Draft
7/23/02

Bemidji State University
NCA Monitoring Report

Please forward comments and corrections to
Dr.Joann Fredrickson
Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
jfredrickson@bemidjistate.edu

Note: This is a draft, and some items are not completed.

CONTENTS

1. Introduction: A Culture of Assessment and Planning
2. Assessment: Balance and Consistency in Departmental Assessment
3. Planning: Assessment to Planning - A Closed Loop
4. Conclusion: Focus and Commitment
   (Attachments and Appendixes may be viewed in the Office of Academic & Student Affairs.)

Attachments

1. University Assessment Plan: A Resource Manual for Department and Program Review Guidelines and Bemidji State University Assessment Plan
2. Academic Program Review Guidelines
3. Summary of Bemidji State University Assessment Plan: Dimensions of Student Learning, Outcomes and Student Learning Objectives
• III.- A Academic Profile Data Results & Summary
4. Bemidji State University Data Book 2000-2001
5. Report on the Assessment of Computer Technology Utilization, Expectations and Student Knowledge
6. Student Opinion Survey, Fall Semester, 2001 VII. "Telling Our Story: Outreach and Partnership Efforts at Bemdiji State University"

Appendixes

1. Reviewers Questionnaire (External Consultant)
2. Five-Year Review Schedule for Service Departments
3. College Assessment Coordinator Reports C-1 Academic Department Profiles
4. Liberal Education Course Forms D-1 Assessment of Liberal Education Area VIII: People and the Environment
5. Dr. Cecelia Lopez, Assessment Conference
6. IFO Liberal Education Committee Charge
7. Director of Liberal Education Position Description
8. Liberal Education Curriculum
9. Thesis/Research Paper Committee Members Assessment Of Student Performance In Oral Defense
10. Graduate Student's Assessment Of Graduate Program
11. Master's Degree Exit Survey
12. Planning Committee Document Format
13. Initiative Generation and Approval Flow Chart
14. Planning Committee Recommendations to the University Council
15. Revenue Sharing Proposal to Support Development of Web-Based Courses at Bemidji State O-1 Online Course Self-Study & Agreement Draft
16. Budget Information Sheets
17. Budget Proposal Template
18. Budget & Resources Committee Grant Writing Quality Improvement Process
19. Budget & Resources Committee SWOT Analysis
20. 2001-2002 BSU Student Employment Telephone Survey

I. Introduction: A Culture of Assessment and Planning

NCA Evaluation
April 9-12, 2000 the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges conducted a comprehensive evaluation for continued accreditation of Bemidji State University. The review was based on NCA's General Institutional Requirements and the five Criteria for Accreditation. The evaluation also included review of the University's Experimental Planning Initiative, which was recognized through a Memorandum of Agreement between North Central and the University.

Recommendation for Full Accreditation
In their "Report of a Visit to Bemidji State University," the evaluators recommended that the University be awarded full accreditation: "The current NCA team has concluded that the University has satisfied all the North Central General Institutional Requirements (p. 4). Furthermore, the team members were "unanimous in their view that Bemidji State University does meet" the Criteria for Accreditation (p. 5):

• Continue the accreditation of Bemidji State University.
• Schedule the next comprehensive evaluation for 2009-2010.

The team also required a monitoring report to NCA on assessment and operational planning by September 30, 2002 (p. 50).

Monitoring Report
The evaluators' 2000 Report identifies two areas to be addressed in the Monitoring Report, assessment and planning:

The written (monitoring) report must specifically address what the team found to be an unevenness of implementing the University's approved Assessment Plan. While the campus culture pertaining to assessment is still evolving, it has not yet become an institutional priority or a way of life. Some programs have defined appropriate and measurable objectives for program educational goals; others are currently functioning at a more elementary stage in the process; and still other areas have yet to use the data collected in a manner that helps them determine if the measures are adequate and appropriate. The report will need to also address the University's need to develop a well articulated plan, or set of procedures to meaningfully integrate the experimental planning initiatives with other critical areas of the institution, i.e., program assessment plans, five year program review schedules, resource allocation, and the new committee and council infrastructure. Institutional operational plans (i.e. Information Technology Plan, a Campus Master Plan or a Financial Plan for the University), are not yet fully developed and must also be integrated into the overall University Plan (p. 50).

