School of Continuing Studies: General Studies Program - Assessment Plan
I. Mission Statements, Objectives and Goals
Campus Mission Statement (to be revised)
Indiana University South Bend provides a learning and working environment
that attracts and retains students, faculty, and staff; fully develops
and challenges individual talents throughout the community; encourages
free and spirited collaboration; and maintains a commitment to quality,
integrity, and academic freedom.
General Studies Mission Statement
The mission of the General Studies Program is to assist each student
to design and implement a coherent, focused and comprehensive plan of
study leading to an associate=s and/or bachelor=s degree which achieves
the traditional objectives of a university education and meets the student=s
personal and professional goals.
Educational Objectives
The traditional objectives of a university education are:
1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
2. Basic academic success skills
3. Academic values
4. Higher order thinking skills
5. Personal development and career preparation.
Goals
The goal of the General Studies Program is to ensure that students who
graduate from the program meet these traditional objectives.
II. Methodology for Assessing Goals and Objectives
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Introductory Course
A one credit introductory course is required for students entering the
General Studies Program with less than 75 credit hours. The course discusses
the degree requirements, how courses transfer from other schools in Indiana
University and from other colleges and universities, and the various ways
that students can earn credit. Students are required to submit a plan
for completing their degree which includes specific courses, an estimate
of the cost and a timetable.
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Each general studies major must take a minimum of 12 hours in each of
three liberal arts and sciences areas: arts and humanities, science and
mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences. In addition, each student
must select a concentration area from the above areas and complete 18
additional hours in that area. As a result, each general studies student
must complete at least 30 hours in one of these three areas. The courses
meeting these requirements must have minimum grades of C minus or better.
These requirements ensure that each general studies major is learning
discipline specific knowledge and skills.
We also strongly encourage our students to obtain minors, and many of
our majors have one or more minors. These minors also contribute to students
discipline specific knowledge and skills.
Basic Academic Success Skills (Fundamental Literacies)
All general studies students must meet five basic requirements by completing
courses with a C or better in the following areas: computer, writing (two
courses), mathematics, speech and world culture.
Academic Values
General studies majors must meet the IU South Bend general education requirements
and they must take a total of 69 hours of arts and science courses (since
there are a few substitutions possible, in some cases the total might
be less than 69). We believe these requirements ensure our majors are
exposed to academic values.
Higher Order Thinking Skills
All general studies majors are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours
of 300 and 400 level courses. This ensures our majors are learning higher
order thinking skills.
Personal Development and Career Preparation
Our introductory course requires the student to prepare a plan for completing
their degree. Since students have considerable flexibility, they meet
regularly with their advisors to make sure the courses are meeting their
goals and the general studies degree requirements.
Capstone Course
In the capstone course students write four, three page papers. The first
paper discusses the student=s academic story. How did the student progress
through his or her studies to reach graduation? The second paper shows
how the student=s program meets three or four goals of a Agood degree@.
The goals are selected from readings by Tom Ehrlich, John Newman, Nancy
Vickers and others. The third paper shows how the student=s program meets
three or four individual academic goals. These goals are selected by the
student from an article AEducational Objectives Survey@ by Thomas Angelo
and K. Patricia Cross. The final paper shows how the student=s program
fits into the student=s future plans. The emphasis is on occupational
plans and plans for post graduate education. The second paper helps to
document students meeting the traditional goals of a university. The third
and fourth papers help to document students meeting their goals in personal
development and career preparation.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND OTHER METHODS
Program Questionnaire
Students in the capstone course are in their last two semesters, so they
are in a good position to evaluate the general studies program. A program
questionnaire is given to each student and they are asked to evaluate
the program. Steps are taken to ensure that the respondents remain anonymous,
and the questionnaires are analyzed every two years which is after almost
all of the students have graduated. The questionnaire is similar to the
alumni questionnaire which is also anonymous. Since we graduate more than
75 BGS students each year and most of them take the capstone course, we
get an excellent sample of our graduates.
Alumni Survey
Every five years we send a survey to each general studies alumni. Our
last survey was sent in 2003 and we received nearly 180 responses from
a mailing of about 2000. The survey asks 12 questions on various aspects
of the program to measure the graduate=s satisfaction with the program.
Five additional questions ask about the amount of emphasis on various
requirements as too little, about right or too much. Three open ended
questions follow asking about post graduate education and occupational
information, interest in working with general studies alumni to support
the program, and general comments.
Graduate School
Ted Hengesbach estimated that approximately 25 percent of our graduates
go on to graduate school. In our most recent alumni survey, 18 percent
of our alumni reported having at least one graduate degree. Since preparing
students for lifelong education is part of our academic values, we see
the number of our students going on to graduate school as part of our
assessment plan.
Grades
Since general studies students take at most two one credit courses in
general studies, we see student grades as one way of assessing our students
success. Every semester we receive from the School of Continuing Studies
in Bloomington the average grade point average for all of our students
enrolled that semester. We would like for this average to be above 3.0
for each semester. For the last four semesters, the average GPA has ranged
between 3.10 and 3.25.
III. Process for Using Assessment Information to Improve Programs
Assessment Reports and Reviews
The Director will collect and analyze the assessment data and report
the results along with recommendations for changes in curriculum and advising
to the General Studies Faculty Advisory Committee every two years.
The Director will work with the General Studies Faculty Advisory Committee
to prepare the Third Year Review and Revised Assessment Plan.
IV. Participation of All Constituencies
Faculty
The General Studies Faculty Advisory Committee will review the assessment
report submitted by the Director and approve any suggested changes in
curriculum and advising.
The General Studies Faculty Advisory Committee will participate in the
preparation of the Third Year Review and the Revised Assessment Plan.
Students
Most general studies students have numerous one-on-one advising sessions
with a general studies advisor. These sessions provide an opportunity
for comments and suggestions regarding curriculum, advising or other issues.
Most students take the capstone course. As seniors they are in an excellent
position to make comments and suggestions regarding the program. They
also have an opportunity to evaluate and comment on the program through
the program questionnaire.
Alumni
General Studies has a very active Alumni Board which meets five time
a year with the Director and Assistant Director. Our newsletter is published
twice a year and sent to every alumni. A spring event with alumni and
graduating seniors is held every year. Changes in the program are communicated
to alumni and they are encouraged to comment and to make suggestions.
The alumni survey also gives alumni the opportunity to evaluate, comment
and make suggestions regarding the program.
V. Record Keeping Activities
The Director compiles, writes and files the Annual Reports, and compiles,
writes and submits draft Third Year Reviews and Revised Assessment Plans
to the Faculty Advisory Committee. After Committee approval, the Director
submits the reviews and plans to the Assessment. Copies of the Annual
Reports, Third Year Reviews and Assessment Plans will be kept on file.
Capstone papers are kept on file for five years for possible review by
members of the Faculty Advisory Committee and members of the Assessment
Committee.
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