Printable Version

Mānoa Faculty Senate Assessment Committee
Minutes of December 14, 2009

Members Present: Paul Brandon, Erica Clayton, Jon Goss, Wayne Iwaoka, Amy Schiffner, Jim Wills

Ex-officio members present: Paul Adams, Halina Zaleski

Guests: Marlene Lowe and Monica Stitt-Bergh (Assessment Office)

Meeting Called to order by Paul Brandon: 12:35 p.m.

 

I.  Minutes of the November 30, 2009, meeting were reviewed and approved (Jim/Paul B.; unanimous)

 

II. The meeting agenda was presented and accepted by common consent.

 

III. The WASC visit and interaction with MAC was discussed. Highlights were that

o       50% of UHM programs have published SLOs for 80% of their courses

o       All 227 programs have submitted annual updates

o       The assessment poster presentation was well-done and well-received by WASC 

IV. The committee discussed the WASC assessment meeting. Among other things, the site visit team stated that (a) they were not surprised to see variation in level of implementation of assessment activities and that it takes a long time to change the culture; (b) we need to consider how to increase ownership so that during the Educational Effectiveness Review (EER) faculty can say how they use assessment data to make improvements; (c) the site visit team expects to see improvement when they return for the EER; (d) Arts and Science departments typically are dragged along, and we should not expect to get 100% participation; (e) faculty need to recognize that they already do assessment; (f) doing assessment helps prepare students to become faculty; (g) we should consider operationalizing the “Manoa experience;” (h) our assessment should show the campus’s desire to build research into instruction; (i) we should showcase how assessment helps make improvements; and (j) it is impressive that the MAC meets every other week.

 

V. The MAC SLO Draft Resolution was presented by Paul Brandon at the Wed. Dec. 2, 2009 Faculty Senate Meeting agenda as a “discussion” item only. Two verbal comments were received re: the risk of the eventual use of SLOs for faculty evaluation and the statement that the faculty member did not use them or ever intend to. The early arrival of UHM President Greenwood curtailed further discussion. Next steps?

o       Add “whereas” about how most courses in most units are already using SLOs

o       Delete terms “assessment for accountability” and “assessment for excellence” in relevant whereas statements.

 

How will the process now work at the Faculty Senate? Can a resolution be withdrawn if there is a hostile amendment? Suggestions include the need to caucus ahead of time, identifying individuals who are supportive (M&M, MAC members will work together on this), asking CAPP to formally endorse the resolution, and contacting ASUH and GSO about speaking up in favor of the resolution when it is presented again.  Paul B. will request that the resolution be placed high on the agenda for the February Senate meeting. MAC members will share the job of presenting it from the floor.

 

VI. MAC members reported on preliminary (on-line) efforts to contact 5 “peer, comparison, and benchmark universities” with the following two questions:

            Do you have written assessment policies?

            How do you get faculty support for your assessment policies?

 

Preliminary information included

o       the common unit of assessment is the Department

o       assessment is a “hot topic”

o       most institutions are in early stages

o       the process often seems to be driven largely by accreditation cycles

o       Institutional Learning Outcomes were rare

o       other universities don’t appear to be using UH as a comparison institution

 

To help standardize comparisons, Paul B. will draft a list of topics referring to Western Michigan University Evaluation Center checklist.

 

VII.  Assessment  Strategic Planning at UHM—AO staff has compiled a “living document” comprised of a Logic Model, Curriculum Map, Assessment Plan, and Outcomes; Marlene will distribute to MAC for comment/input.

 

VII.  MAC will initiate a process (charge and suggest members) to create a task force to draft UHM ILOs; Jon (because he has experience in this arena) will head a subcommittee with the assistance of AO staff.

 

IX.   Review of Upcoming Dates:

Next MAC meeting Monday , January 4^th, 2010 at 12:30 PM in Hawaii Hall 208. Purposes:  To continue discussion/planning for faculty senate presentation of SLO resolution (February) and review of peer institution assessment policies. 

           

VIII. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 2:02 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Cynthia Hunter, Rotating Secretary