University Progress
Bemidji State University has addressed the assessment and planning challenges raised by the self-study team in 2000. That the many accomplishments discussed in sections II and III were made concurrent with changes in a number of senior administrative positions is a testament to the overall strength of the University's commitments. The changes in leadership since the 2000 Self-Study visit include the naming of a new President and a new Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, and the filling of all open deanships with permanent deans. The current Acting Vice President for Administrative Affairs will be replaced by a permanent vice president in 2002-2003.

Summary of Assessment Progress (See Section II for details.)

• The five-year review process, including assessment, is integrated into the University Assessment Plan.
• In 2000, 10 of 27 programs were on schedule with reviews and assessment. As of spring 2002, 27 of 27 programs are on schedule.
• All department assessment plans include ongoing activities.
• Academic assessment feedback is incorporated into planning at the department, college and university levels.
• The University has increased its support for assessment planning and activities.

Summary of Planning Progress (See Section III for details.)

• Membership on the planning committees has been established.
• The planning committees, the University Council and the Executive Council meet on a regular basis.
• Protocols for committee processes and action have been established.
• Committee minutes and other documents are posted regularly on a planning committee campus web site (http://info.bemidjistate.edu/News/planning/index.html).
• Processes for integrating planning "with other critical areas of the institution" (Report, p. 50) are evidenced in the planning committee profiles which include descriptions of initiatives, their origins, and actions taken..

II. Assessment: Balance and Consistency in Departmental Assessment

Contents
Page - Background, including progress, supportive measures, and culture of assessment.
Page - Quick-glance summary, by college, of department five-year review and assessment reporting status.
Page - Quick-glance summary, by college, comparison of five-year review and assessment status, Spring 2000 to Spring 2002. Page - Quick-glance summary, by college, areas assessed.
Page - Sample academic department profiles.
Page - Liberal Education Assessment.
Page - Graduate Studies Assessment.
Page - University-Wide Assessment.
Page - Student and University Services Assessment

SIDEBARS:Assessment as "an institutional way of life": faculty, staff, and service department activities additional to ongoing academic assessment.

Background
As summarized in Section I, and discussed below, the University has made considerable progress in its goal of nurturing a culture of assessment that is reflected in the University Assessment Plan (Attachment I) and is evenly implemented in academic areas and across the University at large.

Progress since the 2000 visit

• Five-year review and assessment guidelines, approved by NCA in 1996, and now integrated with the University Assessment Plan (Attachment I) have been published by the Academic Affairs Committee and are used by departments for review and assessment planning and implementation (Academic Program Review Guidelines, Attachment II, and Summary of Bemidji State University Assessment Plan, Attachment III).
• An external consultant report form developed by the Academic Affairs Committee is utilized by all external consultants (Reviewers Questionnaire, Appendix A).
• Approved, viable plans: All departments have current, approved five-year plans, including assessment plans consistent with the University's published assessment guidelines (Attachment I). The plans are re-submitted for review as part of every five-year review cycle.
• All departments are on time with implementation of their assessment plans, and all plans include ongoing activities.
• Findings from assessment are utilized in departmental planning and, through the deans, are carried forward through the planning process at the college and university levels.
• University service areas are engaged in five-year review cycles per plans developed by the Student and University Services committee (Appendix B).

A Commitment to Assessment
The University employed a number of measures, including allocation of resources, to accomplish, in the past two years, full compliance with its assessment plan:

• Each of the three colleges has an Assessment Coordinator, at .33 FTE credits of release time per semester, per college. The coordinators report to their respective deans (College Assessment Coordinator Reports, Appendix C).
• Additional resources have been allocated to the Office of Research and Assessment.
• Through the office of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, funding is available to departments for external consultant reviewers.
• Departmental five-year review schedules, including assessment, are required; departments are on-time within their cycles.
• The "Academic Program Review and Guidelines" and the "Summary of (the University's) Assessment Plan," noted above provide step-by-step guidance to departments in the development of assessment plans and preparation of five-year reviews (Attachments II and III).

