Campus Assessment Network (CAN)
Notes from meeting of
September 30, 2010
The meeting of the Campus Assessment Network (CAN) was held Thursday, September 30, 2010 at
1:00 p.m. in Adams Hall Room B13.
Members present:
Rowene Linden (Accountancy), Carolinda Douglass (Assessment Services), Brian Lance (Assessment
Services), William Boelcke (Assessment Services), Bob Pulvermacher (Assessment Services), Greg
Long (College of Health and Human Sciences), Amy Franklin (Student Affairs and Enrollment
Management), David Walker (College of Education), Connie Fox (College of Education), Michelle
Picket (Academic Advising Center), Beth Towell (College of Business) and Amy Buhrow (College of
Business).
Announcements
Meeting was commenced. Members were introduced and thanked for their attendance.
Douglass announced upcoming assessment events:
The Marilee Bresciani workshop scheduled for October 15, 2010 will have two sessions. The
first will focus on identifying student learning and the second will focus on strategies for
baccalaureate reform. Online registration for the sessions is available through the Faculty
Development and Instructional Design Center’s website.
Discussion of Scholarship of Assessment
1. Walker discussed his work with Steve Wallace on a book chapter related to assessment
practices.
2. Long is working on a grant proposal related to “Learning in the 21st Century.” He is seeking
funding for a week-long institute devoted to global learning practices and establishment of a
learning inventory system around the campus.
3. Douglass discussed her work with Boelcke related to NSSE data.
4. Fox is working on a now 11-year assessment project; the project has just led to a third book.
5. Franklin presented at a NASPA conference on a topic related to “Using Technology to Expand
Adoption of Assessment Practices.” The work is related to video-taping assessment procedures
using PE Metrics, and creating a database of these tapes.
6. Walker is teaching a Response to Intervention Workshop that is related to assessment, and is
developing a primer related to the same.
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7. Franklin is working on an online newsletter article for NASPA related to assessing student
technology culture, which could have possible assessment-based ramifications. She also stated
she would send additional information to the OAS. She is looking into methods of qualitative
methods for assessments, as well as connecting practitioners who are involved with assessment.
Presentations
VSA Future Plans Data, Boelcke
The planned update to the assessment website was discussed as a tool related to the Voluntary System
of Accountability of which NIU is a participant. New and future options for data collection related to
assessment were discussed. The College Portrait was reintroduced, available off the VSA/College
Portrait link on the NIU Admissions site, the OAS site, and the NIU A-Z index, and each of its nine
“buttons” discussed.
A more specific discussion of responses to “what students were planning on doing after graduation”
was discussed; the majority were planning on seeking employment, followed by graduate school.
Goals were split by demographics.
The topic of using longitudinal versus cross-sectional data collection methodology was broached, as
well as site traffic and ways to improve this.
Engagement Database, Boelcke
The NIU engagement database site, Engage!, was introduced as a means to promote opportunity and
collaboration for NIU faculty and community partners who are working on a community engagement
project, as well as NIU students who are seeking volunteer or service learning opportunities.
The topic of more involvement and accountability for all levels of the assessment process was
discussed (faculty, staff, students). Electronic submission and improved synergy with Blackboard were
described as possible means by which to accomplish this. ES could feasibly lead to increased
transparence and more regular communication between departments and the Assessment Office.
The problem of a perceived “closed feedback loop” in assessment practices was discussed; the desire
for there to be a continuing communicative process, with real consequences was brought up. Also
discussed was the applicability of having data more readily available both within and between
departments as an important step in continued communication.
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OAS Tracking Database, Lance
The traditional and newer methodologies of Annual Update Reporting were discussed and compared.
The desire for all online submissions of Annual Updates in the coming year was expressed. The new
tracking database was introduced and explained. The highlights being the 8 year look at both the
college and program level. Seems as though it was well received. The usefulness of including
benchmarks was discussed as a possible addition. No other additions/deletions were presented.
Plans for 2011 Assessment Expo
Please submit themes or nominations for the 2011 Assessment Expo to the OAS.
Future Directions
Plans for the November 2010 meeting include one of more speakers to discuss assessment data issues
on campus.
CAN members who have an assessment practice they would like to share at the November or other
further meetings are encouraged to contact Douglass at cdoug@niu.edu.