Assessment Report Standard Format
July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007
PROGRAM(S) ASSESSED ____Department of Philosophy__________
ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR __David L Barr, Chair___
YEAR __3_____ 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 Philosophy (5 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, all 6 returned
questionnaires.
Transcript Evaluation
The transcripts of all graduates were reviewed for range of courses and
levels of accomplishment
Collection of Papers
Papers were collected to be part of the pool for the bi-annual evaluation of
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?
We have significantly improved the percentage of graduates filling out
questionnaires.
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.
Sell-assessment on the questionnaire indicates that the students feel wellprepared in this area: 4.5 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 of all 7 graduates shows the need for some
attention to this area. The graduates averaged about 8 upper-division Liberal
Arts courses, but four had 4 or fewer. While this is distorted somewhat by
transfers and minors, we can improve this 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; and four had GPAs above 3.3, considered requisite for
graduate school admission. Only one was below a 3.0. Two students plan on
graduate work; both report feeling well-prepared.
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: One student has applied to law school and was wait-listed at the
time of the survey. I do not yet know her status. She thinks she has been wellprepared, especially with the ability to ask good questions.
Outcomes
1. Graduates of the program will be effective writers.
Assessed next year; papers collected this year.
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. They averaged about 4
courses.
3. Graduates will acquire knowledge of major ideas in the history of western
philosophy.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: All graduates took a range of courses where the major philosophical
ideas were explored. They averaged over 6 courses.
4. Graduates will have strong critical thinking skills
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
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Findings: Six of the seven graduates performed well in courses requiring critical
thinking skills.
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.
All faculty have been trained to use the DARS system and all advisees have been
assigned to individual faculty within Wings Express. This will enable us to ensure
good distributions of upper level courses, especially in other Liberal Arts
programs (see objective 2 above).
We have added a new faculty member in Continental Philosophy, which will
enable us to offer more, and more advanced courses. (See outcome 3 above.)
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4. ASSESSMENT PLAN COMPLIANCE
Explain deviations from the plan (if any).
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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