Culture of Assessment: Ongoing Departmental Assessment Activities
At the time of the University's next scheduled comprehensive self-study accreditation review, 2009-2010, all departments will have completed at least two five-year review and assessment cycles. Departmental progress is tracked by the college assessment coordinators and the Office of Research and Assessment, which is developing an on-line departmental assessment portfolio web site. Departmental assessment activity is also tracked through a Mid-Cycle Report submitted to the dean (Attachment II, page 9), and the status of every department's five-year review is reported in the University's Data Book 2000-2001 (Attachment IV) which is published annually.

In their site visit report in 2000, the evaluators noted that Bemidji State "is making progress in implementing its assessment program and thus it appears to be at Level Two in the NCA continuum" (p. 32). Evaluators noted some "unevenness of implementing the University's approved Assessment Plan," particularly at the department level (p. 50). As indicated above, and evidenced in the following charts and profiles, assessment is now implemented evenly across the academic spectrum.

Quick-Glance Summary by College
Departmental Five-Year Review and Assessment Reporting Status

The following profiles were developed through review of records, new input from departments, and interviews with department chairs by the Monitoring Report editor.

Assessment reports are a required component of five-year reviews. For ongoing assessment activities and actions taken as a result of assessment see department profiles, following.

Mid-cycle progress reports are a required component in the five-year cycle (Attachment II, page 9).

Quick-Glance Summary, by College
Comparison of Five-Year Review and Assessment Status
Spring 2000 to Spring 2002

Quick-Glance Summary, by College
Areas Assessed (Selected)

Academic Department Assessment Profiles, by College

An assessment profile has been created for all academic departments. A sample profile from each college follows. Profiles for all departments are in Appendix C-1.

Contents of Profiles

• Department Statistics
• Five-Year Review Dates
• Ongoing Assessment Activities
• Assessment Outcomes
• Actions Taken
• Challenges with Assessment
• Modifications to Plan
• Summary of Assessment Plan
  1. Questions asked
  2. Dimensions of student learning
  3. Student learning outcomes
  4. Assessment strategies
  5. Data sources

Departments

NOTE for Draft 07/23/02
Profiles for CAL, English; COPS, Physical Education, Health & Sport; and SNS Geography will be included here. They are currently being proofread by the departments.

Liberal Education Assessment

Approved Liberal Education Assessment Plan
The University's approved Assessment Plan (Attachment I) calls for two primary Liberal Education assessment activities (page 19):

• General student surveys conducted by the Office of Research & Assessment;
• Assessment and review of Liberal Education course offerings.

The Liberal Education Director and Committee continue to pursue a comprehensive approach to Liberal Education assessment, and to cooperate with departments on direct assessment of Liberal Education courses.

General Student Surveys
ETS Academic Profile (Office of Research & Assessment)
As noted elsewhere in this document (in University-wide Assessment Activities, below), the first Academic Profile cycle of testing occurred in the fall of 2001 (FY 2002) with a sample of juniors and seniors who are scheduled to graduate with degrees in natural sciences and nursing. Preliminary analysis indicates that the results for Bemidji State University are comparable to other similar comprehensive institutions. As expected, upper classmen (seniors and juniors) score higher than freshmen on all the scales (Attachment III-A, Academic Profile Data Results & Summary).

Subsequent student learning outcomes testing will occur with samples of students in arts and letters, education, business and accounting, and social sciences. Preliminary data from the mathematics portion of the exam indicate that students perform slightly above the national average, as anticipated by the Mathematics Department.

Assessment and Review of Liberal Education Course Offerings
Courses are approved for the Liberal Education program by the Liberal Education Committee. Course proposals are submitted on forms (Appendix D), and include identification of learning outcomes and objectives, and methods of assessment (Attachment III). Course offerings in Liberal Education are additionally reviewed by area on a rotating basis (year one, Areas One and Two, etc.).

