1 SUNY Assessment Update AIRPO Webinar January 22, 2010 Nancy Willie-Schiff Assistant Provost Bill Proulx Provost’s Fellow (on sabbatical from SUNY Oneonta) SUNY System Administration

2 Vision: Enhancing Excellence

3 Overview Current policies and practices Resources for campuses Plans for the future Policy changes Questions for AIRPO members Questions and comments from AIRPO members

4 Current Assessment Requirements The Major Submit schedule of completed and planned assessments Review undergraduate programs every 5-7 years (or programmatic accreditation with assessment of student learning and external review Maintain records General Education Schedule of completed and planned assessments (and SCBA measures) Submit plan update and Closing the Loop report to GEAR every 3 years Assess student learning in 12 SUNY outcome areas every 3 years Use GEAR-approved externally-referenced measures to assess 3 SCBA outcome areas (critical thinking, writing and math) on a common schedule with System funding Maintain records Student Engagement Administer NSSE or CCSSE on a 3-year cycle with System funding All policies and procedures are available via

5 Streamlined Reporting in New Procedures for Campuses New Forms for: General Education The Major Submit schedules to System upon request GENED MAJOR Maintain electronic Summary Reports or equivalent information on campus (for accountability) GENED-2MAJOR-2 Forms are at

6 SCBA Allocations to Campuses for Campuses’ requests for payment are due by July 15, SCBA Measures # of campuses $ Rubrics36$114,600 ACT CAAP 1 $900 Total37$115,600 Send to SCBA is Strengthened Campus Based Assessment, established by Board policy in 2004.

GEAR Reviews of Campuses’ General Education Assessment Plans As a service to campuses, GEAR will be finishing its reviews of general education assessment plan updates and Closing the Loop reports during Due March 1, 2010 University at Buffalo Stony Brook University Empire State College* SUNY ESF* SUNY Geneseo SUNY New Paltz SUNY Plattsburgh SUNY Canton SUNY Cobleskill SUNY IT * Adirondack CC * Cayuga CC Columbia-Greene CC Dutchess CC Fulton-Montgomery CC* Genesee CC Herkimer County CC Mohawk Valley CC Onondaga CC* Rockland CC Suffolk County CC Sullivan County CC Tompkins Cortland CC Ulster County CC * Rescheduled at campus request Send to GEAR is the General Education Assessment Review group, composed primarily of faculty appointed by the University Provost.

8 GEAR Pilots of Assessment Measures Campuses Interested in CLA/CCLA Pilot CLACCLA Buffalo State* Cortland Fredonia Oneonta* Purchase Cobleskill Monroe Nassau Westchester *current users Pilot Measures ACT CAAP (math) and beyond CLA/CCLA (writing and critical thinking)

9 CLA/CCLA Webinars on January 29 Background on the CLA/CCLA SUNY Conversation 1-2 pm VIDEO : AUDIO : within 518 Area Code ; outside 518 Area Code ; do not press 1, 2, or 0 before entering Meeting ID; Meeting ID=4025#; help at SPECIAL INVITATION FOR SUNY CAMPUSES CLA Spotlight on Student Engagement 2-3 pm VIDEO : Meeting ID: CMKN6D; Entry Code: 5dxs_X6 AUDIO : ; when prompted, enter participant code

10 SUNY General Education Student Learning Outcomes in Math In response to NYSMATYC resolution re: math outcomes and SCBA…proposed revisions to math outcomes and course guidelines… Students will demonstrate the ability to: interpret and draw inferences from mathematical models such as formulas, graphs, tables and schematics; represent mathematical information symbolically, visually, numerically and verbally; and solve mathematical problems that require the selection of strategies and the integration of appropriate concepts and procedures. If a student has passed either the Regents Math B exam or the Regents Algebra 2 and Trigonometry exam with a score of 85 or above, the campus may judge the student to have satisfied all the learning outcomes for this category. In addition to the three outcomes above, campuses are encouraged to teach students to estimate and check mathematical results for reasonableness, and to recognize the limits of mathematical and statistical methods in solving problems. Campuses may include these as additional outcomes. SOURCE: Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Mathematics in General Education, Dec 2009

