Undergraduate Assessment Summary Report 2011-12

Undergraduate Program/Major Assessment Summary Report 2011-2012

Contents

Summary of Undergraduate Assessment Reports

Art

Biology

Business

Chemistry

Communication

Counseling

Criminal Justice

Education

English

Forensic Science

History

Interdisciplinary Studies

Information Technology

Liberal Studies

Math

Music

Nursing

Philosophy

Psychology

Radiologic Technology

Respiratory Care

Secondary Education

Sociology

Sonography

Theatre

Theology

Summary of Undergraduate Assessment Reports

MAJOR
Art (BA) / x
Biology (BS/BA) / x
Business (BS/BBA) / x
Chemistry/Biochemistry (BS/BA) / x
Choral Music (minor) / x
Communication (BA) / Self Study
Counseling (BS) / x
Criminal Justice (BS) / x
Education – Elementary (BS) / x
Education – Secondary (BS) / x
English (BA) / x
Forensic Science (BS) / x
Health Care Science / x
History (BS/BA) / Self Study
Information Technology/MIS (BS) / x
Interdisciplinary Studies / x
Liberal Studies (BA) / x
Mathematics/Pre-Engineering (BS/BA) / x
Nursing (BSN.) / x
Occupational Therapy Assistant (ASHE)
Paralegal (A.S.)
Pastoral Ministry (BA)
Philosophy / x
Psychology (BS) / x
Radiologic Technology (A.S.H.S.) / x
Respiratory Care (A.S.H.S.) / x
Sociology (BS) / x
Sonography (BS) / x
Theology (BA) / x
Theatre / x

Art

A LOOK BACK
Changes / Impact / On-Going?
Transition of the new graphic design faculty member Pamela Pancake, who came here just as our original equipment was in need of a serious update. In addition to teaching, there are many responsibilities for computers, software, printers, scanners, and the coded door lock. / Some changes were implemented almost immediately in both the curriculum and the Mac Lab. Most significant was the institution of new policies in the Mac Lab. Some of which happened over Christmas break, but only in part. The remainder still needs to happen before school starts in the Fall 2012. / x
Last year we moved the darkroom photography course back on campus and were reminded that space and equipment is still an issue. Because of crowding and the confusion created when teaching multiple levels of a course at one time (like a one room school house) we are going to try to only teach Photo 1 and not the Photo 2 and 3 levels. Our current photography teacher is a professional photographer and you can see by the student work that her expectations are higher than past teachers. / We still have to decide if we are going to continue teaching the darkroom photography, if we decide to delete it from our graduation requirements, we will have to make catalog changes. / x
This year the art faculty all increased their expectation of outside studio time in each area of discipline. This was discussed in a department meeting and implemented. / The outcome was that some projects exhibited a better finished product.
Course descriptions need to be updated to reflect what is actually taught in the course. / Last year we did get the course number changed needed to reflect a Bachelor of Arts.
More research was required and informal presentations of research in sculpture, drawing, and painting. / Students produced a broader understanding of the significance of art history. Example: in the sculpture class the instructor made in-depth presentations of sculptors who exemplified the focus of particular projects, more feedback from students was required and students created projects that were stronger. Students also had to continue the research and discuss their research in their critique.
I worked hard this year to make sure that all adjuncts evaluated their syllabi and made some necessary changes. We moved to using the same attendance policy, studio hour requirement and grading scale terminology. I worked with each faculty to create assessment rubrics. / My goal has been to create some consistency in expectation for students and faculty alike. As we do our Self Study in 2013, I am sure we will find things that need fixing.

