Assessment Report Standard Format
July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008
PROGRAM(S) ASSESSED ____Department of Religion__________
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 7 graduates in Religion this year; each met with individual faculty members
and/or the chair to review and assess their satisfaction with and performance in the major.
Each filled out a departmental questionnaire (attached) and a college questionnaire.
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 as to format and cogency to assess student’s writing
abilities.
Assessment Meeting
Review of assessment data during department meeting.
 Who participated in the process?
The chair and selected faculty.
 What challenges (if any) were encountered?
While we have increased the number of graduates filling out questionnaires, we are revising the
process to insure we have responses from everyone.
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.
On a self-rating scale of 1-5, graduates rated their ability to be an informed citizen at an
average of 4. Typically, students felt better informed about the role of religion in political and
world affairs.
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.
1
Findings: Reviewing the transcripts of all graduates shows that they took an average of over
11 upper division Liberal Arts courses, with a high of 20 and a low of 4. This suggests that
most of our students are fulfilling this goal, some rather exceptionally.
3. Graduates will be prepared to pursue advanced study in religion.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews concerning future educational plans.
Findings: Students took an average of 13 advanced religion courses. Three of the 7 graduates
had GPAs over 3.3, which would qualify them for admission to graduate programs. Two of
the students indicated they planned to attend graduate programs. Both were admitted to first
rank institutions, one with substantial financial support.
4. Graduates will be prepared to pursue graduate study in diverse fields outside religion such as
law, medicine and counseling.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: One student was admitted to a professional school (seminary) and given financial
support.
Outcomes
1. Graduates of the program will be effective writers.
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 20 collected papers shows that our students are meeting these expectations
successfully. A summary: 15 of 20 had a clear statement of thesis; 18 of 20 developed
adequate arguments; 18 of 20 used proper documentation; and 18 of 20 showed at least some
critical use of sources.
2. Graduates will acquire knowledge of diverse religious traditions.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: Students took an average of 6 courses studying diverse religious traditions.
Students reported feeling more competent to understand world issues.
3. Graduates will acquire knowledge of diverse religious practices in historical context.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: Students took an average of 5 courses that emphasized diverse religions
practices studied in their historical contexts.
4. Graduates will have strong critical thinking skills
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: Students uniformly thought they had enhanced their skill in critically thinking and
did well in courses requiring critical thinking. A review of grades achieved in upper level
courses showed a GPA 3.4 for all graduates.
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.
2
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.
3