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Institutional Research & Assessment

Southern Utah University
Mathematics & Computer 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: Richard Tebbs

DATE: June 5, 2001

E-MAIL: tebbs@suu.edu

Assessment Criteria and Activities

Entire Department
1. A comprehensive examination in their area with a satisfactory score during the students senior year.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? Not completely
What were the results?
The area of Computer Science achieved this goal. Not everyone in the Mathematics area achieved a satisfactory score. Therefore we have changed the time of when the exam will be given, so that those who do not do a good enough job the first time will have a chance to do better. We will also put back in place in the catalog the requirement that a satisfactory score must be achieved before they can graduate.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
See the above. Also, we will be looking at the question of "Why are students able to get good grades in classes without learning anything?" We also have looked at the questions on the exam as related to what we teach. We are in line if the students take the classes offered and are held to the prerequsite matteral.

2. Exit interviews by the department head of all graduating seniors.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? yes
What were the results?
Tod Amon, Division Chair for Computer Science, interviewed all graduating students in that area and I interviewed all students available in Mathematics. Some student that had already completed their work were not around to be interviewed. The results were very good.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
From the results of the interviews we learned that we need to mentor our student more closely and be more explisit in what our requirements and expectations are.

3. Interviews with a random sample of graduation seniors, carried out by faculty in which the purpose is to measure achievement, training, preparation for the workplace, and to establish a connection for future follow up assessment 5 years hence.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? no
Was this assessment criterion achieved? no

What were the results?
This was not done in a formal manner. We will work on it in the future. The older faculty have not seen the need. We will have new faculty that will be assigned in the future.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
We have to have data to know where we have been so that we know what needs to be done in the future.

4. A grade of "C" or better earned in each course used to complete the major.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? yes
What were the results?
It is just done. Students know that they must achieve this result or they will not graduate. Some are having to retake.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
Students learn that to graduate in this program you don't just put in seat time.

5. Assessment of our students ability to communicate in their field by taking a capstone class in which each student gives both a written and an oral report.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? yes
What were the results?
This was very satisfying. A collection of eleven papers were delivered to Dean Ornes that are in the form for publication. Each student that passed this class learned how to do research in their area of interest and how to present, both orally and written, the results of their study.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
This is a necessary tool in today's world.

6. Course embedded activities requiring critical, logical, and analytical thinking.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? yes
What were the results?
Graduates are in demand in the job market.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?

7. Faculty activities that enhance their knowledge of the subject and methods of presentation.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? yes
What were the results?
See results in annual summary of activities.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
Hopefully, faculty will become teacher-scholars.

8. Teaching evaluations completed by the students on every instructor in the department.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? yes

What were the results?

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?

9. Annual assessments on all service classes by the faculty involved.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? yes
What were the results?

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
Classes and teaching methods are continually updated.

10. Assessments at departmental retreats and meetings.
Was this assessment criterion implemented? yes
Was this assessment criterion achieved? yes
What were the results?
Attitudes of some of the faculty have been softened.

How will the results be used to improve the curriculum and/or pedagogy of the program?
Improved cooperation of faculty will result in better teaching and a more friendly department.

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