FS042010 2.g.3

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE ON LIBERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT PANELS

In fall of 2010, SCSU will roll out its new general education program, the SCSU Liberal Education Program. Each course in the program must address a set of SLOs (Student Learning Outcomes) in one or two Goal Areas. Furthermore, all general education courses must participate in the general education assessment plan approved by Faculty Senate. Under the plan, assessment of student learning in each goal area will be coordinated and monitored by faculty committees called Liberal Education Assessment Panels (LEAPs).

The General Education Committee is issuing this call for LEAP members. The plan is to constitute them during spring 2010 so that in fall 2010 they can begin the work of coordinating and monitoring assessment of courses in their goal areas. There will be one LEAP for each of the 10 Goal Areas in the SCSU liberal education program, each with 3-5 members. Terms will be for 2 and 3 years (to create staggered terms), with initial lengths randomly assigned.  Although desirable, LEAP members need not have taught liberal education courses.

LEAP duties and responsibilities

Working with the General Education Assessment Coordinator, LEAPs will be expected to:

*develop assessment guidelines and rubrics for their Goal Area SLOs;I

* communicate with faculty teaching courses in their Goal Area;

* respond to questions from programs and/or faculty about doing and/or reporting on assessment;

* keep informed about assessment, particularly general education assessment;

* collect and assess course assessment reports; and

* summarize assessment report and recommendations in an annual report for their Goal Area.

The LEAPs are FA Committees, so members must be full-share IFO members. The chair of each LEAP will serve on the university’s Liberal Education Assessment Committee, chaired by the Liberal Education Assessment Director. This committee will provide primary oversight and coordination of liberal education assessment, in consultation with the University General Education Committee.

We anticipate that LEAPs will need to meet approximately 3 times per term to accomplish these tasks.

Goal Areas

Goal Area 1:  Communicate Orally and in Writing

Goal Area 2:  Critical Reasoning

Goal Area 3:  Natural and Physical Sciences
Goal Area 4:  Mathematical Thinking and Quantitative Reasoning

Goal Area 5:  History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

Goal Area 6:  Humanities & Fine Arts

Goal Area 7:  Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the U.S.

Goal Area 8:  Global Perspectives

Goal Area 9:  Ethical and Civic Engagement
Goal Area 10:  Environmental Issues

To view the specific SLOs for a Goal Area, see http://www.stcloudstate.edu/generaleducation/docpolicies/documents/GoalsandSLOcommentsJanuary2009Word97-2003.doc

If you would like to be involved in this important new area of assessment, please complete the application and e-mail to Joe Melcher, Liberal Education Assessment Coordinator, who will work with the University General Education Committee to select members. Contact Joe if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Paula Tompkins (Communication Studies) and Maureen Tubbiola ( Biology), Co-chairs, General Education Committee