessment Committee
Re:
Assessment Plan Review, Public and Non-Profit Administration
CC:
Mark Hoffman, Director, Public and Non-Profit Administration
Julie Guevara, Accreditation and Assessment Office, Provost Office
The University Assessment Committee has reviewed the Public and Non-Profit Administration
plan for assessing student learning outcomes. Please find attached the UAC review comments.
It would appear that that Public and Non-Profit Administration has undertaken an authentic
approach to assessing the services provided to the students. We have recommended that the
unit examine their student learning outcomes (objectives) and assessments more closely to
make sure that 1) the objectives are written as a student learning outcome and 2) the
assessment are aligned with the objectives.
We want to remind the unit that this assessment report represents a snapshot of current
assessment practices and findings within Public and Non-Profit Administration, but the
assessment for continual improvement is an ongoing process. Therefore, the UAC encourages
Public and Non-Profit Administration to begin collecting data, discussing the findings with
faculty, identifying action plans for improving services, and revising the assessment plan as
necessary.
Future assessment reports and plans should include any additions/changes requested by the
UAC.
If you have any questions regarding this review or would like additional support please contact
Stephen Burton – UAC chair, or Julie Guevara – Accreditation and Assessment Officer to set
up an appointment.
University Assessment Committee
Assessment Plan Comment Review Form
Unit: __Public and Non Profit Administration__________ Program: _______________________
Date: ___1/12/09____________
OBJECTIVES
1. Are the objectives appropriately associated with a goal?........................ YES PARTIALLY
NO
2. Are the objectives a clearly stated and measurable for the
desired outcome or end behavior?...........................................................YES PARTIALLY
NO
3. Is the verb in the objective observable and learner-centered?................ YES PARTIALLY
NO
Comments:
Some of your objectives are worded broadly to the point that some sound more like program goals
rather than student learning objectives. For example, objective 1 “to have graduates able to obtain a job
in public or nonprofit management, or enter graduate school” may be more appropriate in a self study.
For assessment report purposes the objective should be more student learning focused and provide
student learning outcomes that are measurable. Can you identify specific, measurable, skills and
knowledge that prepare your students to be successful in locating employment or pursuing graduate
school.
MEASURES:
4. Are the measures identified and fully described?.................................... YES PARTIALLY
NO
5. Is there a clear connection between the objectives
and the measures?.................................................................................... YES PARTIALLY
NO
Comments:
Several measures appeared to be based on rubric which is to be commended. The criteria for applying
these rubrics and the scale chosen were somewhat confusing. Perhaps an example of how the rubric
was applied to arrive at the final score for each student would help clarify the process. Measures seems
to rely heavily on one course PA307 and on writing samples. Are there other measures that could
provide information regarding critical thinking skills?
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
The UAC appreciates the work of the unit in constructing their assessment plan. It is clear that the unit
has been deliberate and thoughtful in their development of this plan.
In your future assessment reports and plans, include any requested additions/changes requested by the
UAC.
If not included in the assessment plan, please include in your report a schedule indicating when periodic
discussions about assessment occur with the unit-wide faculty. The UAC Philosophy statement
recommending the unit-wide discussion is found at:
[http://gvsu.edu/forms/uac/UACAssessmentPhilosophyandPolicy090905.doc ].
We look forward to reading your Assessment Report (2011).