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> Office of the Provost > Student Outcomes Assessment
Related Data
The Assessment and Outcomes Committee has made the following plans to
address the specific requirements for information outlined in the Policy on Educational Assessment in Standard Two.
Student Information
Institutional Research has been collecting snapshot data files of each semester's enrolled
students and each fall's entering freshmen since fall 1990. The files are used to generate
information requested by the Enrollment Management Committee, the Retention
Committee, and the Assessment and Outcomes (A&O) Committee, including retention and graduation rates and scholastic indicators of entering freshmen. Institutional Research has developed tables tracking the high school background and college persistence patterns of freshmen cohorts; tables to track their progress through classes and majors are being developed. The Registrar and Director of Institutional Research are developing tables to track transfer students. The A&O Committee will examine enrollment and retention patterns at the University and make recommendations as appropriate.
Mid-Program Assessment
In 1996-97, the University will undertake a year-long assessment of the core curriculum objectives, which will include an analysis of how core courses might be better structured to meet those objectives. Participants will include the A&O and Core Curriculum Committees; other possible participants are the Undergraduate Studies Committee, the Writing Center, the Math Learning Centers, and the Teaching/Learning Committee. The program for assessing general education will begin in 1997-98.
End of Program Assessment
Institutional Research has been collecting snapshot data files of each semester's enrolled
students and each year's graduates since 1990. The A&O Committee can use data from these
files to examine patterns of the University's graduates and make recommendations as appropriate.
The A&O Task Force developed a survey for graduating seniors in 1994-95, which was included
with information mailed by each college to its graduating seniors.
Results for the Survey of Graduating Seniors, Class of '95, Class of '96, and Class of '97 are available. Results of the survey will be distributed to Deans' Council and Faculty Council to raise awareness of the opinions of graduating seniors.
During the 1995 fall semester, the A&O Committee conducted an assessment inventory of academic
departments. The inventory included requests for information about existing capstone courses and
about how new capstone experiences might be created. Departments are expected to incorporate
their findings from capstone course into their assessment programs to improve curricula and /or
instruction in the majors. All undergraduate degree programs at MSU-Bozeman will have capstone courses identified in the 1998-2000 catalog.
Program Review and Specialized Accreditation
The Provost does not formally review academic programs on a regular schedule, so the A&O
Committee is developing a university-wide program to assess student outcomes in all undergraduate
majors. Many departments have already developed assessment programs in response to
requirements established by professional accrediting agencies, and the activities they undertake
for those agencies can be summarized for the university's program. During the 1995 fall semester, the committee inventoried assessment activities in the academic departments and will use the results to develop an outline structure for departmental assessment plans. During the 1996 spring semester, departments developed assessment plans for their majors and submitted them
to the A&O Committee. Plans were implemented in 1996-97, and departments will submit summaries of their results to the A&O Committee by June 30, 1997. Departments are expected to use the results of their assessment activities to make curricular and other improvements in their programs.
Alumni Satisfaction and Loyalty
The A&O Task Force developed an alumni survey in 1994-95 which was used to survey
1991 graduates of bachelor's degree programs. Results for the Survey of Alumni, Class of '91, Class of '92, and Class of '93
are available. This survey is repeated annually and includes measures
of alumni satisfaction. Analysis will show whether satisfaction changes over time.
Determining the reasons for any changes may require additional input from alumni.
The A&O Committee will analyze the results and distribute a report to Deans' Council
and Faculty Council.
Dropout/Non-completers
In November of 1990, the university surveyed 720 preregistered nonreturning students to
learn why they had not returned. Ninety percent cited financial difficulties or personal reasons. The Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs surveys students who are leaving the
residence halls, and his data show a similar pattern.
Institutional Research has tracked attrition rates since fall 1990, and these appear to be
relatively stable. This year, the President created a Retention Committee to examine retention
issues and suggest ways that retention might be improved. That Committee has discussed the
possibility of undertaking a telephone survey of nonreturning students.
Employment and/or Employer Satisfaction Measures
Career Services surveys the prior year's graduates each fall to determine their employment
status and publishes a report, "Success of Graduates," that includes placement information by program. The A&O
Committee has decided that including questions about how will MSU-Bozeman prepared
them for their jobs was a bit premature for this survey. The alumni survey includes
questions about preparation for employment and graduate school.
The A&O Committee will work with the Directory of Career Services to discuss possibilities
for conducting surveys of employers.
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