Next Steps

Course descriptions need to be updated to reflect what is actually taught in the course. Last year we did get the course number changed needed to reflect a Bachelor of Arts.
I worked hard this year to make sure that all adjuncts evaluated their syllabi and made some necessary changes. We moved to using the same attendance policy, studio hour requirement and grading scale terminology. I worked with each faculty to create assessment rubrics. My goal has been to create some consistency in expectation for students and faculty alike. As we do our Self Study in 2013, I am sure we will find things that need fixing.
It is important to keep Art History classes in smart classrooms with adequate image projection capabilities.
It is important to continue to improve tools and technology. The gas kiln, tools for sculpture, lockers for storage and safety.
We are scheduled to do our Self Study in 2012-13.
We also need to address the needed 6 hours of contact time for studio courses but this is problematic as adjuncts teach required courses for the major but won’t teach the added hours for the current pay.
I will continue to work with all faculty to get a stronger grasp of course assessments.
Students aren’t using the library as we wish they would.
We currently employ about 10 adjuncts a year. It is important that we plan ahead for additional adjunct instructors as I usually teach 5-6 courses a year. Some of those have very low enrollment because they are upper division courses and our enrollment numbers are not big enough to warrant hiring an adjunct to offset the load. These small courses still require preparation and time spent with students. As the program grows we will need to add adjunct instructors or look at adding a full or part-time instructor.
The art program needs to adjust the contact hours for studio courses to come in line with other institutions graduating students with the BA and BFA in art. It has been reported by instructors in printmaking, sculpture, figure drawing, graphic design, painting and drawing that studio courses need to meet for 6 hours a week.
The Steckline Gallery takes up a huge chunk of my time which doesn’t allow for me to develop new recruiting strategies.
Recruiting is very important. When I attend the Scholastic Art Awards, Newman allows me to give out just a few scholarships while other institutions including Friends University give out substantial numbers of scholarships including some full ride. This year Friends gave out about 30 scholarships. It is difficult to build a program without the complete support of the university.
The lack of storage space is a major issue. The lack of storage is also a safety hazard. Student tools, book bags, coats, purses, and lap tops have nowhere to go during a studio class and are a trip hazard. I would like to have lockers big enough to hold an 18x24” drawing board and tool box, book bags and coats. This would also cut down of thefts.
Individualized spaces are needed for things like mat cutting, where a table work area is needed and a spray booth area for spray adhesives and spray paints.
We are also looking ahead to adding a gas kiln. The building was built with the gas pipe running out to the area that would be best for the gas kiln. Again, the return air vent outside is always a concern.
The design lab would benefit from I.T. support in trouble shooting issues that arise during the year in order to make sure the computers are performing at optimum levels.
This year we added some flat files for printmaking paper and student printmaking and drawing storage. Students have to keep their printmaking and drawing artworks on campus until the final portfolio review is complete at the end of each semester. Storage is also necessary for projects in process. Flat files are very expensive and we still need about 10 drawers. Students pay a lab fee and we provide some of the paper and ink necessary for printmaking and drawing. We need to store large paper and offer adjuncts a place to store samples, examples and their own artwork while teaching.
This summer we are getting a Gordon Franklin Letter Press as a donation from a local person. The letter press is worth thousands of dollars and will allow our printmaking and graphic design students to create individualized handmade books. This will also allow us to create workshops.
Over Christmas break new computers replaced the old ones and the film software was added but the new software was not added and so we are using old software. Also, the scanners are not working and the printers need to be replaced. The art program uses some of the student fee money to support the lab but the Communications dept. Vantage does not support the lab.
I think the most important thing we all need is some real support from the admissions/recruiting staff to create recruiting events. We have lots to offer when potential students arrive, figuring out how to entice them here and making all the phone calls and connections is where we struggle. We have no secretarial support for doing mailings or phone calls. We do our best by keeping up our connections with area community colleges and mailing Wichita high schools. I visit student art exhibits when I can, participate in the Scholastic Art Awards, judged ART 21 this year, and judge the Junior Duck Stamp every year. I am happy to travel and give presentations when possible. This year I made a presentation at the Butler CC art department with Yangchen Austin.
We participated in the Middle School Recruiting days by hosting students and creating an activity and give-away.
We hosted two ceramic artist lecture/workshops and brought in a number of students from Bethel College, WSU and Butler CC.
Recruiting materials went to Kansas High School Art teachers, Kansas High School Guidance Counselors, potential art majors and Kansas Community Colleges with 2 year art programs. We will repeat the process next year sending art recruiting materials and Steckline Gallery information.

Biology

Look Back

Changes / Impact / On-Going?
Continued review of catalog and course schedule info for accuracy, last completed for the 2010-11 course catalog / This is an on-going process to respond to the needs of the students, pre-professional programs, and University facilities. Accurate catalog information allows students and advisors to prepare effective 4 year plans. / x
Health professions and premed committees are continually assisting students in their preparations and applications for admission to programs in medicine, physical therapy, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. / These committees have been extremely helpful to students as evidenced by their high acceptance rates in professional programs.
As numbers of biology students are increasing at a substantial rate faculty, facilities, equipment and supplies are being overwhelmed. / To accommodate this influx of students a 5th biology faculty member has been hired and will join the department in Fall 2012.
A number of additional sections have been opened in both upper and lower division courses to accommodate the growing number of students needing required classes including anatomy & physiology labs, pathophysiology online, developmental biology, environmental biology, biology senior seminar and advanced microbiology. Additionally bioethics and careers in biology have been rescheduled to avoid conflicts with other courses and allow faculty to offer other courses. / While the addition of numerous sections in both lower and upper division courses has improved the availability of courses in meeting the increase student need it has also added to the workload/overload of faculty and an increase in the need for adjunct faculty. During the 2011-12 academic year faculty stress was at an all-time high.