Additional Assessment Activities
In addition to the activities called for in the University's Assessment Plan, some departments carry out assessment of Liberal Education courses as part of their program assessment.
Mathematics Placement (Mathematics Department)
Incoming freshmen take the CAAP math placement test, which determines their placement in developmental or intermediate algebra classes.

Composition Assessment (English Department)
Two writing across the curriculum assessments were conducted in the last four years by Liberal Education. The results were inconclusive; a new approach is being developed by the English Department.

People and the Environment Assessment
The People and the Environment component of Liberal Education (which is in both the previous and the revised curricula) is assessed every semester (Appendix D-1).

Outcomes
Students have moved in the direction expected: They are more aware of, and more knowledgeable and concerned about environmental issues.

Changes to course based on assessment

• Content has been modified to engender more hope in students (who can become depressed by the seriousness of what they learn), while still provoking awareness.
• Active learning activities have been added (discussion, small groups, field study).
• Dynamics of the interdisciplinary team have been modified.

Modification of assessment instrument

• Increased number of questions about cognitive content.
• Instrument modified to better identify attitude and behavioral changes in students.

Implementation
General Student Surveys
As noted above, the ETS Academic Profile has been implemented.

Assessment and Review of Liberal Education Course Offerings
The process for evaluating Liberal Education courses has been functioning since before 1996.

Institutional Culture
Dr. Cecelia Lopez visited the campus March 9, 2001 (Appendix E ) Session topics included student learning outcomes, pre and post testing, and assessment strategies. In addition to attendance by University faculty and staff, representatives were present from the region's technical and community colleges.

As noted above, proposals for courses to be considered for inclusion in Liberal Education must include assessment measures.

Assessment is included in the charge of the IFO Liberal Education Committee (Appendix F) and in the Director of Liberal Education position description(Appendix G).

Departments are including Liberal Education courses in their assessment plans. This year additions were made in English, History, Music, Visual Arts, and Geography.

The University's Liberal Education Director receives .33 FTE release time. The position description was revised Spring 2002 (Appendix E), in accordance with its charge (Appendix E) and a request from the Faculty Senate. As in the past, in addition to coordination of approval and ongoing review of Liberal Education courses, and development and implementation of assessment, the Director's duties include attendance and presentations at assessment conferences. A new Director will be announced fall semester 2002. Outgoing Director Dr. Kay Robinson attended the following conferences (asterisk indicates Dr. Robinson made a presentation):

• Council for the Administration of General and Liberal Studies--Chicago, November 2000
• Association of American Colleges and Universities
  • New Orleans, January 2001
  • MnSCU CTL Workshop--Duluth, April 2001
  • Theatre in Higher Education--Chicago, August 2001
  • Canadian Studies in the United States

Use of Information
General Student Surveys
As noted above, the ETS Profile has been implemented.

Assessment and Review of Liberal Education Course Offerings
New or renewing courses that meet the requirements for Liberal Education, including the use of Dimensions of Student Learning and assessment measures, are included in the Liberal Education curriculum.

Assessment Loop
Liberal Education at Bemidji State is included in departmental, college, and university decision-making, including action by planning committees. For example, the newly instituted First-Year Experience (FYE) seminar originated in part as the result of information received from the follow-up Noel-Levitz Inventory (see FYE sidebar, page __). FYE was approved through the planning committees, the University Council and the Executive Council. Freshman students are currently advised into FYE; a proposal to include the year-long FYE seminar in the University's graduation requirement is in progress. The proposal was not implemented with the program in part due to state mandated reconfiguration of the University's general education program (see "Challenges" below).

Challenges for Liberal Education Assessment
In the Fall of 2001 Bemidji State was notified by MnSCU that it must realign its Liberal Education offerings to conform with the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. In order to meet this requirement, the Liberal Education Committee suspended review of new course proposals, and of courses within the existing Liberal Education categories. In response to a directive from the Faculty Senate, in 2002-2003 the Liberal Education Committee and Director will study the revised curriculum, and will develop new review and assessment strategies to match the Transfer Curriculum format (previous and new program categories: Appendix H).

