Assessment Committee Meeting Minutes

September 7, 2007

 

Members Present: Shannon Amiotte, Jim Dudek, Leslie Rae Henry, Andrew Thompson, Joan Nelson, Crystal Paulson, Vernie White, Larry Parker, Steve Potter, Sandra White Shield

 

Late Arriving New Member: Jerilyn Chasing Hawk, PHCC

 

Meeting Chaired by: Jim Dudek, Vice Chairman

 

I.                    Welcome and Introductions – 10:00 am

 

II.                 Reading and Approval of the March Committee Minutes

a.       Motion: Crystal

b.      Second:  Steve

c.       Discussion & Call for Questions: None

d.      Approval: 10/10 - Motion carried

 

III.               Committee Organization for 2007-2008 Academic Year

a.       Recommendations

                                                               i.      Chairman - Jim

                                                             ii.      Vice Chairman - Steve

                                                            iii.      Secretary - Dan

b.      Motion: Joan   

c.       Second: Larry

d.      Discussion & Call for Questions: According to policy, does this recommendation meet policy requirements for broad representation? The committee was originally represented by individuals from various departments and centers. No center personnel are present at today’s meeting – members may need to recruit center personnel to serve on the committee.

e.       Approval: 10/10 – Motion Carried

 

IV.              First Reading of Proposed General Education Assessment Procedures

a.       Draft Presentation - Andrew

                                                               i.      Procedure has been presented to and reviewed by Center Directors.

                                                             ii.      Revisions – LaCreek College Center added as a testing site, testing time extended to 3:00 pm, gas vouchers and transportation

                                                            iii.      Suggestions - Check dollar amount for fieldtrip meal allowance to ensure consistency with other allocations, student organizations may be interested in sponsoring noon meals on testing days.

                                                           iv.      Application for Graduation – add check box; did/didn’t take general assessment

                                                             v.      Audit for Graduation – add check boxes; Lakota Language proficiency, Computer Literacy, Writing Composition, and General Education Assessment

                                                           vi.      Question – Is the intent of the policy to test all students of OLC at least once? Will it reach graduate studies students who are transferring in. According to policy, the testing will account for AA graduation and matriculation into Bachelor’s level coursework. It does not address students entering into Master’s level programs. Is the intent to gather baseline data and should more of an attempt be assess more students? Some discussion entailed in regards to better advising incoming students in upper level programs who may not have necessary skills to be successful.

                                                          vii.      Question – Is there a correlation between the current entrance and exit exams? Can make norm reference comparisons for individual assessments, but cannot make comparisons between the two.

                                                        viii.      Question – Can we mandate that results be submitted to the institution electronically, rather than in hardcopy?

                                                           ix.      Question – In the vocational department a different type of testing is used. Where and how will that be recorded? Are students required to take multiple assessments or are the assessments compatible? Vocational assessments are part of the coursework and assess the content of the course. They do not assess the general core requirements.

                                                             x.      Clarification – This is an assessment of general knowledge and skills that will follow two years of college coursework. It will be used formatively At this point no cut scores or minimal threshold scores are being set for graduation.

                                                           xi.      Question – If departments are using portfolios to assess upper division students meeting a set of standards, does this mean all instructors need to give the same final examinations? Feedback from committee, ‘no’. Committee members shared examples of how students might demonstrate knowledge and skills in a variety of ways while meeting the same standard of proficiency.

                                                          xii.      Question – In regards to item “e”, can this decision be made in consultation with Department Chair? Revision noted in draft.

                                                        xiii.      Revisions – Add item “g”, Director of Assessment will offer training to ensure faculty and staff are familiar with testing procedures and responsibilities. Add student advisors to item “d”.

 

V.                 Additional Items

a.       Old Business: Electronic Distribution – What do committee members want to happen? What should this look like?

                                                               i.      Access to OLC Assessment Reports

                                                             ii.      Easy to Read and Access Document Formats

                                                            iii.      Assessment Committee Moodle Site – Mini training session at next meeting

 

VI.              Adjournment: 12:05 pm

a.       Motion: Leslie

 

 

 

Attachments: Proposed General Education Assessment Procedures with Revisions as Noted

 

 

 

 

Meeting minutes respectfully submitted by: Shannon Amiotte