Assessment at UWM

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Assessment Council

Minutes
Thursday
December 18, 2008
9:00 - 10:00 am
Chapman Hall 211
Regents Room

Present:
Scott Emmons, Phyllis King, Connie Jo, Helen Mamarchev, Robin Mello, Jeff Merrick, Janice Miller, Amy Otis-Wilborn, Ron Perez, Kim Pietsch, Charles Schuster, Rodney Swain, Thomas Walker, Dev Venugopalan, Gesele Durham, Connie Schroeder, Linda Anderson-Courtney

1. Associate Vice Chancellor Dev Venugopalan discussed UWM’s participation in the VSA – the Voluntary System of Accountability that was developed by the American Associate of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). Click on link below for further information regarding the VSA.

   http://www.voluntarysystem.org/index.cfm?page=homePage

   The UW System, in November 2007, decided to participate in VSA – a national program designed to provide greater, more uniform accountability across all public universities and colleges. Although participation is mandatory (UWM became a member in February 2007), there was some discussion of implementation challenges regarding VSA. These include:.
   • Motivation factor – why would students want to take test? It consists of three 50 minute sessions two weeks apart. Perhaps they would find it good preparation for GRE and other standardized tests for graduate school admission? Perhaps provide book store credits or another monetary reward to students to take test? There should be no charge to students.
   • How to choose the sample is key. Self-selection is not necessarily a good idea.
   • How is the test going to be used over time? What are we, as an institution, going to do with the data? UWM has already been reporting nationally and on its web site many variables via the Common Data Set, IPEDS Reports, Student Surveys, etc. This is an additional accountability report. Click on http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Acad_Aff/assessment/ for further information to see what is being reported currently.
   • It does not test all academic areas; there were concerns about various external impacts, e.g., evaluating the institution rather than the students.

   
   Next step: Upon approval from the Provost, an Action Team will be developed to pilot the test in 2009-2010 (note: pilot data does not have to be reported). This will give UWM an opportunity to learn about the process and refine its procedures if necessary. As an aside, in January, a report will be made to the System from UW-Stout which has piloted all three programs. This may be helpful to the Action Team.

   Charles Schuster, Cindy Walker, Tom Walker, and Gesele Durham examined three assessment tools and recommended that UWM adopt the College Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) exam. Their letter of recommendation can be found at

   http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/assessmentatuwm/.

   The Assessment Council voted on the recommendation. All members present voted yes with the exception of one member who abstained.
   

2. Associate Vice Chancellor Dev Venugopalan discussed the Review of July 2008 Progress Report Submitted to the Higher Learning Commission/NCA and August 2008 Analysis and Acceptance of Report Submitted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the Higher Learning Commission/NCA. These reports are available at:

   http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/academic/

   Dev indicated that the report on assessment given above shows UWM’s first campus-wide steps in documenting the creation and use of systems/data to improve programs. The next step, for all programs that have not already done so, is to close the loops. As part of this process an analysis of the data is necessary and reports on forthcoming activities to enhance/improve will need to be developed and published.

   A WEAVE template is being developed for departments who have not entered data into WEAVE. This template, which will require each program to develop the following:

   Mission Statement
   Student Outcomes/Objectives
   Assessment Plan including Measures and Findings
   Action Plan
   Analysis of the Assessment Plan
   Annual Reporting

   It will be distributed to department chairs and other key faculty at meetings to be scheduled in early spring. Departments can either fill in the template and return to Linda Anderson-Courtney for entry into the WEAVE system or they can enter the data directly into WEAVE. WEAVE training is always available upon request from Linda Anderson-Courtney, ldac@uwm.edu. WEAVE training is recommended so that departments can become familiar with the system and update their entries as necessary.
   

3. Associate Vice Chancellor Dev Venugopalan discussed the creation of a UWM Compass Project Team whose goal is to develop common learning outcomes for all students. This group is part of a UW System initiative that focuses on students developing the breadth of knowledge and intellectual and practical skills needed while understanding their personal and social responsibilities. It is a continuation of a series of meetings that were held in 2008 by the General Education Task Force, the Assessment Council, and other faculty/academic staff groups including the Advisors and Counselors Network, Freshman Seminar instructors, staff from multicultural student services, Access to Success program and service staff, faculty undergraduate student research mentors, faculty and staff of the Living and Learning Communities, CIPD staff, etc.

   The UW-System is one of three systems nation-wide that are taking part in a pilot general education project called “Give the Students a Compass.” The other two systems are California and Oregon.

   The Work Plan for “Give the Students a Compass” General Education Program can be found at

   http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/assessmentatuwm/.