Graduate Studies Assessment

Evidence of Approved Plan
The Graduate Studies Assessment Plan is a component of the University’s NCA approved Assessment Plan (Attachment I, page 20-24).

Implementation of the Approved Plan
The plan has five components that are administered in all programs:

1. Comprehensive examinations, in two parts, written and oral. Departments are currently being asked to review, analyze, and act on the results of these examinations.
2. Demonstration of a competency within the discipline (such as statistics, or a second language). These competency requirements are listed in the department entries in the Graduate Catalog.
3. A thesis reporting substantial work of research or creativity.
4. An instrument evaluating student competence as a reflection of the graduate curriculum administered to orals committee evaluators at the time of the oral exam (Appendix I).
5. An instrument evaluating the University’s graduate study strengths and weaknesses administered to students at the time of the oral exam (Appendix J).

Two additional assessment activities are currently in practice:

7. A Graduate Studies Master’s Degree Exit Survey is mailed to students with their diplomas (Appendix K).
8. Graduate Studies graduation rates are analyzed on a regular basis.

Assessment by Departments:
The comprehensive exams, the thesis, and the competency exam (items 1, 2, and 5) are administered by the departments. As noted above, a plan is in development for the review, analysis and act on these assessments.

Assessment by the Office of Graduate Studies:
The evaluating instruments and the exit survey (items 4, 6 and 7) are administered by the Graduate Office.

Institutional Culture
As noted above, the Graduate Studies assessment plan is included in the University’s Assessment Plan, and assessment activities are carried out by academic departments and by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Department assessment plans are approved by the Academic Affairs Committee which includes a member of the Graduate Studies Committee. The Graduate Studies Committee charge includes responsibility for graduate study policy.

Graduate Committee - one person to Academic Affairs, which approves all University assessment plans.

Use of Information
Assessment carried out by the Graduate Studies Office (items 4, 6 and 7 above) has resulted in the following changes:

• To encourage timely completion of their degrees, and to insure that student work is current in the field, graduate students are held to the seven year window for application of graduate courses toward a graduate degree;
• Revision of candidacy forms;
• Development of additional forms to assist students and advisors in planning and tracking their progress through established procedures;
• Development (in progress) of continuous enrollment for students actively working on their degrees;
• Presentation of workshops to the Graduate Student Association on candidacy and other graduate study processes.

Assessment Loop
The numerous changes in Graduate Studies forms and procedures made in the last two years, which were identified through the assessment efforts noted above, are expected to assist students through enrollment, study and graduation. All of the new processes were approved by the Graduate Studies Committee which has representation from all departments offering graduate courses.

University-Wide Assessment

Office of Research & Assessment

Academic Affairs Committee
As reflected in its charge. the Academic Affairs Committee if continually addresses assessment activities university-wide:

The Academic Affairs Committee will oversee both the five-year academic program review cycle as well as all the University's student outcomes assessment efforts. It will identify academic objectives and priorities within the context of the University's mission, and assist in the planning, development, and refinement of both programmatic assessment and student outcomes assessment for the University. This includes all academic areas, advancement programs, service areas, and Liberal Education. The Academic Affairs Committee may also be called upon to review and make recommendations about academic policies.

See the Academic Affairs Committee profile, page ___, for details.

ETS Academic Profile
As indicated in the 2000 Self-Study, COMP was discontinued by ACT, but the University has begun a program utilizing the Academic Profile published by ETS for the general education assessment of mathematics, reading/critical thinking and writing. The first cycle of testing occurred in the fall of 2001; analysis indicates that the results are comparable to those for other similar comprehensive institutions. A sample of juniors and seniors in natural sciences and nursing is scheduled. As noted in the Liberal Education section above, subsequent outcomes testing will occur with samples of students in arts and letters, education, business and accounting, and social sciences (Attachment III-A, Academic Profile Data Results & Summary).