11 Middle States’ Rigorous Assessment Standards Commission actions involving assessment at SUNY institutions between March 2005 & November 2009 Actions # of Institutions 10-Year Accreditation Periodic Review Report None1319 Progress Letters Requested39 Monitoring Reports Requested73 Warning Issued21 Accreditation Decision Postponed01 Total2533 % of Total with Action48%42% DATA SOURCE: Patricia Francis’ analysis of Statements of Accreditation Status at Jan 2010http://

12 Middle States Assessment Workshops in New York State 2010 DatesSites Feb 10The New York Chiropractic College Apr 8-9Mohawk Valley Community College (April 8 Leadership Retreat, April 9 Workshop) Apr 14Nassau Community College Apr 15Pace University, Manhattan Jun 18AIRPO Conference-Capitol Region Oct 1SUNY Canton Details at

13 Integrating Academic Program Planning and Assessment Coming soon… Revised SUNY guidelines for academic program proposals, clarifying expectations for program goals, student outcomes and assessment plans Updated edition of the University Faculty Senate’s Guide to the Evaluation of Undergraduate Programs

14 SUNY Dashboards Coming soon…for faculty and staff… Data for academic program planning and assessment Developed by SUNY IR and IT With user-defined extractable tables and graphs For all campuses & all programs, which enables benchmarking Starting with program-level data on students, awards and first-year retention More details later…

15 Policy Change: Student Mobility November 2009 change to Board policy takes effect in fall To prepare for an updated student mobility web site, campuses have been asked to verify their General Education Course data by March 15. DATA CONTACT

16 Policy Change: General Education January 2010 change to Board policy takes effect in fall NowStarting in Fall 2010 Baccalaureate degree recipients 30 credits of general education knowledge and skills in each of 10 SUNY GER areas and competency in 2 areas Same as now, except: knowledge and skills in 7 out of the 10 SUNY GER areas and competency in 2 areas basic communication and math must be included Questions welcomed. Guidance to be issued.

17 Policy Change: Assessment Streamlining Milestones Sep 2008OSC Audit Nov 2008BOT Academic Affairs Committee Feb 2009BOT Re-engineering SUNY Initiative Aug-Dec 2009Provost’s Advisory Group & consultation with campuses Jan 2010BOT Academic Affairs Committee Anticipated: Mar or May 2010 Trustees Resolution Draft resolution to be circulated for comment.

18 Summary of Proposed Assessment Policy Issue NowProposed* General Education* GEAR approves campuses’ plans, measures and schedules & SUNY funds some costs Campus responsibility, using SUNY General Education student learning outcomes The Major* Each campus is responsible for plans, measures and schedules – with 5-10 year cycles and external review or accreditation No change Institutional Effectiveness* GEAR approves plans, measures and schedules for student engagement & SUNY funds surveys and workshops Campus responsibility Faculty and AIRPO Role GEAR & AIRPO assist campusesNew Assessment Advisory Group for ongoing consultation and renewal and to promote partnerships to support campuses System Role Coordinate contracts, funding, professional development, policy and procedures, while assisting campuses as needed Coordinate and facilitate new Advisory Group and support for campuses *Within the SUNY context, campuses are expected to meet the rigorous assessment standards of Middle States and, as applicable, programmatic accreditation.

19 Planning the Program for AIRPO/AIRPAO in June 2010 Possible Assessment Topics for June Conference Sessions:  SUNY System Update  SUNY Academic Program Dashboards  Using Results from Assessment Measures (CLA, rubrics, exams)  Integrating Academic Program Planning and Assessment  Managing Accessible Assessment Records  Increasing Student Engagement  AACU Value Project: Meta-rubrics  Assessment in Graduate Programs  Your ideas! Send your ideas to Sean McKitrick at and he will send out a survey that will guide program planning. Should AIRPO become AIRPAO?

20 Project: Supporting assessment on campuses Purpose: What role should System play in facilitating effective assessment practices on campuses How: Mixed approach (survey, interviews, etc.) What we would like from you: Suggested questions Send suggestions to or call

21 Potential Support Approaches Develop an “in-system” consultants list Conduct mock Middle States reviews on assessment (upon request) Share assessment approaches on campuses (IR, faculty, etc.) via webinars, etc. Facilitate an assessment mentoring program Facilitate topic- or discipline-specific study groups or learning communities Your ideas………..