MARCH 31, 1998
In attendance were: Shiu-Kai Chin, David Miller, Vince Tinto, Gary Spencer, Ron Cavanagh, Bron Adam, Ruth Stein, and Peter Gray.
Shiu-Kai distributed the handout he gave to the deans. This document reflected our recent discussions. Shiu-Kai emphasized that "the Deans in conjunction with the faculty must clarify and refine what the standards for the assessment process will be across the colleges and schools." He and Ron stated that the deans and the Vice Chancellor have to agree that assessment has to be done and that there have to be some consequences (incentives and rewards) similar to those related to the retention effort.
Shiu-Kai quoted Vince's comment that "by raising the conversation to a public level we will create a potential for action...." However, he noted that this is a fail/stop process. If we fail to get support from the deans or fail to have faculty ownership we will stop the process since AUSLOAC has no authority to compel anyone to do assessment nor is assessment the "responsibility" of AUSLOAC. Instead we are partners with the dean and faculty.
Shiu-Kai indicated that we should script the process of holding community conversations and not the outcomes. To that end we discussed "what will go on" in a community conversation. Committee members suggested topics or questions that should guide the conversations. First, briefly we should share the framework that has been set by the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor, and we should explain why the committee (AUSLOAC) exits and explain its charge or task. We also should communicate that we assume that people have been doing assessment all along and have had expectations related to student learning.
The bulk of the conversation should concern questions such as: what advice to you have for the committee; what questions do you have about the committee and/or assessment; what do you need or what would be helpful to you in order to do what you do better; if you were on the committee what voice would you provide or would you want to make sure was heard; what is the point of view of your discipline about assessment; what have you heard about AUSLOAC or about assessment; and how do you define assessment and/or what assessment have you done.
We also have to consider what we expect to happen after the first meeting with a unit. We want to let them know that our mission is to "aid and abet" their agenda related to assessment.
We will meet with the Social Work faculty on April 17, 1998, and for the whole day on April 30, 1998.
Respectfully submitted, Peter J. Gray