Assessment Day

The response to the format change for this semester’s Assessment Day seems to be generally positive. Instead of a long general session culminating in a luncheon, this semester’s program began with an 8:00 a.m. breakfast, which included brief remarks by Academic Vice President George Mehaffy and by Patrice Caldwell, Executive Director of Planning & Analysis.

Dr. Mehaffy spoke of the challenges of higher education and the success Eastern has had in meeting those challenges, including its assessment programs. Dr. Caldwell encouraged the faculty in its assessment efforts and emphasized the willingness of the Assessment Resource Office to assist in developing assessment designs. The breakfast adjourned before 9:00 a.m., and departmental assessment planning sessions convened at 9:30 a.m.

The idea of the new format was to emphasize the grass roots level of assessment, and to allow faculty time to go about their usual activities.

No decision has been made about Assessment Day for spring, but is likely that the same format will be used.

Outcomes Assessment Grants Awarded

The Assessment Resource Office has awarded approximately $8,400 in Outcomes Assessment Grants to eleven faculty and staff members. The selections were based on submitted grant proposals, which were reviewed by a subcommittee of the Assessment Committee.

Several of the awards involve travel expenses of faculty members who will be making presentations with an assessment component. Some awards are for travel expenses to conferences that involve assessment programs, and three awards will fund assessment studies designed by faculty.

The amount awarded to date this year compares to approximately $10,000 in grant money paid by the ARO in academic year 1997-98. Some grant money remains available for those interested in submitting proposals for this academic year.

Outcomes Assessment Campus Survey

Last spring, the Assessment Resource Office conducted the Outcomes Assessment Campus Survey. In the last issue of the DATAWave, results from the students' responses were reported. In this issue, responses from employees are reported.

The survey was distributed to more than 450 faculty, professional, support, and administrative staff members; 239 surveys were returned to the ARO. Not all questions in the survey were answered by each respondent. Twelve of the questions, with bar graphs indicating the level of agreement/disagreement, are depicted on the next two pages.

Following the survey questions, respondents were invited to provide additional comments that might help improve services provided to the University community. Most of the comments seemed to fall into six groups - Grounds, Buildings, Bookstore, Printing, Computer Training, and Recreation.

There is insufficient space in this DATAWave to include all the comments, so a portion is shown below. A complete copy of the survey responses is available from the ARO at extension 4313 or email Larry.Smith@enmu.edu.

• The University would get more out of the dollars it spends on computers if personnel trained users on how to use the various software programs on their computers.

• Would like to recommend that Print Services hire a student to deliver print orders (tests may be an exception), especially large orders, as an additional service.

• I have a state of the art computer, but have never had any training. Training would be nice, one on one.

• Free wellness; stress/exercise training at 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. weekdays (on the way home from work - don't want to come all the way back).

• The grounds of ENMU look great!!

• Remodeling Natatorium and adding walking track and/or exercise facilities available for community use with a fee might be a positive gesture.

• Larger discounts at the Bookstore would get more of my business - personal and business.

• Simple classroom maintenance: chalk, clean, functional erasers, and thoroughly cleaned chalkboards - all are needed in the COB. New overhead projectors and slide projectors needed by Media Services. Replace those that don't work. High tech is fine, but lack of basics is embarrassing.

• Computer training has been offered, but I haven't gotten it.

• It would be nice to get reimbursed faster.

• The heat is turned off too early in the season. It makes working in a cold office entirely too hard.

• I have never received official training in the CMDS program. I have learned as my co-workers have taught me.

• Office carpets could be vacuumed more often.