Assessment Report Standard Format
July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007
PROGRAM(S) ASSESSED ____Department of Religion__________
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 9 graduates in Religion (6 majors and 3 minors) 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 to be part of the pool for the bi-annual evaluation of
student 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, it is still not 100%.
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.
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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:
Reviewing the transcripts of all 9 graduates (including 3 minors)
shows that they took an average of over 13 upper division, Liberal
Arts courses, with a high of 28 and a low of 2. This suggests that most
of our students are fulfilling this goal. The lower numbers reflect
minors who majored in other colleges.
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 9 advanced religion courses.
Four of the 9 graduates had GPAs over 3.3, which would qualify them
for admission to graduate programs. None of the students indicated
they planned to attend graduate programs.
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: No students indicated their intention to pursue professional
school.
Outcomes
1. Graduates of the program will be effective writers.
Findings: Not assessed this year; papers collected for next year.
2. Graduates will acquire knowledge of diverse religious traditions.
Assessed by transcript review and exit interviews.
Findings: Students took an average of 4 courses studying diverse
religious traditions. Students expressed the desire to take a greater
variety of courses. (See Program Improvement below.)
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 3 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 did well in courses requiring critical thinking (GPA
3.4).
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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 East Asian Tradition (China &
Japan), which will enable us to offer more, and more advanced, courses. (See
Outcome 2 above)
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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