OUR MISSION

Volume 4, No. 6 Published by Assessment Resource Office, ENMU Date: 11-20-96

UPDATE ON OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

In the first edition of the DATAWave this semester, at the President’s opening reception, and at the faculty retreat, information was shared on the many outcomes assessment activities which would occur this year. Much progress has been made in these areas, and now seems a good time to update the University community.

Assessment Day was held on October 30, 1996: More than 160 students participated in the administration of the CAAP. In addition, department chairs and deans had a meeting at 8:00 a.m. to discuss some of the issues related to outcomes assessment. Departments met later in the morning to discuss their academic outcomes assessment plans. This was followed by showcase presentations of some of the campus' more innovative assessment efforts. Finally, a lunch was held at which the recipients of Outcomes Assessment Grants were announced. This was a much improved effort over some previous Assessment Days, and there will be further refinement for spring of 1997. Outcomes Assessment Grants were awarded to several individuals recently. To date, almost $10,000 have been awarded and additional funds remain available. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Assessment Resource Office for more details.
Academic Outcomes Assessment Plans-(AOAP): AOAPs were initially prepared more than a year and a half ago. Departments were to report to their deans on November 8 the results of the AOAP, along with program strengths and weaknesses, recommendations for curriculum and pedagogy, and the revised AOAP. These results will be reported in the NCA Self-Study report and will be available on-line via the World Wide Web as well.
Outcomes Assessment Plans for Non-Instructional Areas: On November 1, 1996, the Board of Regents approved A Proposal for Institutional Effectiveness: Outcomes Assessment Plans for Non-Instructional Areas. This document extends outcomes assessment plans to all areas of the University. All units have submitted an outcomes assessment plan which has been reviewed by an ad hoc subcommittee of the assessment committee. The subcommittee recommended to the President the approval of a majority of the plans. Some plans will be revised. Nonetheless, significant headway has been made in this endeavor.
Assessment Conference: The New Mexico Higher Education Assessment Conference will be held in Las Cruces on February 27 & 28. I am pleased to let you know that nationally recognized authority on outcomes assessment, classroom assessment, and classroom research, Dr. Tom Angelo (University of Miami-Florida), will be the keynote speaker. In addition, Dr. Angelo will be presenting a pre-conference workshop titled, “Strengthening the linkages: Using assessment to focus and connect learning improvement efforts at program, department, and classroom levels," and a post-conference workshop titled, “Finding out how well students are learning what we’re teaching: A ‘hands-on’ introduction to classroom assessment." In addition, Dr. Angelo will be presenting a keynote address titled, “Seven ships of seven levers: Using assessment to build more productive learning communities.” Members of the Eastern community who are interested in attending should contact the Assessment Resource Office for more information and to find out if support for travel and registration is available.
The Assessment Resource Office also keeps busy with the bi-weekly production and distribution of the DATAWave, the bi-annual publication and distribution of the H.E.A.D.Line (a statewide newsletter on outcomes assessment), as well as consulting with departments and administrators on outcomes assessment related information.

These are just some of the highlights for the year to date in Outcomes Assessment. The first half of the fall semester has indeed been a busy one. Ultimately, Outcomes Assessment has as its endeavor to ensure that we’re providing the best possible learning and services to our various constituencies.

ASSESSMENT OF THE EASTERN MISSION

As you are probably aware, Eastern has a more than 10 year history of outcomes assessment and has recently initiated a strategic planning process. To date, the strategic planning process has resulted in a revised mission statement, a list of institutional priorities, and refinement of a vision by President Frost. In addition, the goals for each of the institutional priorities are now being considered by various groups on campus, and according to President Frost, will be forwarded to the Board of Regents at their December meeting.

However, how is it that we can be sure that we are assessing our mission, that statement which makes clear to our many constituencies what it is that we will do, and which drives our short-term, or outcomes assessment process. Certainly, the self-study process is a comprehensive way in which this can occur. As a means to demonstrate to the Eastern community that we’re accomplishing our many efforts, an outcomes assessment matrix has been prepared. This, hopefully, will make clear how several assessment tools are part of a comprehensive whole. Otherwise, it might be suggested that these efforts are not connected. The matrix (located on page 3) provides an example of how they are.

