Assessment Report Standard Format
July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007
DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM(S) ASSESSED__International Studies____
ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR______December Green_____________
YEAR FOUR of a FIVE YEAR CYCLE
1. Assessment Measures Employed
Briefly describe the assessment measures employed during the year
-What was done? The International Studies (IS) Committee evaluated a random
sampling of papers from a variety of IS courses; the IS director tabulated grades in
writing intensive sections of courses taken for the major; tabulated pass rates for the three
300-level courses in Modern Languages taken by each IS graduating senior; conducted
exit interviews with all IS graduating seniors; collected surveys submitted anonymously
by all IS graduating seniors; and surveyed IS alumni.
-Who participated in the process?
The International Studies Committee for 2007: David Petreman (Modern Languages),
Susan Carrafiello (History), Donna Schlagheck (Political Science), Valerie Stoker
(Religion) and December Green (IS director).
-What challenges were encountered?
Only three of the anonymous surveys were returned. In addition, not every graduating
senior complied with the director’s request to submit a writing sample (11 out of 25
graduating seniors this year did not submit samples). Sixty-eight of the 100 alumni that
were sent the survey failed to respond to our inquiry.
2. Assessment Findings
List the objectives and outcomes assessed during the year, and briefly describe the
findings for each.
The objectives of the program are as follows:
-graduates will be prepared to obtain acceptance to graduate or professional
schools;
Sixty-one percent of our respondents have sought an advanced degree since graduating
and 100% of our alumni reported that they were prepared to obtain acceptance to a
graduate or professional school. Our graduates have received MBAs, M.Eds, MAs, MSs,
and MPAs, from institutions such as the American University, the Ohio State University,
Florida State University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Pittsburgh,
and Wright State University.
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-they will be prepared to obtain employment in occupations related to their
concentrations and their other coursework in the major;
All but one alumni respondent reported that International Studies had prepared them to
obtain meaningful employment. IS grads have found work as intelligence specialists,
business analysts, consultants, research associates, military officers, in the AmeriCorps,
as an English as a second language instructor, in publishing, and as the director of an
international student office at a university, among other things.
-and will have enhanced their own self-understanding, the ability to deal with the
relationship between themselves and others as well as understanding their own
personal values.
Every single alumni respondent agreed that the coursework they took for their IS degree
enhanced their ability to understand world affairs, their understanding of other cultures,
and of their own personal values.
In their exit interviews, 100% of the graduating seniors expressed satisfaction with the
program overall, and the only consistent weaknesses identified in the program
(mentioned by three or more students) were the need for more international courses (and
courses more specific to particular tracks, such as the Research Intelligence Analyst
track). Six students specifically asked for more foreign languages (i.e. Chinese or
Arabic), and for our core courses to be offered more often.
The responses collected from students who returned the anonymous surveys were also
largely positive. Students responded that they were adequately prepared in written and
oral communication, and critical thinking, respecting other cultures and diversity. When
asked to indicate how well WSU prepared them in achieving competence for and in a
profession, only one respondent indicated a less than satisfactory result.
The learning outcomes are as follows:
-graduates will attain proficiency in a second language;
Based on pass rates, 100% of our graduating seniors for the year surveyed did attain
proficiency in a second language.
- will demonstrate themselves to be capable of conducting independent research and
have effective research skills, including proper reference citation in bibliographies
and footnotes;
The evidence from the writing samples suggests a success rate of approximately 90% in
terms meeting our goals concerning writing, research, critical thinking and problemsolving skills. For example, of the 14 papers evaluated, ten of them passed on all four
measures. One of the papers failed on two measures, and three were identified with
problems in one of the four measures. In addition, based on the tabulations of pass/fail
grades for writing intensive courses taken for the major, our twenty-five graduating
seniors took a total of 245 writing intensive courses---with 242 passing grades. This is
approximately a 98% success rate. The average IS major took nearly 10 writing intensive
courses (six more than is required). Students are getting a lot of practice writing, and this
is a very promising sign, given our objectives.
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- have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; and will be effective
writers.
Please see above.
3. Program Improvements
List planned or actual changes (if any) to curriculum, teaching methods, facilities,
or services that are in response to assessment findings.
With very few exceptions, this year’s evidence suggests that the International Studies
program is meeting its goals.
4. Assessment Plan Compliance
Explain deviations from the plan (if any)
Not applicable
5. New Assessment Developments
Describe developments (if any) regarding assessment measures, communication,
faculty or staff involvement, benchmarking, or other assessment measures.
Towards the goal of evaluating a writing sample from each of our major, the director
continues to remind students in newsletters as well as in advising meetings that
graduating seniors must plan to submit a writing sample at the time of the grad check.
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