GENERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT PLAN  revised May 2004

I. Goals and Objectives

The General Education program is designed to assist students in developing:

1. Effective written and oral communication
2. Skills related to critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity
3. Heightened intellectual, cultural, and humane understanding and sensitivity
4. The ability to manipulate symbol systems and use quantitative methods
5. Skills associated with the scientific method including rational inquiry, data collection, analysis, theory formulation and hypothesis testing
6. An understanding of world history, civilizations, and political processes
7. An understanding of economics and social sciences
8. An understanding of the interdependence of humankind and the natural world
9. An understanding of the principles of mathematics and the sciences
10. An understanding of literature, the arts, and systems of human thought

The impacts of individual courses will be assessed.  Each department which provides General Education courses to the student body will identify which of the ten goals are related to their courses, then list specific objectives for student learning to be assessed for each of the goals.

II. Evaluation Instruments and Process

The relative success of the general Education Program will be determined by multiple measures such as the following:

1.  Examinations:  The Office of Institutional Research (OIR) coordinates data collection from pre- and post-tests in General Education courses.  These will be particularly useful for goals 6-10.  

2.  Course Assignments:  Faculty teaching General Education courses will identify at least one assignment relating to each objective for student learning, and evaluate the students' accomplishment of the objective.  

3.  Surveys:  Students, alumni and faculty will be surveyed periodically with instruments such as the National Survey of Student Engagement, the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement, and locally prepared surveys.  

III. Timetable for Implementation

1.  Development of Goals and Objectives:  Departments will send their lists of goals and objectives for general education courses to the FSCASL by December 2004.  

2. Administration:  Many of the evaluation instruments and processes are already used.  Departments
will be asked to add information about the evaluation instruments and data collected to their biannual FSCASL reports beginning in June 2005.

3.  Selection of Comprehensive Examination:  In fall 2004 the FSCASL will research comprehensive examinations to select one which matches the general education goals, and consult with other groups on campus to determine financing and scheduling of the exam for students with at least 60 credits.   

IV. Reports and Feedback

The FSCASL will compile assessment reports for the College of Letters and Science Curriculum Committee and the General Education Subcommittee of the Faculty Senate Academic Policies Committee.