Department or Program
Assessment of Student Learning Plan – Division of Student Life
Kansas State University
A. Department and Submission Date
Academic Year:
College:
Department:
Date:
2011-2012
Division of Student Life
McNair Scholars Program
June 21, 2011
B. Contact Person(s) for the Assessment Plans
Kathleen Greene, Director, Ph.D., McNair Scholars Program, kgreene@ksu.edu
C. Departmental Mission Statement
The mission of the McNair Scholars Program is to prepare undergraduate students who are
low-income and first-generation and/or underrepresented in higher education to complete
doctoral degrees. This preparation is offered in the form of classes, colloquia, advising,
tutoring, faculty mentoring, and completion of a Summer Research Internship.
D. Assessment of Student Learning Three-Year Plan
1. Student Learning Outcome(s)
a. List (or attach a list) all of the student learning outcomes for the department.
b. Identify outcomes that will be assessed in the first year of the assessment plan.
McNair scholars will be able to demonstrate:
Outcome 1: Effective communication skills appropriate to his/her discipline through oral and
visual presentations at K-State McNair Colloquia and McNair Research Conferences
and submission of final written research report.
Outcome 2: Appropriate discipline-based academic research skills.
Outcome 3: Having applied successfully to a post-baccalaureate program.
Special rationale for selecting these learning outcomes (optional):
[If applicable, provide a brief rationale for the learning outcomes that were selected]
Relationship to K-State Student Learning Outcomes (insert the program SLOs and check all that apply):
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Relationship to K-State Student Learning Outcomes (insert the program SLOs and check all that apply):
Program
SLOs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
University-wide SLOs (Undergraduate Programs)
Knowledge
Critical
Communication
Diversity
Academic /
Thinking
Professional
Integrity
X
x
x
X
X
x
x
x
x
X
X
x
x
Program SLO is
conceptually
different from
university SLOs
[NA for Student Life]
Program
SLOs
University-wide SLOs (Graduate Programs)
Knowledge
Skills
Attitudes and Professional
Conduct
Program SLO is
conceptually different
from university SLOs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2. How will the learning outcomes be assessed? What groups will be included in the assessment?
Outcome 1: By gathering feedback from staff and faculty mentors regarding communication
skills (direct) using an assessment of writing skills based on the students’ application
for the program, personal statement, and research proposal and abstract. Specific
areas to be assessed include: ability to convey ideas clearly, precisely, and with
depth; organization /sequence of ideas use of transitions and thesis statements; and
mastery of sentence structure (complexity, variation); and understanding of audience
(scholarly tone, vocabulary, etc.) Staff recommends goals for writing skills
development. Faculty Mentors reviews research proposal and final report and gives
written approval if student demonstrates effective communication skills appropriate
to the discipline. Both staff and faculty mentors will observe oral and visual
presentations and provide comments.
Outcome 2: By gathering feedback from faculty mentors about students’ research skills,
to include using discipline-based computer software and electronic
communication network (direct) using the following:
 Assessing the introduction and literature review of students’ research. Specific
areas to be assessed include: clearly explained research goals and rationale;
appropriate depth of inquiry and analysis; scholarly tone and appropriate use of
vocabulary; appropriateness of research to the discipline; organization easy to
follow, with good transitions. Appropriate number and quality of sources;
integration of sources with original ideas; sources cited and documented
appropriately.
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
Assessing students’ research methodology. Specific areas to be assessed
include: full description of all materials and equipment used; clear and complete
explanation of research procedures; scholarly tone and appropriate vocabulary
being used; specific name for the type of analysis being used appropriate to
discipline; and organization easy to follow with good transitions and good
procedural steps.

Assessing students’ final report. Faculty mentors review the full research report
to include the results and conclusions.
Faculty mentors written approval signifies students have acquired appropriate discipline-based
academic research skills.
Outcome 3: Applying successfully to a post-baccalaureate program. Assessing students’
post-baccalaureate program applications. Staff and faculty mentors provide
feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the application. Acceptance into
a post- baccalaureate program indicates that students have acquired effective
skills in writing an effective post-baccalaureate program application (indirect).
3. When will these outcomes be assessed? When and in what format will the results of the
assessment be discussed?
Outcome 1: Communication skills assessment (throughout the year).
 Assessment of writing skills to be assessed by Writing Skills Specialist and discussed
with student (fall, spring, and summer semesters).
Outcome 2: Research skills development (conducted each spring and summer semester).
 Students will complete a written research proposal using the prescribed format for
the discipline. Faculty mentors will review and discuss the research proposal with
students (spring).
 Students will write a research report using the prescribed format for the discipline.
Faculty mentors will review and discuss the research report with students (end of
summer semester).
Outcome 3: Successfully applying to post- baccalaureate program (conducted each fall
semester).
 Scholars will show acceptance letter that they received from a post- baccalaureate
program the McNair Associate Director.
Staff will continue to provide assistance to those scholars who are applying to a post-baccalaureate
program until they are accepted.
4. What is the unit’s process for using assessment results to improve student learning?
Assessment results will be utilized to focus on the areas that have been identified as needing more
emphasis in preparing McNair Scholars to apply for and complete doctoral degrees and to assess
professional development and training needs of staff.
Revised – Division of Student Life 2010
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