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Institutional Research & Assessment

Southern Utah University
Family & Consumer Science Department
Report of Assessment Plans for 2000-2001

In the space below, please indicate the department's success in implementing its assessment plan for 2000-2001. Please report the results by June 2, 2001. Should you have questions, please contact the Associate Provost's Office at 586-7706.

NAME: Cynthia Wright

DATE: June 5, 2001

E-MAIL: Wright@suu.edu

Assessment Criteria and Activities

Entire Department
1. FCS students will pass their courses with a minimum grade of "C", as assessed by testing measures within each course.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? [X] yes [] no
Was this assessment criterion achieved? [X] yes [] no
What were the results?
This criteria was measured only with graduating seniors and they all passed their classes with a ‘C' or above.
We are currently working on obtaining data on all FCS majors in all classes taught in the department. We do not expect, however, that ALL majors will pass every class with a ‘C' or better on their first attempt since not all college students apply themselves to their studies.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
As a department we will look at the grades earned by all students enrolled in FCS courses to help determine if we are adequately preparing students for post-graduation plans.

Next year we will look at all students enrolled in FCS courses and examine the number who pass each course with a ‘C' or above. We will begin to track the number of FCS majors who must repeat courses because of low grades and attempt to determine if a problem exist within the course (or if students must simply apply themselves more diligently).

2. 80% of graduating seniors will agree with this statement, "The quality, availability, and diversity of course offerings and production opportunities were appropriate."
Was this assessment criterion implemented? [X] yes [] no
Was this assessment criterion achieved? [X] yes [] no
What were the results?
An exit survey was administered to all graduating seniors. Four questions address this issue. Only 6.1% of graduating seniors disagreed with the statement "The quality of course offerings in my degree program were appropriate."
Just over 10% of graduating seniors disagreed with the statement "The availability of course offerings (time of day classes were offered) in my degree program were appropriate."
Approximately 12% of graduating seniors disagreed with the statement "The availability of course offerings (classes were not full when I registered) in my degree program were appropriate."
Of graduating seniors, 10% disagreed with the statement "The diversity of course offerings in my department were appropriate." How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
As a part of program reprioritization the FCS department will be evaluating each course offered in terms of content and necessity. At the same time we will address the issue of quality of each course and make any improvements we can identify.
In responding to the survey, students expressed the least satisfaction with full classes at the time of registration. This is a problem over which we as a department have little control and it is not a curriculum nor pedagological problem. We will add additional sections of courses as funds are made available by the administration.

3. 80% of graduating seniors will agree with the statement, "I feel that my program has well prepared me for post-baccalaureate plans."

Was this assessment criterion implemented? [X] yes [] no
Was this assessment criterion achieved? [X] yes [] no

What were the results?
This specific question was not on the survey administered to graduating seniors but it will be added to next year's questionnaire.

Other specific questions related to the effectiveness/overall rating of core classes revealed that only 6% of the graduating seniors did not agree that all their classes were helpful in preparing them for post-baccalaureate plans. (This number varied within the various emphasis/specializations offered by the department.)

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
We will reevaluate those specific courses in which there were a higher percent of students who felt that specific classes did not help prepare them for post-baccalaureate plans.

We will continue to work closely with the state FCS supervisor and FCS teachers around the state to assure that our graduates have course work necessary to provide them with an appropriate background for teaching FCS in public schools in the state of Utah.

We will also work closely with child care professionals and those working the field of interior design and align our curriculum to meet current professional requirements in each field.

We will continue to work closely with universities providing a dietetics degree to assist our students who transfer to those schools.

Once you submit your report, it will be electronically mailed to the Associate Provost's Office. It will also appear in a new web documents that will be posted to the University's web site. You should print this page as your hard copy.

The Associate Provost will compile assessment reports for the Provost and for the University's assessment program.

Should the department wish to make any changes in the report for 2000-2001, feel free to write on a paper copy and forward any changes to the Associate Provost's Office by September 10, 2001.

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Last Update: Friday, June 06, 2003