Technology Utilization Survey
The Office of Research and Assessment, working with the Computer Technology and Learning Resources Committee and other planning committees, the offices of Computer Services and Department of Computer Science, conducted a study of faculty and student computer technology preparedness. The results are documented in the “Report on the Assessment of Computer Technology Utilization, Expectations and Student Knowledge” (Office of Research and Assessment, January, 2002). Indications include “that there is a strong statistical relationship between faculty and staff computer technology utilizations and their expectations for student utilization...”; this could mean “that the higher the commitment to instructional computer literacy, the higher the return in student computer literacy” (Attachment, page 4). The results provide a baseline for further study of technology utilization at Bemidji State.

Noel Levitz Student Opinion Inventory Follow-Up
Consistent with the University’s assessment plan, a follow-up with the Noel Levitz Student Opinion Inventory was undertaken Spring 2001. Analysis of results show positive gains in student perceptions on all of the measures, together with positive results when compared to peer colleges and universities. This opinion inventory was supplemented with a locally developed Student Opinion Survey (see sidebar) in the fall of 2001 that provided information about specific topics to service departments and programs, all of whom participated in the development of the survey.
Actions Taken:

• The First-Year Experience, initiated fall 2002, was developed in part on the basis of analysis of the Noel-Levitz follow-up survey (see FYE feature, page __).
• Computer Services utilized results of the survey to assess their services.
• Analysis supported the new recruitment and retention model employed by the University.
• Development of additional parking facilities.

Assessment Practices Workshops & Related Activities
Faculty, departments, and administrators have participated in professional workshops. There has been a substantial increase in participation in workshops, professional meetings, and activities involving assessment experts.

• Faculty members have attended and presented at national assessment meetings (see feature page __).
• The Mathematics Department is participating with MnSCU in an evaluation of public school preparation for college math and reading.
• The University held an assessment practices day, March 9, 2001, which included the following activities (Appendix E):
  - Dr. Cecelia Lopez, Associate Director for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, outlined the purpose of Shared Responsibility and Values for assessment to faculty and staff, together with providing a specialized seminar on best practices in departmental assessment activities;
  - Dr. David Schuppt, Director of Institutional Effectiveness, Minnesota State Colleges and University (MnSCU), presented a theoretical construct for statewide assessment of outcomes;
  - Craig Frocke, Transfer Curriculum, MnSCU, presented the legislated evaluation protocols for all general education courses as they become validated for inclusion in the Minnesota Transfer Agreement. This activity has also triggered a re-evaluation by the faculty of the liberal education program.
• Spring 2001, the President, Assessment Coordinator, and Director of the Professional Development Center made an assessment presentation at an NCA conference.

Student and University Services Assessment
In keeping with the University’s mission, and carrying on the work of the Student Services Program Planning and Review (SSPPR) Committee that preceded the current Student and University Services Committee (SUS), the SUS in the year 2000 established a five-year review and annual report schedule for the 30 student and university services departments. The five-year review is modeled after the academic five-year review guidelines and was approved through the University’s current planning process. See Appendix B for the SUS review and annual report schedule.

III. Planning: Assessment to Planning – A Closed Loop

Planning Contents
Page - Introduction
Page - Overview of the Planning Committees
Page - Overview of the University and Executive Councils
Page - Initiatives Process
Page - Planning Committee Profiles

Sidebar Feature - The University Plan
Sidebar Feature - Program Contribution Indicators & Planning

Introduction

At the time of the NCA April 2000 visit to Bemidji State, the University had committed to its Experimental Planning Initiative, now called University planning, and was in the initial stages of implementation. Issues under discussion in the evaluators’ response included the investiture of committee memberships, method of information flow and communication, issue and policy development, involvement of relevant parties in the planning process, and information feedback loops. The University is pleased to report that the committees are fully functioning and, as evident from the Planning Committee Profiles below, are engaged in planning based on initiatives that arise from assessment and demonstrated need.

