Assessment Report Standard Format
July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008
PROGRAM(S) ASSESSED ____Department of Philosophy__________
ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR __David L Barr, Chair___
YEAR __4_____ of a ___5______YEAR CYCLE
1. ASSESSMENT MEASURES EMPLOYED
Briefly describe the assessment measures employed during the year.
 What was done?
Exit Interviews and Questionnaires
There were 5 graduates in Philosophy (3 majors and 2 minors); each met
with individual faculty members and/or the chair to review and assess
their satisfaction with and performance in the major. They also filled out
anonymous questionnaires.
Transcript Evaluation
The transcripts of all graduates were reviewed for range of courses and
levels of accomplishment
Collection of Papers
Papers were collected and evaluated for format and argumentation to
assess student writing abilities.
Assessment Meeting
Held as part of regular fall faculty meeting.
 Who participated in the process?
The chair and selected faculty.

What challenges (if any) were encountered?
Nothing beyond the usual.
2. ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
List the objectives and outcomes assessed during the year, and briefly describe the
findings for each.
Objectives
1. Graduates will be prepared to assume their roles as effective and informed
citizens of our pluralistic democracy.
Self-assessment on the questionnaire indicates that the students feel wellprepared in this area: 4.3 on a scale of 1-5.
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2. Graduates of the department will be broadly educated in the classical liberal
arts tradition in order to be effective employees in diverse occupations.
Assessed by transcript review for range of course taken outside the major
discipline.
Findings: A review of transcripts shows for some improvement in this area.
Two had 6 and 8 upper level courses in Liberal Arts, and the one who had
only two was a transfer student. We will seek to improve this further with
better advising (See Improvements below.)
3. Graduates will be prepared to pursue advanced study in Philosophy.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews concerning future
educational plans.
Findings: All graduates took a suitable array of courses to prepare for
graduate study. All three had GPAs above 3.3, considered requisite for
graduate school admission. None has immediate plans for graduate education,
though one has aspirations for eventual graduate work, and reports feeling
well-prepared to pursue it.
4. Graduates will be prepared to pursue graduate study in diverse fields outside
Philosophy such as law, medicine and counseling.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: None of these has immediate plans for professional education.
Outcomes
1. Graduates of the program will be effective writers.
Assessed papers collected over the past 3 years.
Findings: Papers collected over the past 3 years were evaluated for
 Their use of proper documentation
 Their critical use of sources
 Clear statement of thesis
 Thesis supported with adequate arguments
Review of 9 collected papers shows that our students are meeting these
expectations successfully. A summary: 4 of 9 had a clear statement of thesis;
8 of 9 developed adequate arguments; 5 of 9 used proper documentation; and
8 of 9 showed at least some critical use of sources
2. Graduates will acquire knowledge of major figures in the history of western
philosophy.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: All graduates took a suitable range of course in the history of
philosophy and were exposed to the major figures (averaged over 5 courses).
3. Graduates will acquire knowledge of major ideas in the history of western
philosophy.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
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Findings: All graduates took a range of courses where the major philosophical
ideas were explored. They averaged 5 courses.
4. Graduates will have strong critical thinking skills
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: All three graduates performed well in courses requiring critical thinking
skills; two took 3 courses in logic.
3. PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
List planned or actual changes (if any) to curriculum, teaching methods, facilities,
or services that are in response to the assessment findings.
These assessment findings suggest we are doing well and we will seek to preserve these
strengths as we explore the reshaping of the major for the semester system.
We need to revise the process used to collect questionnaires and writing samples to insure
full participation.
4. ASSESSMENT PLAN COMPLIANCE
Explain deviations from the plan (if any).
None
5. NEW ASSESSMENT DEVELOPMENTS
Describe developments (if any) regarding assessment measures,
communication, faculty or staff involvement, benchmarking, or other
assessment variables.
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