Educational Program Institutional Effectiveness Summary 2008 ‐ 2011 Degree Program: Bachelor of Arts Studio Art
College/School: College of Arts and Sciences Department: Art and Art History Submission Date: February 29, 2012 Student Learning Outcomes Students will demonstrate
1. Students should be able to communicate effectively about their own work and the work
of others, considering processes and concepts behind that work with a critical eye.
2. Students will develop competence in art-making techniques and processes, and be
proficient in at least one medium.
3. Students should be able to work independently, identifying and analyzing problems and
working through possible solutions, using practiced art-making processes.
Assessment Methods 1. Senior Exhibit Oral Defense questions 2 and 3, scored using a rubric aligned to the ability
to communicate about their own work and the work of others (SLO 1)
2. Analysis of student artwork at mid-semester presentation reviews and at Senior Exhibit
(SLO 2)
3. Students are required to participate in a course with a significant independent component,
either a DIS, a special problems course, or an advanced course. They are judged on the
pieces selected for inclusion in the Senior Exhibit. (SLO 3)
Summary of Assessment Results SLO 1 was assessed in all three academic years. Scores on the Oral Defense were fairly steady
across the three years, with overall score averages of 2.30, 2.45, and 2.29. In all three years,
scores on question 3, “Explain the technical processes in your work,” were slightly higher than
scores on question 2, “Tell us about the creative process of the work.” Although the faculty is
satisfied in general with the results, there are always a few students who do not meet
expectations (27% in 2010-2011). We noted that December graduates score slightly lower than
May graduate, possibly due to the fact that these students lacked one or more graduation
requirements in the previous spring.
SLO 2 was assessed in 2009 – 2010 and 2010 – 2011. Faculty noticed that students who are
proficient at one medium and whose artwork in one medium shows maturity are stronger majors
than students who choose to pursue a variety of mediums. Therefore, in 2009 – 2010, SLO 2 was
revised to drop the requirement for competence in multiple mediums (Students will develop
competence in a variety of art-making techniques and processes, and be proficient in at least one
medium.) Stronger students tend to have multiple pieces accessed for the exhibit. In 2010 – 2011
it was noted that, in general students who presented drawings for review were weak in this
medium compared to students concentrating in other mediums. Too often drawings presented
were obvious class assignments and lacked maturity. We would prefer to see mature drawings
developed independently.
SLO 3 was assessed in 2010 – 2011. As mentioned under SLO 2, not every student has the same
number of pieces selected for the exhibit, and too often works were obviously class assignment,
demonstrating differences in their ability to work independently. Faculty noted that often these
differences were between freshman-start and transfer students, with freshman-starters stronger
and better prepared to show a consistent body of artwork. While no solutions have been
implemented, the faculty is considering options for improving the performance of transfer
students.
Implemented Improvements Based on Assessment Results A number of changes to the curriculum have been made to address SLO 1. First, the core
requirements in art history were increased by six hours to provide students additional
opportunities for analyzing and critiquing the work of others and comparing it to their own work.
Also, effective Fall 2010, ART 476 Senior Exhibit was taken to a new level by increasing the
credit hours to three from the previous one-credit hour. Writing assignments were substantially
increased. Students are required to understand and write about the creative and technical process
viewed in the larger context of contemporary and historical figures and movements in art.
Students are required to meet with at least one other studio art professor to engage in a critical
dialogue of their artwork prior to faculty review of work to be included in Senior Exhibit.
Students are required to develop an art portfolio and write professional documents; résumé, artist
statement, graduate school essays, grant and exhibition proposals.
Two changes were made to address SLO 2. To address the deficiencies in drawing, we
developed a new Intermediate Drawing course (ART313) that that was first offered in Fall 2011.
This course expands the number of drawing courses offered and introduces a new intermediate
level of drawing other than Life Drawing. In this course students are required to work
independently on broad drawing projects. As we assess competence in a focused area of studio
this new course is intended to provide further opportunity to concentrate in drawing to encourage
students who focus on drawing to work more independently and be more proficient in that
medium. To provide additional opportunities to practice sculpture, a juried outdoor sculpture
project was created in which students submit sculptures for review of the entire faculty using a
scoring rubric for sculptures.
Documentation of Implemented Improvements Increased Hours of
Art History.pdf
ART476_course
action form.pdf
ART476 syllabus
highlighted.pdf
ART 313 Syllabus - Outdoor Sculpture
Fall 2011.pdf
Project Spring 2011.pd