Meeting of the Faculty Senate
General Education Committee
325 Graff Main Hall
October 5, 2015
2015-2016 Members: Colin Belby
Sam Cocks
Nabamita Dutta
Kenny Hunt
Heather Jett
Lisa Kobs
Bryan Kopp
Meredith Thomsen
Mary Tollefson
Geography
Philosophy
Economics
Computer Science
Library
Biology
English
Biology
Music
Present: Belby, Cocks, Dutta, Hunt, Jett, Kobs, Kopp, Thomsen, Tollefson
Consultants and Guests: Patrick Barlow, Chris Bakkum, Georges Cravins, Peter Stoval, Becky
Vianden, Michelle Sturm
1. Meeting commenced at 3:30 pm.
2. Motion to approve Minutes from 9/21/15. M/S/P (9/0/0).
3. Discussion of Department of Educational Studies’ request for waiver from the current
assessment cycle for EDS 203, EDS 206, and EFN 205.
• Interim Chair Dr. Adrienne Loh explained how EDS 206 is a new course taught by
new faculty, EDS 203 is a revision of an existing course taught by new faculty and
recently approved as a Gen Ed course, and the format of EFN 205 has changed
significantly and is coordinated by new faculty. Dr. Loh indicated the combination of
new/restructured courses taught by new faculty may limit their ability to develop
effective assessment tools until the classes have been offered 1-2 semesters.
• Georges Cravins, GEAC Chair, stated that the majority of GEAC supported the
request for a waiver.
• Motion to approve waiver for EDS 203 and EDS 206 from assessment during this two
year cycle. M/S/P (9/0/0)
• Motion to approve waiver for EFN 205 from assessment during this two year cycle.
M/S/F (0/0/9)
4. Review of Taskstream modifications to the “Form A” process
• Patrick Barlow provided GEC with documentation on how the existing Forms A, B,
and C used in the General Education Assessment process were transitioned into the
new Taskstream software.
• Discussion ensued on the roll GEC plays in the approval of requirements added to
Taskstream that were not previously on Forms A, B, or C. GEC members agreed that
these changes require the approval of the GEC.
• The focus of the discussion focused on the addition to the Taskstream Assessment
Plan that courses provide a “benchmark for student performance on this task”.
Members of the GEC had a brief discussion on benchmarks, including why they are
used and how they might benefit the General Education Assessment process.
•
Patrick Barlow indicated the benchmark provision is standard within the Taskstream
software and was thought to be useful during a program’s assessment planning phase.
This, and other changes, were reviewed by members of GEAC during the summer. He
indicated that benchmarks are already being used indirectly by programs during the
analysis of results section of the assessment process, and this would make them more
explicitly established prior to data collection.
• Members of the GEC stated that if we are going to require benchmarks then we need
to be clear about how we are going to use them and we need to provide guidance on
their development.
• Patrick Barlow stated it would be easy to remove the benchmark line from
Taskstream, or he could add text to provide guidance.
• Given constraints of the October 15, 2015 deadline for submission of assessment
plans, GEC requested the benchmark provision be made optional to Taskstream users.
The GEC will revisit the issue at a future point.
• Motion to add the word “optional” to the “benchmark for student performance on this
task” text found in the Taskstream Assessment Plan. M/S/P (9/0/0)
5. Discussion of SLO Alignment Survey approved by the GEC committee during Spring 2015.
• Kenny Hunt will complete the survey by adding in all General Education courses and
he will include information that explains how the survey will be used.
• The GEC agreed to wait until after Oct. 15 to distribute the survey to Department
chairs. Chairs will then distribute the survey to those they deem appropriate.
• Further discussion of the survey will take place at the following GEC meeting.
6. Meeting adjourned at 5:01 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Colin Belby