PROGRAM REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE                  
 
Minutes of: October 7th 2004
 
Present: C. Coron (co-chair), K. Cummings, J. E. Fields, M. Kennedy, R. Mugno, H. Podnar (co-chair),

E. Schmitt, W. Shyam. 

Started: 10:10am.

The meeting started with a short report given by Dr. Fields. Dr. Fields reported on the status of the UCF constitution that has been reviewed by the faculty senate. He also asked PRAC members to identify possible inexpensive actions that could be done quickly to improve SCSU assessment process.

An announcement was made that Dr. Barbara Wright (ECSU Assessment Coordinator) would be invited to attend a future UCF meeting. Dr. Wright has been working with a number of SCSU departments, sharing her insights and experience gained at ECSU.

Dr. Kennedy provided copies of the Graduate Program Standards, that graduate programs need to consider and address in their gradate program review. If a decision was made to adapt a similar model, PRAC could take a responsibility to define the corresponding standards on the undergraduate level.

Members agreed that in order to prove evidence that the standards are met, a detailed and well designed data collection process should be defined. A member noted that in the past the success of a program could not have been established due to missing evidence and lack of data.

The discussion about the responsibility for defining the SCSU assessment process followed. Members recognized the significance of the assessment process, and importance of the faculty engagement, but felt that the administration should take a clearer charge. A member pointed out that an overview of the existing procedures would be beneficial, but another member reminded the committee that the old assessment manual is considered to be unsatisfactory, and that new procedures are needed. A suggestion was given that in addition to the program external evaluation, one could consider the SCSU internal peer evaluation.

At the end of the meeting the PRAC meeting time was adjusted (10:05-10:55am). 

Adjourned at 11:00am

Recorder: H. Podnar