Overview of Planning Committees

• Membership in the committees has been established and includes representation from relevant bargaining units and the student senate (see Planning Committee Profiles, following).
• Co-chair positions are filled by a member elected from within each committee, and a dean or director.
• Meetings are held on a regular basis. See minutes, http://info.bemidjistate.edu/News/planning/index.html.
• A common document format is used to forward recommendations, strategies and activities to the next level, the University Council (Appendix L).
• Recommendations from the planning committees are forwarded to the University Council. See Appendix M.
• Policy issues are forwarded to the University Council and then to the Executive Council and the President. See Appendix M.
• Minutes and relevant documents are posted regularly on a University web site, accessible from the University’s home page (http://info.bemidjistate.edu/News/planning/index.html).

Overview of the University Council and Executive Council

University Council
Recommendations received from planning committees and acted on: Appendix N
Minutes: http://info.bemidjistate.edu/News/planning/index.html

The University Council is the primary planning committee for the University. It responds to reports and recommendations from the six planning committees; it may initiate activities and inquiries independently; it will provide analysis and recommendations to the Executive Council concerning all phases of University activities and functions, with emphasis on identifying recommended University priorities in the context of both the institutional mission and the budget. (Experimental Planning Initiative, 2000 Self-Study).

• Membership is comprised of co-chairs from the planning committees; the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and the Vice President for Administrative Affairs serve as co-conveners.
• Meetings are held weekly. See minutes, http://info.bemidjistate.edu/News/planning/index.html.
• Policy recommendations of the Council are forwarded to the Executive Council (Appendix __)

Executive Council
Recommendations received from the University Council and acted on: Appendix ___
Minutes: http://info.bemidjistate.edu/News/planning/index.html

The President’s Executive Council advises the President on issues of University policy. It receives recommendations and analysis from the University and assists the President in making decisions about policies and the implementation of policies (Experimental Planning Initiative, 2000 Self-Study).

• Membership is comprised of the President, Vice Presidents, Deans, the Assistant to the President for Enrollment Management, and the Athletic Director.
• Policy recommendations are forwarded to the President.

Initiatives Process
Flow Chart: Feature page ___, and Appendix M
Progress Chart: Appendix N
Initiatives may be brought to a planning committee by anyone in the University. From the planning committee the initiatives proceed through a feedback network that includes other planning committees, bargaining units, and the student senate. As appropriate, initiatives pass from the planning committee to the University Council, the Executive Council, and the President, with feedback loops to Meet & Confer, the student senate, and other stakeholders. Recommended and approved initiatives are implemented as appropriate.

Planning Committee Profiles
including initiatives and actions taken

SEE ATTACHMENT
(The planning committee profiles are attached as a separate document – but I think I’ll bring them back in here for the report.)

SIDEBAR Feature ?

The University Plan
The University Plan, which is in development, includes an overall strategic plan for the University including academics and embracing additional plans in four discrete areas: Finances, Facilities, Development and Athletics, and Technology. The plan will identify directions for the University, and will make recommendations on priorities and on the allocation of resources.

The University Plan is scheduled for completion by the end of fall semester 2002. It reflects the values and priorities of academic strategic plans developed at the department and college levels (Appendix __), and of plans developed in other areas including the University Foundation, the Development Office, and the Alumni Office, Athletics, and Student Advising Services.

IV. Conclusion: Focus and Commitment

Page - Accomplishment Highlights from the Report
Page - Challenges
Page - Overview Discussion of Challenges
Page - Closing Comments

Accomplishment Highlights from the Report

Culture of Assessment, as demonstrated in Section II

• All academic departments are on schedule with five-year reviews and assessment, an increase from 37% to 100% from the year 2000.
• Academic assessment is ongoing, with activities occurring every year.
• Assessment results contribute to decision-making at the department, college and university levels.
• Individual academic departments and faculty members engage in assessment activities beyond program assessment.
• Student and university service departments now engage in ongoing assessment activities and annual reports that contribute to decision-making.

Planning to Act, as demonstrated in Section III

• Initiatives addressed by the planning committees derive from assessment or other demonstration of need.
• Planning committee recommendations contribute to planning at the larger level of the institution, and result in actions taken.

