|
III. Assessment Instruments and Procedures
As indicated earlier, the School uses both, the survey instruments and recommendation from identified groups to assess whether its program objectives are being met. The details of these assessment mechanisms and how we plan to use them are described below.
A. SURVEY INSTRUMENTS:
- 1. COURSE OUTCOMES SURVEYS:
There are two bodies that conduct the course outcomes surveys, students taking the courses and faculty members teaching them.
-
a. By Students:
This survey is undertaken by current students for each of their classes every term. Each student is asked to rate the appropriateness of each of the outcomes for the course from two points of views: the level to which the outcome was met for the student personally and how meaningful the student considers the outcome. The survey is conducted on-line during the last two weeks of each term. Sample student surveys can be found here.
b. By Instructors:
Instructors of each of the courses complete this survey that includes which assignments, quizzes, tests, etc. covered which of the course objectives, how do they rate the appropriateness of each of these objectives, how effectively were they able to address that objective, how relevant they think each of the outcomes of the prerequisite course(s) is, what was the level of mastery of students in their prerequisite topics, and their suggestions about improving the overall preparation of the students for taking that course. The instructors complete this survey on-line within a week of the completion of the term. Sample instructor surveys can be found here.
The Associate Director for Computing Technologies is responsible for ascertaining that meaningful statistics for each survey are available within a month after the term concludes.
Each SAC is responsible for reviewing these survey results for all courses in the subject area, and write an annual report recommending possible modifications, if any. The AC must receive these reports by the end of January, that is, by the end of the first month of the Spring term. The AC then summarizes and consolidates these recommendations in one report that must be submitted to the School's curriculum committee by the end of February of each year.
2. SURVEY OF GRADUATING STUDENTS:
This survey, undertaken by students who are ready to graduate with the undergraduate degree in Computer Science, is conducted in an on-line fashion every term. All graduating students are asked to rate every outcome of our degree program as to the extent it has been met for them personally as well as how meaningful they consider it to be for them personally. The students are also asked to give their suggestions to improve our undergraduate curriculum. The survey will be conducted on-line. A sample of this survey can be found here.
We will use the results of this survey to modify our curriculum appropriately to ascertain that students have a smooth learning experience as they progress through their curriculum. Curriculum modifications based on students' comments will be proposed by the AC in the annual report submitted to the curriculum committee by the end of February.
3. SURVEY OF ALUMNI:
This survey undertaken by our graduates is conducted every three years. Its primary purpose is to allow us to get the feedback from our graduates as to how adequately our curriculum has prepared them to achieve success in their current practices, either advanced graduate studies or employment in any computing industry or government. The survey will be conducted in an on-line fashion. A sample of this survey can be found here.
We will use the results of this survey to modify our curriculum contents to prepare our students better to maximize their potential to achieve success. The AC is responsible to include curriculum modifications based on the alumni survey in the annual report submitted to the curriculum committee.
- B. RECOMMENDATIONS:
Periodically, we seek out recommendations for curricular changes from diverse bodies and interest groups. In all cases, curriculum modifications based on these recommendations will be included in the annual report submitted by the AC to the School's curriculum committee.
-
1. Industrial Advisory Board:
The IAB of the School is expected to meet once a year to discuss among other things, how we can prepare our students better to face the current challenges in the field. The Director of the School, the UPD, and the AC will review these formal and informal recommendations of the Board.
2. Undergraduate women's forum:
Our undergraduate women's forum meets occasionally throughout the year under the leadership of a faculty member of the School. The problems faced by women in science areas of endeavor are unique, and we will take the recommendations of this group to address their concerns about our curriculum and how can we assist them to perform better and attract more women in our program. The AC and the UPD will review the recommendations of the group on an annual basis.
3. ACM Student Chapter:
The members of our ACM Student Chapter meet periodically throughout the year. Recommendations made by this group through their faculty advisor will be reviewed by the AC and the UPD on an annual basis.
|
