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I. Statements of Mission and Purpose Relevant to Assessment of Academic Programs and Student Learning
Barnard Mission Statement
Extended Statement of Mission, Goals and Objectives
Science for All Students Initiative Vision Statement
Internationalization Mission Statement, Vision and Principles
II. College Committees Charged with Oversight and Implementation of Assessment of Academic Programs and Student Learning
- Faculty Budget and Planning Committee (FBPC):
Advises the President and Provost/Dean on staffing in the College's academic program. Its focus is on the size and composition of divisions, departments and programs. The FBPC appoints 2 representatives from among its faculty members from different faculty divisions, to work collaboratively with the President's Council during budget discussions. It is the responsibility of the FBPC to maintain the Faculty Planning Profile; schedule and analyze the results of academic program reviews; and coordinate departmental planning with respect to the assessment of student learning outcomes. Membership is limited to tenured faculty, one from each of the four faculty groups who are elected by that group and two faculty from different groups elected at-large.
- Committee on Instruction (COI):
Represents the Faculty and recommends action to the full Faculty on matters relating to the curriculum. The COI is the College's principal formulator of educational policy. Provides advice to the Office of Admissions on academic matters having to do with admissions policy and practice, including the development of recruitment strategies and priorities, the use of standardized test scores, and the evaluation of student outcomes. Authorizes and analyzes assessment activities associated with the learning goals of college-wide curricular requirements and the College's Mission Statement. Membership of this tripartite committee includes one tenured and one non-tenured faculty member from each of the four voting groups, all of whom are elected by the full faculty.
- Committee of Department Chairs:
The department chairs meet on a monthly basis with the Provost and Assistant Provost. Chairs are instrumental in creating the conditions that enable purposeful experimentation to improve teaching. Chairs should encourage members of their department to take on new tasks in pursuit of more open and inclusive undergraduate experiences. For more information on Chairs roles and responsiblities click here.
- Provost's Advisory Committee on Internationalization:
Advises the Provost, Assitant Provost and Dean for Study Abroad. More to come soon.
III. Recent and Current Initiatives Related to Assessment of Academic Programs and Student Learning
Assessment of learning at the course level
The Barnard faculty has a longstanding commitment to student course evaluations as a means of feedback and improvement of teaching, and as a component in the evaluation of teaching for re-appointment, tenure and promotion. After a year-long assessment of the present Scantron course evaluation form and in consultation with students, faculty and staff at meetings of COI, FBPC, Department Chairs, BLAIS, and SGA, a new online course evaluation that more fully focuses on student learning outcomes in each Barnard-taught course will become the standard college instrument in the fall semester of 2009.
Assessment of learning goals at the departmental level
The Academic Program Review (APR) process has been recently simplified, so that every department will undergo a full external review every 10-12 years. Additionally, smaller and more frequent internal reviews will now be embedded in general departmental operations and will be based on data given annually to each department by the Office of the Provost.
An extensive effort continues to update department websites and electronic catalogue copy so that there is uniformity in the presentation of a focused mission statement for the department and clearly-articulated learning goals for students in the major, those completing a minor, and those taking elective courses, against which actual student performance may be measured.
Evaluation of the scope and goals of the General Education Requirements
Based on feedback from students highlighting some confusion regarding three of the Nine Ways of Knowing requirements, the Committee on Instruction, through a Mellon-funded grant whose Principal Investigator is Professor of Psychology Steven Stroessner, has undertaken a comprehensive review of: Cultures in Comparison, Reason and Value, and Social Analysis.
Programmatic Assessment
In the past two years the College has begun to implement a more systematic evaluation of learning outcomes of students studying abroad; the Dean for Study Abroad along with the Assistant Provost and Dean for International Programs plan to evaluate the study abroad program more thoroughly in terms of academic requirements and student learning in 2009-2010.
Alumnae Survey
Based on input from a variety of departments, the Office of Institutional Research and Planning developed and distributed an expanded survey of Barnard alumnae in an effort to—among many other factors— ascertain what Barnard alumnae believe their experience with a liberal arts education has meant to them personally and professionally. Data from the first cycle of responses has been analyzed and is being distributed.
Middle States Self-Study
In addition to regular and ongoing assessment activities, the College is preparing for its decennial Self-Study and accreditation review. During spring 2009 the Steering Committee and five Working Groups were created. Membership information can be found here. To view documents & resources pertaning to the Middle States Self-Study visit eBear. Once you are in eBear, click on the Community tab, and then click on Middle States Accreditation.
IV. Assessment Resources
For Barnard developed resource guides and tools, examples and more resources visit the assessment resources website.
Last Update: 10/2/09
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