Instituional Research & Assessment

An electronic publication for communication to the campus community about assessment and institutional effectiveness, the Newsletter is published by the Provost's Office.

Assessment Committee Finishes its Work

On December 15^th the ad hoc Assessment Committee submitted a draft Assessment Outline to the Deans' Council. The outline included assessment goals and objectives and a matrix of assessment activities that are underway on campus as well as being proposed. The Deans asked that the Outline be posted on the web and distributed to faculty during a period of review and input. The review period closes February 15, 2000. By clicking on Assessment Outline you can review the document.

Common Data Set (CDS) Posted to the Internet

The 1999-2000 Common Data Set is now accessible on SUU's Internet home page. The CDS is a statistical and program profile used by national publishers of college guides to describe, rate and rank colleges and universities. It is also a useful profile of information about the University.

General Education Revision

A goal of the Deans Council is to revise the general education curriculum in such a way that purposes, goals, and outcomes are clearer and the structure of the curriculum is more productive.

Assessment of general education cannot be done without clear goals and expected outcomes. During 2000 the Deans will consider a proposal for general education that sets the stage for assessment. The proposal will have campus review and input before being shaped for the 2001 catalog.

TLT Changes

Teaching, Learning, and Technology is the title of an oversight committee for campus computing. Following the model of the American Association for Higher Education, TLT is established to promote integration of teaching and technology, learning and computing. The committee also oversees the work of two users committee on campus: Academic Computer Users and Administrative Computer Users. Since 1995, Dr. Mike Richards has chaired the TLT committee and beginning this year, Dr. Mike Freeman will chair TLT. Objective of this year's committee include updating the technology master plan and developing a cost/replacement model for computing and mediation. TLT also plays a role in assessment to insure the campus is aware of developments in technology and learning, and to assess the effectiveness of technological resources in the presentation of curriculum and the teaching of students.

Results of the 1999 Survey of Graduates

Each year members of the graduating class are surveyed for their perceptions of the University. Demographic information is collected, but the most helpful part of the survey is the section of open-ended questions. Here graduates share compliments and frustrations, and they provide comments on classes, faculty, resources, and the overall SUU experience.

Of this year's 213 respondents, 10.6% completed master's degrees, 85.3% bachelors. The top three strengths of SUU were faculty/student ratio, size of the university, and the faculty and staff. The top three weakness were course availability, faculty quality , and lack of diversity. In the major field, 82.6% of the students responding were either satisfied or very satisfied with course content.

Graduates said they liked the faculty/student ratio of the university. In fact, 60% (100% if duplicate or size comments are considered) of the responses mentioned faculty/student ratios as a strength of the university. Graduates thought faculty interaction and availability of faculty were positive features of SUU.

A typical comment from one student was " The teachers were wonderful, very helpful at all times. I just wish there would have been a greater variety of classes and class time."

Deans and department chairs received copies of the survey report and its detailed comments.

Separately the Utah System of Higher Education retained the services of ACT to survey alumni of all nine state institutions-graduates who had been away from campus 5 years or more. Results of this survey are being compiled for inclusion in the Biennial Assessment Report to the Utah Legislature. Copies of results of individual campus alumni are expected to be given to the campuses by February.

If SUU's assessment matrix is adopted, the survey of graduates will be a national instrument beginning with the 2000 graduating class.