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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Briana Nelson Goff, 785-532-1490, bnelson@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Monday, Oct. 13, 2008

ASSESSMENT SHOWCASE, OCT. 24, TO FEATURE BEST PRACTICES AT K-STATE

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University consistently works to ensure that students are learning what they need to succeed -- and assisting programs across campus measure whether that's happening is the job of K-State's office of assessment.

The best ways to measure student progress will be highlighted at K-State's Assessment Showcase from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the K-State Student Union. The showcase also will inform new faculty and staff what they need to know to measure learner outcomes effectively.

Briana Nelson Goff, interim director of assessment and associate dean of the College of Human Ecology, said assessment helps the various programs across campus keep tabs on how they're doing relative to their goals.

"At K-State, we are dedicated to student learning," she said. "The office of assessment is here as a resource to help programs across campus develop systematic ways to ensure that the teaching taking place at K-State is top-notch. The showcase will allow us to celebrate all of the outstanding work that has been done, while recognizing that there is always room for additional improvement."

M. Duane Nellis, K-State provost and senior vice president, said that the ongoing evaluation of student learning is essential to improving teaching and enhancing student learning at the university.

"Students at K-State receive one of the best college educations in the nation," Nellis said. "That's because professors, departments and colleges are constantly evaluating the relationship between teaching and student learning, and are making adjustments to enhance those outcomes."

The showcase's morning sessions will introduce faculty and staff to the tools they need in developing assessment. Although new faculty and staff are the target audience for the morning workshop, anyone who is new to assessment or has questions is welcome to attend. The afternoon sessions will highlight best-practice assessment efforts from across K-State. Awards also will be given for best practices on campus.

Awards to be presented include:

* Assessment Award for Innovation and Technology -- Shing Chang, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, and Bradley Kramer, head of the department of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering. The department developed a Web-based paperless system to streamline the assessment process. Data is uploaded to an online system used by department faculty. This technology is being considered for use university-wide.

* Assessment Award for Closing the Loop -- Angela Powers, director of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The school developed a program that uses both student feedback and direct assessment tools, which has resulted in curriculum revisions and the development of a new upper-level course to better address the needs of undergraduates.

* Assessment Award for Integration and Achievement of Faculty Involvement -- Anne Phillips, associate professor of English; Karin Westman, head of the department of English; Irma O'Dell, associate professor of leadership studies; and Susan Scott, director of the School of Leadership Studies. The two programs are being recognized for their integration of assessment throughout their curriculums and for their inclusion of all faculty in the process.

* Assessment Award for Integrating Multiple Sources of Data -- Ray Yunk, assistant professor of architectural engineering and construction science, and David Fritchen, head of the department of architectural engineering and construction science. The department uses a variety of assessment methods, including senior, alumni and employer surveys; program advisory councils; national examination results; employment/internship opportunities; and the more traditional academic performance and course assessment. The department has a streamlined method of gathering the data, as well as a concise way to report the data and apply the outcomes directly to its programs.

*Assessment Award for Accredited Programs -- Migette Kaup, associate professor of apparel, textiles and interior design; Barbara Anderson, associate professor of apparel, textiles and interior design; Jana Hawley, head of the department of apparel, textiles and interior design; Bob Garcia, research assistant professor of family studies and human services; and Bill Meredith, director of the School of Family Studies and Human Services. The interior design and communication sciences and disorders programs are being recognized for their efforts to initiate change at K-State. Many accredited programs have extensive annual reporting requirements, which include assessment of student learning. These two programs prompted the change in the annual progress reports at K-State to better fit the annual reporting being conducted for accreditation requirements.

* Assessment Award for Diversity Initiatives -- Warren White, professor of special education, counseling and student affairs; Paul Burden, professor of elementary education; and Lawrence Scharmann, chair of the department of secondary education. The College of Education enacted a professional development seminar series dealing with student diversity issues to more comprehensively accommodate students' needs and reinforce efforts in courses where diversity is the primary emphasis. The college plans to continue monitoring student performance in this area to determine the effect these initiatives have on student learning.

* College Assessment Review Committee Award -- College of Engineering. The award is for the college's long-standing and continual assessment of its undergraduate academic programs in accordance with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and other accreditation agencies. Consistency with the evaluation rubric and constructive feedback to the programs have been keys to the success of the overall assessment activities of the college.