1. Call for Proposals: Deadline October 17, 2011
Assessing Student Learning Outcomes Within and Across Disciplines
Thursday, November 17, 2011, Greenfield Community College
The purpose of the “Assessing Student Learning Outcomes Within and Across Disciplines” conference is to provide a
forum for faculty and staff to share how student learning outcomes are assessed and how results are used at the
department, program or Gen Ed/Core level. The conference is intended to bring together individuals representing all areas
of the campus to share current assessment practices that promote student learning and success for diverse student
populations.
Guidelines and Questions
Provide an approximately 100-word description of your proposed session, discussion, demonstration, panel or interactive
workshop. If possible, bring together several people, especially faculty, as presenters so that participants hear from
multiple perspectives about your work. Focus on the practical aspects of assessment—how and what you assess and
how you “close the loop” with your results—and, if appropriate, list the kinds of “take aways” your session will provide your
audience. Include the names and positions of each of your session presenters and their institutional affiliations. Please
indicate if you need internet access, a projector and screen or other audio visual materials.
Possible Topics/ Questions to Help Guide Development of Proposals:
• How can campuses develop department, program
and Gen Ed/Core outcomes that are concrete,
focused, measurable, accepted by faculty, and able
to be assessed within time and other resource
constraints?
• What approaches, tools, and methods have been
developed to assess department, program and Gen
Ed/Core outcomes?
• How can Gen Ed/Core learning outcomes be met
within programs or major curricula?
• What processes or models are useful for integrating
instruction related to Gen Ed/Core learning
outcomes into program curricula (e.g. across the
curriculum, infusion)? What are the
challenges/results of the use of the different models,
e.g., for traditional versus distance education
courses?
• How can co-curricular activities and programs,
outside of the academic areas, integrate, support,
and assess the institution’s Gen Ed/Core outcomes?
• How can VALUE rubrics be used to inform and/or
assess department, program and Gen Ed/Core
outcomes?
• What aspects of assessment activities have faculty
members found particularly engaging?
• What are the ways in which adjunct faculty have
been brought into assessment work?
• What issues or barriers have been encountered in
the process of assessment implementation?
• What methods have been found useful in
encouraging overall campus support, including from
faculty and administrators, in student learning
outcomes assessment work? In encouraging a
“culture of assessment”?
• How have assessment results been used to change
or revise pedagogy, instruction, educational
practices, or the design of the curriculum?
• What human, informational and material resources
are needed on a campus to implement assessment
activities at the department, program or Gen
Ed/Core level?
Please send all proposals to Judy Turcotte (jturcotte@hcc.edu) or Elise Martin (martine@middlesex.mass.edu).
Planning Subcommittee: Susan Chang (FSU), Elise Martin (Middlesex CC), Bonnie Orcutt (Worcester SU), Lisa Plantefaber (Westfield SU), Judy Raper
(GCC), John Savage (Middlesex CC), Maureen Sowa (Bristol CC), Judy Turcotte (HCC), Ellen Wentland (NECC).