PRAC minutes for September 9, 2010
Attendance: Susan Clerc, Karen Cummings, Sanja Grubacic, Tom Radice, Charlie Dellinger-Pate, Susan Felsenfeld, Marybeth Fede, Patricia Kahlbaugh
Not Present: Scott Graves, Jane McGinn
The committee met to discuss the revised self-study report submitted by the Political Science department. The self-study report was prepared by the Assessment Coordinator, Dr. John Critzer. This self-study was a revision of standards 1-3 originally reviewed by PRAC at the end of Spring 2009 and the beginning of Fall 2009 semesters. In the Fall 2009 meeting, Political Science was given conditional approval of standards 1-3 and had an additional 11 months to make revisions. At the September 9, 2010 meeting, each member of PRAC reviewed and reported on revised standards 1-3 and after discussion, a recommendation was made that all three standards had been met. Dr. John Critzer came to our meeting at 10:30 and PRAC members were able to provide feedback to him as the department moves forward in its self-study process. Some specific recommendations were: to make some edits in the document before it is posted, to be cognizant of the mission when addressing other standards, particularly those dedicated to curriculum and to student involvement, to revisit standard 3 in the coming semesters to see if student outcomes listed and the assessment plan outlined need refining. A suggestion was made that the department meet again with PRAC Fall 2011 to give an informal report on the department's experience as it moves into the assessment phase and to ask for any additional guidance, if necessary.
The marketing department's revised self-study was distributed to PRAC members. We will meet September 23, 2010 to go over the revisions and to meet with representatives from that department.
PRAC members were handed a schedule for PRAC for 2010-2011, and a list of PRAC members.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:50.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Patricia Kahlbaugh
Program Review and Assessment Committee (PRAC)
University Curriculum Forum
Undergraduate Program Review Report: Political Science - School of Arts and Sciences
September 16, 2010
The Political Science Department in the School of Arts and Sciences submitted a revised self-study report to UCF - PRAC on September 1, 2010. The revised self-study covered Standards 1-3 of the Academic Program Review document. PRAC reviewed all submitted materials and met with Dr. John Critzer, the Department's assessment coordinator for discussion of the self-study report on September 9, 2010. Small editorial revisions were agreed upon to be made before the report is posted on the UCF website.
PRAC commends the work done by the Political Science Department and has made the following evaluation of Standards 1-3:
Standard 1: The department/program's mission supports the University's mission
Met
The mission of the Political Science department is aligned with the University's mission of excellence, access, diversity, social justice and service for the public good. "The political science department seeks to have its undergraduate majors become active citizens and professionals by acquiring a sound knowledge of the discipline, developing analytic and problems solving abilities to understand and respond to the rapid economic, political, social and cultural changes occurring at the beginning of a new century"
Standard 2: The department/program has clearly stated program goals and objectives
Met
The Political Science Department identified 4 program goals for students particular to the field of study. Some examples of these are to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the scientific study of politics and to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of key statistical tools used in that scientific study.
Standard 3: The department/program has clearly stated program -level expected student outcomes and methods for measurement
Met
The Political Science Department has articulated a plan for both direct and indirect methods for assessing student outcomes on the program level. Links between the program goals and student learning outcomes are made. As the department sets this plan into motion, PRAC feels some outcomes and assessments will undergo a natural refinement as challenges are confronted and resolved. Of primary importance to PRAC is that a concrete plan has been articulated and will initiate this process. As a goal, PRAC recommends movement to refinement of earning outcomes and further development of assessment methods. For example, Political Science plans to review student papers for its learning outcome assessments. Perhaps over time, other tools will become apparent, for example, a set of standard questions assessing statistical knowledge and/or core concepts in Political Science.