Challenges

Assessment

• Plan and implement a campus-wide assessment day where results of assessment are shared with the campus community.
• Departments: Making accommodations for time required to plan, implement, analyze, and act on assessment activities; movement from indirect to direct assessment.
• Liberal Education: Identification of comprehensive assessment instruments; assessment of Liberal Education courses by departments.
• Graduate Studies: Evaluation and analysis of existing assessment instruments (e.g., comprehensive and oral examinations) of graduate courses and programs by departments, with action taken on feedback gained.

Planning

• Continued refinement of communication, especially with bargaining units.
• Completion of the University Plan that is in development, and continue to insure that the plan continues to express the University’s mission and vision.
• Continue to recognize the distinction between day-to-day operations and long-range planning (example see BRAC short-term planning item).
• Keep the planning process inclusionary.
• Broaden awareness and understanding of, and participation and confidence in, the planning process, including awareness of planning successes.
• Prepare and distribute to the campus an annual report that identifies actions taken and their relation to accomplishment of the University’s mission and vision.
• Identifying resources for funding initiatives and mandates.

Overview Discussion of Challenges

The University exhibits a culture of assessment that includes ongoing academic assessment activities that contribute to decision-making. Some of the assessment activities have focused on indirect measures such as alumni and student surveys. As departments evolve their assessment abilities, feedback from these measures provide departments with a sense of who they are and what their accomplishments are. They also provide positive and meaningful assessment experience that can be applied to direct assessment. As assessment plans are modified, they are be reviewed by the deans, the Academic Affairs Committee, the College Assessment Coordinators, and the Office of Research and Assessment to insure that modifications include direct learning outcome measures. The latter can be gathered to produce an assessment picture that can be added to assessment portfolios for Liberal Education and Graduate Studies.

When asked the question “what challenges occurred related to assessment,” a number of department chairs respond with a single word: “Time.” Many assessment activities are labor intensive in planning, implementation, and analysis. With assessment as a standard and a constant for academic departments, the University continues to explore ways to provide time or other compensation for faculty, such as the appointed college coordinators who assist departments with assessment.

Planning Challenges

The Planning Process:
Two years into the new planning process, committee members have adjusted to the committees’ structures, and have learned to listen to, respect, and cooperate with representatives from academic, staff, bargaining, and administrative units. The primary challenges remain communication, and elegance of efficiency in a system that represents multiple constituents.
The challenges for planning have thus moved away from the learning curve of the new structure and toward effective and efficient operation of the committees and the University. With the leadership of President Quistgaard and newly appointed Vice President for Student and Academic Affairs Joann Fredrickson, and the continuing guidance of the planning committees, the University is addressing those challenges.

The University Plan:
As part of their operational growth the planning committees and University and Executive Councils, as well as the colleges, the Office of Distance Learning, and other offices and departments have developed goals and strategic plans. These combined with goals and strategic plans developed by academic departments and the Colleges are the basis for the new University Plan.

Financial Resources:
Bemidji State addresses its financial challenges through a number of venues including the Budget and Resource Allocation Committee, the Office of Advancement; cooperation with MnSCU and with state legislators; and review and reallocation of budget lines and items. Capital campaign initiatives will be guided by the new University Plan scheduled for implementation at the end of fall semester 2002.

Closing Comments
The unevenness of implementation of the University’s approved Assessment Plan has been addressed and a campus culture of assessment has become a way of life. Programs have defined appropriate and measurable objectives for program educational goals and are collecting data that they use in decision-making.

Procedures for integrating planning with other critical areas of the institution (program assessment, five-year program reviews, resource allocation, committee and council infrastructure) are in place and are operative. An overall University Plan that incorporates an Information Technology Plan, Campus Plan, Development and Athletics Plan, and a Financial Plan, is in development and is based in part on completed strategic plans for the colleges and other University offices. It is scheduled for completion, including approval by all University constituents, at the end of fall semester 2002.