OUR MISSION

Approved by the Board of Regents March 12, 1996

Eastern New Mexico University combines a traditional learning environment with twenty-first century technology to provide a rich educational experience. Eastern emphasizes liberal learning, freedom of inquiry, cultural diversity, and whole student life. Excellent teaching and active learning define campus relationships. Scholarship, both primary and applied, cultural enrichment, and professional service are also important contributions of the University community.

Eastern, a state institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees, serves students from New Mexico, other states, and other nations. Educational programs are offered at the Portales campus and also by interactive distance education, public broadcast television, a branch/community college in Roswell, New Mexico, and a university center in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

EASTERN'S FOCUS

• Prepare students for careers and advanced study, • Impart citizenship and leadership skills and values, • Support and expand the role of education and excellent teaching at all levels, • Enable citizens to respond to a rapidly changing world.

OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT GRANT AWARDS--FALL 1996

Janet Buzzard, Calvin Dewitt, and Laura MacLeod $2400 for presentation of paper and travel to Mid-South Instructional Technology Meeting

Sue Strickler and Janet Roehl $500 each travel to Josephson Institute on Applied Ethics

Sue Strickler $500 travel to Critical Thinking and the Process of Assessment Workshop

Sue Strickler $500 in support of research on Women’s Studies and Gender Issues

Sue Strickler and Janet Roehl $1000 in support of research on Gender Issues Understanding within the Women’s Studies Program

Sue Strickle $500 in support of project on Critical Thinking Assessment in Political Science

Dan Fox $500 travel to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators annual convention

Ms. Dinah Hamilton $450 for student incentives in support of outcomes assessment initiatives

AnnLouise Keating $500 travel to present at the Ford Foundation Campus Diversity Initiative Conference

Jesse Swan $500 travel to present paper at Conference on College Composition and Communication

Dee Martin $500 travel to attend CAUSE: Broadening Our Horizons: Technology, Services, Information Conference

Randy McFerrin $500 travel to present paper at Missouri Valley Economics Association

Greg Erf and Micky Muhlbauer $500 each present paper at School of Visual Arts Conference on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artist

TOTAL: $9,850

Eastern New Mexico University
Outcomes Assessment Matrix
draft-November 1996-draft

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Eastern New Mexico University combines a traditional learning environment

with twenty-first century technology

to provide a rich educational experience.

Eastern emphasizes liberal learning,

freedom of inquiry,

cultural diversity, and

whole student life.

Excellent teaching and active learning define campus relationships.

Scholarship, both primary and applied,

cultural enrichment, and

professional service are also important contributions of the University community.

Eastern, a state institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees, servers students from New Mexico, other states, and other nations.

Educational programs are offered at the Portales campus and also by interactive distance learning,

public broadcast television,

a branch/community college in Roswell, New Mexico,

and a university center in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Eastern's Focus:

Prepare students for careers and advanced study,

Impart citizenship and leadership skills and values,

Support and expand the role of education and excellent teaching at all levels,

Enable citizens to respond to a rapidly changing world.

AOAP-Academic Outcomes Assessment Plans

OAP-Outcomes Assessment Plans for non-instructional areas

CIRP-Cooperative Institute Research Project, Freshman Survey

EXIT-Exit interviews conducted by college deans with samples of graduating students

CSS-Cooperative Institute Research Project, College Student Survey

FOCUS-Focus groups conducted by Assessment Resource Office with sample of graduating students

ALUMNI-Locally developed alumni survey

SSI-Student Satisfaction Inventory and locally developed follow-up

FACUL-Cooperative Institute Research Project, Faculty Survey

CAAP-Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency

EMPLY-Locally developed employee survey

COMM-Locally developed community survey

AUDIT-An audit of available services and programs will demonstrate support of the mission

OTHER- 1.) Faculty Evaluations

FCC license requirements
ENMU-Roswell has is separately accredited and maintains their own assessment procedures

The DATAWave is published by the Assessment Resource Office at Eastern New Mexico University, Alec M. Testa, Coordinator.
Please write, telephone, or email Dr. Testa with any comments, suggestions, or submissions.
Assessment Resource Office Station #9 Eastern New Mexico University Portales, New Mexico 88130
voice: 575.562.4313 fax: 575.562.4326 email: testaa@ziavms.enmu.edu
Editor-Alec M. Testa
Production-Sarah Stacy
Proofreading- Deborah Bentley and Irene Nolen