PROGRAM REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE

Minutes of: October 3rd 2002
 
Present: K. Buterbaugh, C. Coron (chair), C. Durwin, H. Podnar, S. Selenskas, W. Shyam.

Started: 9:45am.

Our first meeting for the Fall semester started with new members introduction. A short overview of the PRAC followed, together with the role and procedures that PRAC is involved with. The new members were presented with the recent PRAC activities and planned future initiatives. A number of questions were asked and some of the topics were the basis for further discussion.

The question about the role of PRAC, and the status of the assessment process at SCSU followed. The members agreed that the basic PRAC role is to help the academic departments in the assessment process. In this role PRAC would need to establish closer contacts to the departments and the administration. Recently, a communication channel have been severed, by unexpected leave of Dr. Richard Gerber from the position of University Coordinator of Accreditation and Assessment. The PRAC members expressed fear that the departments' self-assessment process will be negatively affected by this change. PRAC will try to recognize and contact the person responsible for coordinating the Assessment process for the administration. PRAC will follow the situation very closely and redefine its role as necessary.

Some members reported a number of problems that their departments encountered during the self-assessment. For example: the psychology department asked an external evaluator to compile the assessment data, but, after the job was done, the reimbursement was late three months. Another obstacle is a lack of predetermined goals. The departments' job would be much easier if the goals were well specified, as in the case of our graduate school.

The 'Program Assessment Survey' data were presented, but it was concluded that the number of received surveys is not significant for statistical analysis. It was decided to contact the departments that might have overlooked the survey and ask them to respond. 

Adjourned at 11:00am
 

Recorder: H.Podnar