Undergraduate Curriculum Forum (UCF) May 7, 2009

1. Preparation of PRAC report addressing Undergraduate Program Review of the Media Studies Department - Discussion of Standards 1, 2, &3.
• Standard 1 - Met. Committee members discussed the explicit integration between the Department's mission with the University mission.
• Standard 2 - Met. Three major program goals/objectives have been well-identified.
• Standard 3 - Met. Specific and measurable student learning outcomes and associated measurements have been identified by the Department.

MOTION: PRAC recommends that the UCF approve the assessment of Standards 1, 2, & 3 conducted.

2. Preparation of PRAC report addressing Undergraduate Program Review of the Political Science Department - Discussion of Standards 1, 2, & 3.
• Standard 1 - Met with conditions. The Political Science Department should continue to describe how the Department's mission supports the mission of the University. The Committee recommends that the Department provides additional information to better describe how the department mission supports the university mission.
• Standard 2 - Not met. Three general program goals/objectives have been described by the Department. However, these are general goals that lack specification to the discipline of political science. Additionally, PRAC is concerned that these goals cannot be well-measured.
• Standard 3 - Not met. The measurements described in the report are all embedded within courses. A concrete plan for program assessment, not just course assessment, needs to be explained. Additionally, it is unclear what criteria will be used to measure any of the student learning outcomes. PRAC would suggest creating specific rubrics that identify criteria for assessment.

• L. Rebeschi/C. Coron will contact John Critzer and offer him the opportunity to revise the report and resubmit to PRAC in early fall. We will also suggest that he seek the consultation from the Office of Assessment over the summer if he chooses.

3. Alumni and Employer Surveys - Members of PRAC would like the opportunity to continue to refine these surveys. In the meantime, departments needing to collect data over the summer can utilize the surveys as is.
4. Undergraduate Program Review process discussion -
a. Departments that obtain national accreditation - should these programs be exempt from PRAC review? Since the purpose of program assessment is for departments to engage in self-study and improvement, then this would be reasonable.
a. MOTION made and seconded - Departments receiving outside accreditation can submit their accreditation report and specific accreditation standards as evidence of undergraduate program review. (9 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention).
b. Assessment cycle - should the current 5-year cycle be revised to a 7-year cycle? Discussion regarding this issue very much supportive. However, PRAC feels that a specific rotation plan be developed prior to making any recommendations for change at this point. This will be an agenda item for early fall semester.
c. Presentation by Departments to UCF - overwhelming support to offer departments the opportunity to present an overview of their self-study to UCF.
5. Meeting adjourned at 11am

Respectfully submitted by,

Lisa M. Rebeschi, PRAC co-chair