ASSESSMENT RECORD
FOR
General Studies Program Bachelor’s
August 2010-July 2011 September 23, 2011
Submitted by: Jake Brownfield, MSE – Counselor & Interim Director – Academic Advising
Center
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
General Studies Degree Program Bachelor of Arts
August 2010-July 2011
September 23, 2011
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
1. Baccalaureate graduates with a General Studies major will be supported by the Academic Advising Center staff.
First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
1a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success: 90% of all General Studies majors will be
assigned an advisor from the advising center or from an academic department in their primary area of concentration.
1a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected: A list of General Studies majors was generated to assure all General Studies majors were assigned an advisor. Those with no advisor were assigned to Harold Alexander who is now retired. Jake Brownfield is the Interim Director and advises General Studies majors. Changing the major was changed this year to an online process that goes to the registrar’s office. The AAC no longer assigns advisors but we do make sure General Studies majors are assigned to an academic advisor.
1a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program: Academic Advisors (from the Academic Advising
Center and from the faculty) play a vital role in a student’s academic success. It is imperative that each General Studies major has an advisor assigned to them to assure they meet the qualifications to graduate and are not taking unnecessary courses. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor before the beginning of the next semester to evaluate his/her progress towards their BA degree in General Studies. This is made possible by assuring General Studies majors are assigned an advisor. Emails were sent to General Studies majors reminding them to meet with their advisor prior to registering for the next semester of classes and to assure they were on track for graduation.
Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
1b. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success: 75% of all General Studies majors on record
will meet with an advisor (from an academic department or the advising center) at least once before they reach 90 hours of course work.
1b. Summary of Assessment Data Collected: General Studies majors come into our office for a degree
evaluations/audits OR if they are in a pre-professional program, they will go to the pre-professional program advisor for a degree evaluation. If a General Studies major comes to our office, they are reminded that a signed degree evaluation/audit must be turned into the registrar’s office after completing 50 hours but before
completing 60 hours. GS majors also schedule appointments for assistance with graduation audits / request to graduate forms prior to graduation. Students are reminded that these need to be submitted before 110 hours are completed and during the semester prior to graduation. Emails are sent each semester prior to registration encouraging General Studies majors to schedule an appointment to meet with their advisors prior to registering for the next semester. During this academic year, we emailed 90 General Studies majors in the fall to schedule advising appointments before priority registration for Spring 2011. In the spring, we emailed 98 General Studies majors to schedule advising appointments to prepare for priority registration.
1b. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program: The Academic Advising Center will continue to send
emails to General Studies majors to remind them of the importance of meeting with their academic advisor before each semester and to complete timely degree audits as well as a request for degree and graduation checklist.
Third Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
1c. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success: 80% of all General Studies majors will submit
a “Statement of Plans Following Graduation”, during their last semester at Harding.
1c. Summary of Assessment Data Collected: A Statement of Plans Following Graduation survey was
emailed to General Studies majors planning to graduate in December 2010 and May 2011 and July 2011. 14 students out of 68 graduates responded to the survey which is a 20.6% participation rate. The results were as follows: 7% have a job after graduation and 35.7% plan to go on to graduate school. 57% used the Academic Advising Center Services.
1c. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program: Instead of emailing the survey to students, we email
a link that opens a survey created by the Testing Office. The data can then be analyzed and provide us with more accurate information. Students are more likely to participate in an online survey as well. We will continue to send the link to students within two weeks of graduation. The Academic Advising Center will monitor the best time to send the survey link to encourage better participation. Our goal is to raise the participation rate to at least 25%.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
General Studies Degree Program
Bachelor of Arts
August 2010-July 2011
September 23, 2011
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
2. Baccalaureate graduates with a General Studies major will be informed of criteria for graduation requirements.
First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
2a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success: 90% of all General Studies majors will have a degree evaluation on file in the Registrar’s Office by the time they reach 60 hours of course work.
2a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected: General Studies majors who came into the office were reminded of when they need to complete a degree evaluation and /or degree audit and application for a degree and the requirement to turn these into the Registrar’s Office. The Academic Advising Center had 140
appointments for General Studies advising. Students with unusual circumstances were referred to Wayne Milner in the Registrar’s Office for review of their graduation requirements. The number students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies for this academic year was 67. This is a 7.0% decrease from the previous academic year. The overall average is 38 graduates.
2a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program: The Academic Advising Center and the Registrar’s Office may need to work more closely together to remind students of the degree evaluation policy and to collect degree evaluations.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
General Studies Degree
Bachelor of Arts
August 2010-July 2011
September 23, 2011
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
3. Baccalaureate graduates with a General Studies major will be satisfied with support and information received.
First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
3a. Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success: On an exit questionnaire, 75% of all General
Studies majors who received information from the Academic Advising Center will be satisfied with support and information received from the AAC.
3a. Summary of Assessment Data Collected: The AAC receives the Senior Exit Questionnaire
administered by Harding from graduating seniors who are general studies majors. We received 23 comments. 16 were positive, 2 neutral & 5 were negative. 69.6% of these comments were positive in nature while 8.7% were neutral and 21.7% were negative.
The AAC sent a “Statement of Plans Following Graduation” survey to General Studies ma planning to graduate during the 2010-2011 academic year prior to graduation. 14 out of 68 students who received the survey
responded which is a 20.6% response rate. 57.1% of the respondents used the AAC services. 77.5% of these students were satisfied with the services they received.
3a. Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program: The Academic Advising Center goal is to increase
our positive comments on the Senior Exit Questionnaire to 75% and our satisfaction rate to 80% on the “Statement of Plans Following Graduation” survey.
