Minutes – WAC Meeting, Nov. 10, 2011
The minutes from October were approved.
Rick Matthews opened discussion on assessment, reiterating that the WAC committee’s focus is oversight of the program, and that assessment of writing outcomes is the responsibility of Departments and Programs. Rick noted that about half of Departments currently have assessment plans that include writing assessment, most of them through senior thesis assessment. The college Assessment Committee is working on a Gen Ed assessment plan that will include the Heritage Program at the freshman level, and a CLS assessment at the senior level. As part of the WAC committee’s oversight of WI courses, W.I. course proposal forms will include student writing outcomes in the future.
Rick Matthews is developing a student survey instrument for W.I. courses that should be ready to implement at the end of spring semester this year. The committee discussed at length the survey as it is and recommended several changes, most of them involving more quantitative questions than qualitative. There was also some discussion about how to deliver the surveys – in paper form or electronically, but no consensus was reached.
Rick will consult with Bill Miller and implement the suggested survey changes for the committee’s consideration at its next meeting. Rick will also send the committee members the results of the previous survey to refresh their memories on that data.
Rick will send the committee a doodle survey in order to choose a spring semester meeting time.
The Adult Education/Part-Time Faculty WAC workshops are tentatively scheduled for January 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 5-8 p.m.