Present: Allyn Kostecki, Mary Kuzel,  Joe Latimer, James Lindley, William
         Martin, Thomas Scherer, Richard Shaw, Brad Strand, and 
         Bob Harrold, Chair.

Unable to attend: Laura de Haan and Richard Chenoweth

Minutes

1.  The minutes of the September 8, 1999 meeting were accepted after 
    minor modification.

Announcements

1.  The Collaboration for Teaching and Learning Conference on "How 
    Learning Happens" will be held November 17-18, 1999.  (Brochure
    circulated among committee members.)

2.  Call for Proposals: "Sustaining Innovation" Conference, 
    February 17-18, 2000 Collaboration for Teaching and Learning).
    The deadline is September 27, 1999.    Brochure circulated among
    committee members.)

3.  Call for Proposals for the 105th Annual NCA Meeting being held in
    Chicago on April 1-4, 2000.    (Brochure circulated among 
    committee members.)

Reports:

1.  The subcommittee to develop new assessment guidelines (de Haan, 
    Kuzel, Shaw) had no report at this time.  Because de Haan will be
    on leave,  Kuzel and Shaw plan to have a draft of guidelines 
    available for discussion at the next meeting.

Unfinished Business

1.  Bush Proposal:
    a.  Harrold noted that the Bush Foundation has recommended
        that the proposal to that funding organization be approved
        without modification. Upon approval, activities could be 
        initiated next semester.  There was a discussion of placing
        the proposal on the Assessment Web page.  This will be 
        discussed further by the Bush Grant Steering Committee. 

    b.  Martin discussed the Quantitative Assessment Plan for 
        assessing courses in mathematics and statistics (quantitative
        reasoning).  This assessment would focus on what students 
        could do and would need be tailored to fit each course 
        involving the application of quantitative reasoning skills. 

    c.  Shaw discussed assessment techniques that could be used in 
        English and The Center for Writers.  This activity would begin
        with assessment of the first-year writing in ENGL 110 and 
        ENGL 111.  He also discussed utilizing "bridging courses" 
        in the sophomore year to determine how well students are 
        prepared for writing assignments and expectations during 
        their junior and senior years.  Each department would
        determine expectations for student writing in their courses. 

New Business:

1.  The "Adopt-A-Department" program was discussed along with 
    developing electronic and face-to-face linkages with deans, 
    department chairs, and faculty.

2.  Martin suggested that it would be productive to discuss 
    departmental Assessment Reports on a personal basis with deans
    and department chairs.  Direct communication with individual 
    departments to discus the new guidelines would be desirable 
    as it would result in additional communication with departments. 
 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

Recorder: Bonnie Erickson. 

Assessment Minutes