Next Steps

Subsequent use of the 4GMF for Goal 5 will include 1) using data to set benchmarks for subsequent testing and assessment, 2) analyzing data to determine if course or assignment revisions are warranted and 3) developing policies for administration of the test congruent with ETS policies.The test will be administered every semester as the Biology Senior Seminar course is now being offered in Fall and Spring.Additionally, Spring 2012 results will be submitted as an addendum to this report.
Discussions have begun to organize the biology majors into concentrations.A single biology major with concentrations relating to career goals will better prepare current and prospective students for their academic careers at Newman.
The Health Professions Club and the Pre-med Club are being joined to create an amalgam student organization that will more effectively serve all pre-professional biology majors.
Several Core courses are being developed by biology faculty for the Newman Studies Program.Although this puts yet an additional onus on biology faculty it is imperative that we contribute to Core courses, especially in the areas of science.
Lab safety procedures are being enumerated and compiled into a consistent guide for all biology courses
Discussions regarding the responsibilities and strengths of individual faculty members will begin soon, especially in regard to the need for a 6th faculty position and a non-faculty position of lab manager
Students need access to online journals
The library needs to add books on developmental biology, environmental biology, genetics, microbiology, forensic science / biological anthropology
Even with five full-time biology professors and at least 1 adjunct and numerous lab assistants the biology faculty are STILL grossly overextended, a fact not unnoticed by administration.Faculty loads & schedules, classrooms, labs and equipment requirements are well over capacity.An additional, permanent, full-time faculty position is needed to serve the burgeoning population of biology majors and non-biology majors served by biology courses and faculty.Staffing for 2012-13 promises to be difficult, when even greater enrollment numbers are predicted, more courses and sections of existing courses are required,and 28 first year medical students from the University of Kansas School of Medicine are scheduled to begin their anatomy course and other classes at NU compared to the 8 students enrolled in 2011-12.
As biology courses continue to increase in population professors have less time to set up and break down lab experiments in courses such as General Biology 1 & 2, Developmental Biology, Genetics and Microbiology.Serious, educated student Teaching/Lab assistants are a necessity for these courses and would be most helpful in many other biology courses.Even with as many as 8 students serving as lab assistants to biology professors supervised by a work-study student who worked 20 hours a week, lab assistants were overwhelmed with the amount of work required for their studies in addition to lab responsibilities as grading responsibilities have fallen on them to free faculty time for teaching.A new non-faculty position of lab manager is essential to provide the quality lab experiences students require and that lab assistants need to maintain a balance between their studies and their responsibilities as assistants.This position would provide continuity, expertise, and added structure for lab assistants.
A recent reorganization of the academic areas has established some new administrative positions and deleted others.Most notably at the departmental level is the absence of the departmental chair level of administration in any compensated capacity.Due to the number of biology faculty and the growth of not only the department but also the ever-increasing responsibilities of faculty those in the department have decided to retain the position of biology chair for organizational purposes.As the position is no longer compensated financially or by release time the duties of the chair must be divided among all full-time faculty.This places an additional burden on the time, talents, and energies of all.
It is not a secret that the science building, especially the labs, are inadequate in regard to classroom space, seating and storage.
Although a glass door was installed on the main floor of the Science Building it is doubtful even this entrance is ADA compliant as it does not have an automatic opener and is so heavy many persons with physical disabilities would be unable to enter.The lack of a dependable elevator for transport of humans in this 2-story building and no bathrooms on the first floor would also probably be in violation of ADA.The lack of all but a platform by the door in the basement of the Science Building that serves as an emergency shelter would be yet another example of the limitations of this building.
A new science building advancement campaign should be a priority.‘Fixing’ major structural and mechanical problems in this building on a continual basis is a double loss; we lose financial resources in repairs that are not long-lived and we lose the confidence of students in our facilities and curriculum.
More important even than the limited physical facilities is the paucity of supplies to meet the needs of laboratory students.Much of the lab equipment is outdated to the extent that even high school students have had exposure to more technologically advanced equipment that will enhance their ability to work in medical and scientific careers.Equipment at least comparable to that found in high school science classes should be the norm for Newman students.Again, as the number of students in biology increases we will not only face a shortage of faculty, but also of space and teaching supplies.That scenario predicates a loss of some of the very best students at Newman as they go elsewhere for degrees and experiences that will contribute to their development in their chosen careers.
Additional time, equipment, and facilities are needed to support student research in areas such as genetics, microbiology, and cell culture.Biology research is a required course for all biology students and has come to be a basic expectation for prospective students as they build their academic portfolios in preparation for application to graduate programs and internships.This expectation translates into a requirement for biology departments attempting to attract the best students who demonstrate the best aptitude for academic success.As lab fees are set based on the cost of supplies and equipment particular to specific courses all assessed lab fee monies should be directed to the departments in which the courses are taught.Thanks to Dr. David Shubert this is the current policy and should be continued.
Departmental web pages are being updated however faculty time being at premium this is difficult to accomplish.Web personnel are needed to assist in updating not only the biology page but all departmental pages which offer little in the way of information or ease of use to prospective students and their parents.
Continue offering outreach/enrichment programs, including: Investigative Summer Science Program, Women Exploring Math & Science, Hispanic Scholars Program
On-campus facilities such as dorms, Dining Center and library, Native American Scholars Program, Tours of the Anatomy Lab and other labs for high school and community college students
Faculty members are often invited as guest speakers at local high schools and are featured on the Speakers Bureau
Faculty are working with Rosemary Neidens to expand our offerings of online courses for AP credit to serve area high school students

Business

Look Back

Changes / Impact / On-Going?