University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Home
Contact Us
A-Z Sitemap
Print This Page

  
UWM Academic Affairs
Academic Program Planning and Review
Access to Success
Assessment and Institutional Research
Budget and Planning
Diversity and Climate
Faculty/Staff Programs
News and Events
Policies and Procedures
Research Support
  Academic/Master Planning  
  Assessment at UWM  
  Chancellor's Council on Inclusion  
  Public Health Planning  
  School of Freshwater Sciences Planning  

 


Assessment at UWM

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Assessment Council

Minutes
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Chapman Hall 211
Regents Room

Present:
Scott Emmons, Marija Gajdardziska-Josifovska, Phyllis King, Deb Padgett, Kim Pietsch, Connie Schroeder, Charles Schuster, Tom Walker, Dev Venugopalan, Linda Anderson-Courtney, Gesele Durham

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. Click on first link below for the news release announcing UW System participation; the second link provides further information about the accountability report..

http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2007/r071107.htm
http://www.wisconsin.edu/news/2007/11-2007/collegePortrait.pdf

A discussion regarding three assessment instruments, one of which must be chosen for the VSA followed. A short synopsis of each instrument was presented. [Note: The corresponding web sites for each of the assessment instruments are www.act.org/caap/; www.cae.org/content/pro_collegiate.htm; and www.ets.org (see MAPP)].

Implementation challenges regarding the VSA include:

  • Motivation factor – why would students want to take test? Perhaps good preparation for GRE and other standardized tests for graduate school admission? Perhaps pay students to take test? Perhaps institute as a graduate requirement? Perhaps use in education class where assessment is part of the curriculum?
  • Which test to choose? Perhaps pay several students to take all three tests, allowing for the ability to “test the tests” to see which is more appropriate for UWM’s needs. This could open up opportunities for a faculty research project.
  • How to choose the sample is key. Madison is going with CAAP. They will ask for volunteers from the senior class each semester (self selected sample). They will pay the test fee and perhaps a stipend.


Note: 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.

Next steps: Charles Schuster, Tom Walker, and Gesele Durham volunteered to be part of a small working group that will review the three tests more closely, talk to other schools and colleges using the various tests, and recommend one of the three for UWM’s use. Information regarding the VSA and UWM’s test choice will be discussed with the Dean’s Council, the University Committee, etc. One suggestion that will be considered is that UWM also go with CAAP in that UWM and UW-Madison are the two doctoral institutions within the UW System.

Timeline: Must present results within four years from becoming a VSA member. UWM became a member in February 2007.