PROGRAM(S) ASSESSED
Assessment Report Standard Format
July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010
Women’s Studies Program
ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR Kelli Zaytoun
YEAR ____1______ of a _____1_____ YEAR CYCLE
1.
ASSESSMENT MEASURES EMPLOYED
One questionnaire, an exit survey , was administered this year as planned. The questionnaire was mailed to all graduating women’s studies majors, minors and graduate students, Fall 2009-
Summer 2010. Nine total surveys were mailed, and two, or 22%, were completed and returned.
The alumnae survey will be administered in September 2011. (The alumnae survey, used to assess achievement of objectives, is administered every three years, see assessment timetable, and was last administered September 2008.) Thirty-three percent (one of three) of majors returned the survey. The exit survey included a letter explaining the purpose of the survey and a statement regarding confidentiality.
To assure adequate exit data were gathered, informal exit interviews were conducted for the third time this year. Although exit interviews are not currently part of the WMS assessment plan, the interviews were added in 2007-2008 to determine if formally adding them would prove to be beneficial. Interviews were conducted by Kelli Zaytoun and Cindy Vanzant. Four students participated in the interviews, answering the following questions and prompts:
1) What are your future plans?
2) How will women’s studies play a role in that?
3) Comment on strengths and weaknesses of the program.
Student papers were not examined this year, as only one student submitted a paper, and that paper was not from a Women’s Studies class. Learning outcomes one and two are usually measured by the student papers assessment, but the survey assesses these outcomes as well.
WMS 498 supervisor evaluations and student reports were also analyzed by the director to assess learning outcome three.
The process of administering the questionnaire and interviews did not result in any challenges. The student papers process was a challenge and will be discussed in the New
Assessment Developments section.
2. ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
Achievement of Objectives:
Women’s Studies Program Alumnae Survey
Objective 1:
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Be prepared to pursue graduate work to continue their theoretical and methodological study of gender issues nationally and internationally.
Objective 1 is measured by Question 5 on the Alumnae Survey administered in Fall 2011.
However, we do know that of the four students interviewed, 100% were going on to graduate school in a variety of fields.
Objective 2:
Apply critical thinking skills across their future academic and community endeavors and within their future workplaces.
Objective 2 is measured by Question 2 on the alumnae survey which will be administered in
September 2011. All students interviewed indicated that were applying their women’s studies education to their future academic endeavors.
Objective 3:
Apply social, cultural and economic dimensions of gender scholarship in the U.S. and the world to the discussion of women’s issues in their workplaces and civic activities.
Evidence of application of social, cultural, and economical dimensions of gender scholarship to women’s issues in their workplaces is gathered through answers to questions 1, 2, and 3 of the alumnae survey which will be administered in September 2011.
Objective 4:
Become employed in careers that allow them to utilize their academic study of gender scholarship and public policy.
Objective 4 is measured by Question 1 on the alumnae survey which will be administered
September 2011.
Objective 5:
Continue to be advocates/activists in their communities to bring about change with regard to gender issues locally, nationally, and internationally.
Objective 5 is measured by Question 3 on the alumnae survey which will be administered in
September 2011
Assessment of Learning Outcomes:
Women’s Studies Exit Survey
Outcome 1:
Students will acquire substantive knowledge of women’s studies’ major topics and issues.
Question 2 on exit survey: The students were asked to identify concepts (a list was provided) that they felt most shaped their perceptions as well as informed their decision-making and
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performance in the workplace and beyond. Of the eight concepts provided, Comparable Worth and Pay Equity, Feminist Thought, the Intersections of Race, Class, Gender, and Social
Construction of Gender were chosen by 100% of the respondents. History of Women’s
Movements and Social Responsibility/Activism/Advocacy were chosen by 50% of the respondents. Two concepts were not chosen by any of the respondents, Connections between the
Personal and Political, and International and Global Gender Issues. One respondent did list a concept, Connection to women’s issues to issues in the social and political world of religious studies, in the category of “other.”
Outcome 2:
Students will acquire strong critical thinking and writing skills, helping them to be well prepared for future social, cultural, economic, civic, academic, and work activities.
Question 1 on survey: The survey asked students to describe how the Women’s Studies Program developed their critical thinking and writing skills and how they will assist them in their future social, cultural, economic and civic activities, as well as their work life. 100% of the responses demonstrated that they had developed their critical thinking and writing skills and felt better prepared for their careers and life after college in general.
Outcome 3:
Students will develop knowledge about and engage in advocacy and activism as tools for social change.
Question 4 on survey: The students who completed the survey had not enrolled in internships.
However, one graduate completed an internship where she presented educational programs to teens on dating violence. She reported learning a great deal about becoming an advocate for young women.
Outcome 4:
Students will develop and utilize strong interpersonal skills (e.g., sensitivity to race/ethnicity/gender/sexual orientation issues) to allow them to enter into various cultural, social, economic, civic, academic, and workplace settings.
Question 3 on survey. The responses indicated that students learned interpersonal skills and had reflected on their involvement in various social settings. One student commented: “I learned about sensitivity to others wants and needs when trying to put together a group of different people. If everyone doesn’t feel that their voices are important to others the action falls apart. It taught me better social skills in dealing with people who do not agree with me.”
2.
PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
Because a small group of students graduated this year, data were limited. No changes are suggested to curriculum, teaching methods, facilities, or services at this time.
4.
ASSESSMENT PLAN COMPLIANCE
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The next Alumnae Survey will be sent in Fall 2011.
5.
NEW ASSESSMENT DEVELOPMENTS
The Women’s Studies Advisory Council will meet on 11/5/10 to discuss the continuation of exit interviews and student paper evaluations. The director will recommend including the interviews as a tool in the next version of the assessment plan. Little data were gathered this year because so few students graduated, as a record-breaking number of students graduated in the previous year.
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