Outcomes Assessment: Back to top
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY,
SAN BERNARDINO
OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
Winter 2003 Update


Rationale
Guided by the Faculty Senate Resolution Concerning Outcomes Assessment (FSD 94­01), the development of an outcomes assessment infrastructure at CSUSB began in 1964 with the formation of the University Outcomes Assessment Committee. Since that time, the assessment infrastructure at CSUSB has expanded to include a large segment of the university. The assessment infrastructure is designed to
  • be collaborative and engage actively as many faculty as possible in the outcomes assessment process;

  • move the outcomes assessment process forward in a steady manner that will result ultimately in the institutionalization of outcomes assessment and a culture of assessment at CSUSB;

  • develop campus-wide awareness, understanding, discussion and buy-in of outcomes assessment;

  • provide a means for specific feedback in a timely and regular manner.

Assessment Personnel and Structure Provost, and VP for Academic Affairs
Responsibility: Provide resources for campus-wide outcomes assessment activities.

Associate VP for Assessment and Planning and Dean of Graduate Studies
Assessment Responsibilities:
  • Leads the development of outcomes assessment plans for all departments and programs, by meeting with college and department-level assessment coordinators, and developing workshops and information sessions tailored to their specific assessment needs.
  • Chairs the University Outcomes Assessment committee.
  • Chairs the University Outcomes General Education Assessment committee.
  • Oversees and coordinates the awarding of funds to programs to support their assessment activities.
  • Oversees and manages the budget for campus outcomes assessment activities.
  • Represents CSUSB in system-wide outcomes assessment activities.
  • Publish the outcomes assessment newsletter that contains news about CSUSB assessment activities.
  • Oversees the regular updating of the CSUSB outcomes assessment web-page and handbook.
University Outcomes Assessment Committee
Composition: This is a Faculty Senate-appointed committee made up of one representative from each of the five colleges (Arts & Letters, Business & Public Administration, Education, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences) and the five College Outcomes Assessment Coordinators. Additional members include the AVP for Assessment, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Assoc. Provost for Academic Programs, and the Dir. of Institutional Research.
Responsibilities: The committee reviews assessment plans and provides guidance and feedback to departments and programs. It also reviews and approves funding requests from departments for outcomes assessment activities.

University General Education Outcomes Assessment Committee
Composition: One representative from each of the colleges; Chair of the Univ. General Education Committee; AVP for Assessment; Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Assoc. Provost for Academic Programs, and the Dir. of Institutional Research.
Responsibilities: This committee is charged with working with the faculty to develop strategies for the assessment of general education at CSUSB and implement a sustainable assessment program.

College General Education Outcomes Assessment Committees
Composition: Three committees, one each from the colleges of Arts and Letters, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural Sciences, composed of faculty appointed by the dean of the college. The AVP for Assessment and a representative from the University General Education Outcomes Assessment committee serve as consultants to the committees.
Responsibilities: These committees are charged with working with the faculty to develop strategies for the assessment of general education breadth areas in Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural Sciences at CSUSB and implement a sustainable assessment program.

College Outcomes Assessment Coordinators
Composition: One Coordinator from each of the five colleges (Arts & Letters, Business & Public Administration, Education, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences).
Responsibilities: College Coordinators serve on the Univ. O.A. Committee. They also work with the Assessment AVP, and the department committees and provide feedback and guidance to department committees.

Department Outcomes Assessment Coordinators
Composition: One or two faculty representatives from each department and graduate program.
Responsibilities: Department Coordinators collaborate with the Assessment AVP, College Coordinators, and the department committees in the development of their outcomes assessment plans.

Department Outcomes Assessment Committees
Composition: Two or more faculty, including the Department Outcomes Assessment Coordinator
Responsibilities: Department Committees work collaboratively with their department members, the Department and College Coordinators, and the Assessment AVP to develop outcomes assessment strategies for their departments.

Specialized Outcomes Assessment Committees
Outcomes assessment committees are formed as needed to focus on special issues. In winter quarter 2001, we formed an MBA Outcomes Assessment Committee to work with the faculty to develop an assessment plan. The plan was completed, approved, and implemented in winter 2002.

Funding for Outcomes Assessment
Funds for outcomes assessment are provided by the Provost, and VP for Academic Affairs and administered by the AVP for Assessment and the University Outcomes Assessment Committee. At the present time, there is no set amount of money designated for outcomes assessment. Instead, funds are made available as needed. The administration at CSUSB has been devoted to the full support of assessment. Listed below are some of the types of funding available:
  • Release time : College Outcomes Assessment Coordinators receive one course of release time per year.
  • Stipends for faculty : Faculty has received cash and travel stipends to support their participation in workshops.
  • Conference support : Faculty has received support to attend both local and out­ of-state assessment conferences.
  • Department support : There are two categories of support for departments and programs.
    • Baseline funding: Departments that have begun the implementation of their assessment plans receive annual baseline funding for assessment.
    • Support for assessment development: Departments engaged in developing assessment plans may apply for support for such items as release time, consultants, conference attendance, etc.
    • Support for assessment projects: In addition to the baseline support, departments may apply for funds to enhance their assessment activities for such items as database development, student assistants, duplicating, faculty stipends, conference attendance, etc.
  • University-wide support: Funding is available to support conferences on campus, retreats, consultants, etc.
General Campus Overview
Guided by the Faculty Senate Resolution Concerning Outcomes Assessment (FSD 94-01), CSUSB has been engaged in developing outcomes assessment campus­-wide since 1994. During that time, the campus climate has changed gradually from general resistance to a greater recognition of the benefits of assessment. As a result of a slow and patient pace, the creation of the AVP for Assessment position, and generous funding from the administration, as of Fall 2002, 81% of the undergraduate and graduate programs at CSUSB (excluding Interdisciplinary programs) have submitted outcomes assessment plans to the University Outcomes Assessment Committee. Of those submitted, 67% have been approved for implementation by the committee. Overall, 54% of the undergraduate and graduate programs at CSUSB (excluding Interdisciplinary programs) have university-approved outcomes assessment plans.

As of Winter 2001, the faculty has approved goals and objectives for the four general education basic skills areas (composition, oral communication, critical thinking, and mathematics). In winter, spring and Fall 2001 we piloted a national standardized test of basic skills in the general education capstone courses. Goals and objectives for the three general education breadth areas (humanities, natural sciences and social and behavioral sciences) have been developed, reviewed, and approved by the faculty. In Fall 2002, we piloted assessment measures for the breadth areas.

Back to top