Members present:
Scott Emmons, Sue Falco, Marija Gajdardziska-Josifovska, Barb Hiles, Robin Mello, Amy Otis-Wilborn, Ron Perez, Charles Schuster, Susan Stalewski, Rodney Swain, Jeanne Wagner, Thomas Walker, Linda Anderson-Courtney, Anthony Ciccone, Gesele Durham, Dev Venugopalan

Guest: Kim Pietsch, Dawn Koerten, Nance Gusavac, Connie Schroeder

Dev Venugopalan distributed “Program Learning Outcome” examples from Biological Sciences, Psychology, History, and Electrical Engineering along with a copy of Bloom’s Taxonomy. He also distributed program outcomes for the Department of Biological Sciences indicating their level in Bloom’s taxonomy, stages 1-3 of assessment, and sample rubrics for assessing lab reports. These examples, provided to assist faculty in discussions regarding their own assessment activities, were discussed in detail. He also distributed assessment typologies for faculty and staff use. These materials are available on the UWM Assessment Council Web Site.

Dev also reported that at a recent regional Department of Education Summit discussion began regarding rule making that would require that programs not only have learning outcomes and assessment procedures but also processes in place to measure these outcomes. A potential repercussion of not doing this would be the withholding of financial aid.

It was reiterated that program faculty are in charge of developing their own learning outcome process and then deciding how, where, and when to assess. Guidelines are important for ease of reporting. Not only course but program outcomes should be developed to enhance individual student learning and overall program quality. The Council members were reminded that a detailed progress report on assessment activities is due to NCA in April 2008.

Tony Ciccone and Connie Schroeder from the Center for Instruction and Professional Development are available to discuss these processes with individual departments and view written drafts.

It was agreed that one faculty member should be identified in each area as a leader – an assessment coordinator -- and he/she will work with CIPD and forward a draft of materials to area faculty for review, revise, and eventually approval. This process will increase faculty control of the process and help explain to students what it is that is unique about each department and school and indeed UWM. Such a process will help explain 1) what learning looks like at UWM, 2) what expertise the student should have, and 3) what expertise the student will have upon graduation.

It was also reported that progress was being made on submitting appropriate program, faculty, and course materials to WEAVEonline to facilitate the assessment process for UWM faculty.

Tony Ciccone gave a brief review of preliminary results from the recent GER survey. A more detailed report will be made at the next meeting.