Division of Nutritional Sciences
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Plan for Assessing and Improving Student Learning in
the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Degree Program
Developed by: Sharon Donovan and John W. Erdman, Jr. Date 3/12/99
CAC Approval: Date
SECTION I
Brief Description of the Process Followed to Develop the Assessment Plan
The Division of Nutritional Sciences is a graduate research and training program based on the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University of Illinois (UIUC). The Division was constituted under the Graduate College but is assigned administratively to the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). The Director of the Division reports directly to the Dean of the College of ACES. The Division of Nutritional Sciences recently celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the approval of its M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs by the Illinois State Board of Higher Education. In that time, the Division has conferred over 225 graduate degrees and currently 44 students are enrolled in the graduate program. The Division does not have a classical department structure, but is comprised of 48 faculty on the UIUC and UIC campuses. The Division faculty are located in the College of ACES, College of Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Applied Life Studies, College of Engineering, and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on the UIUC campus and College of Associated Health Professions at UIC. The Division is the only dual campus Ph.D. degree program in the University of Illinois system. Students in the dual program can take advantage of teaching and research opportunities located on each of the two campuses (Urbana-Champaign and Chicago).
Process for the Identification of Key Outcomes and Development of the Outcomes Assessment Plan.
Key outcomes for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees were proposed by the Nutritional Sciences Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is comprised of faculty members from the UIUC and UIC campus who are elected by NS faculty. To establish outcomes, Executive Committee members were asked to consider what characteristics they would associate with the "ideal" graduate or candidate for a position in academics or industry. The Outcomes Assessment Plan was designed to meet these key outcomes.
SECTION II
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduate programs in Nutritional Sciences prepare students for professional careers in research, academia, the food and related industries, community nutrition or clinical dietetics. Faculty have identified the following competencies as desired outcomes for our graduate students:
• Breadth of knowledge in the fundamentals of nutritional science
• Depth of knowledge in the student's specific area of research focus
• Ability to critically analyze, interpret and extrapolate data from their own research and
from the scientific literature
• Written and oral communication skills
• Methodological and technical expertise
• Teaching experience
• Knowledge of professional ethics
• Placement into appropriate postgraduate positions
SECTION III
Methods and Measures
A. Methods to accomplish desired outcomes
For currently enrolled students, the methods used to assess whether desired outcomes are being met will be tied to existing procedures which include annual evaluations and qualifying, preliminary and final examinations. For alumni, questionnaires will be developed and sent two, five and ten years post-graduation.
The Division evaluates student progress on an annual basis. Students are asked to provide information on completed and proposed course work, grade point average, publications, professional meetings attended, research funds applied for or received, honors and awards, and timeliness of qualifying, preliminary and final examinations. The student's advisor reads the progress report and adds his/her assessment of the student's progress. Reports are evaluated by a subcommittee of three Division members and the Director of the Division. The Director provides a written evaluation of their progress to the student yearly.
The Division has in place a series of examinations which evaluate: a. the student's breadth and depth of subject matter knowledge (Qualifying examination); b. competence in research methodology and the student's proposed dissertation research (Preliminary examination); and c. the ability to present and defend findings of dissertation research (Dissertation defense). These examinations combine both written and oral components. As part of the outcome assessment plan, we will develop instruments to be completed by faculty members of the qualifying and preliminary examination committees which will provide quantitative and qualitative documentation of the student’s breadth and depth of knowledge, written and oral communication skills, technical and methodological expertise and ability to critically analyze data. These instruments will be considered confidential between the student, the committee and the student’s research advisor and will be used to provide quantitative and qualitative feedback to the student on areas of strengths and areas requiring improvement.
B. Measures of accomplishment of desired outcomes
1. Breadth of knowledge in fundamental principles of nutritional sciences
Completion of course work and degree requirements
Qualifying and preliminary examinations
2. Depth of knowledge in the specific area of research focus
Completion of course work and degree requirements
Qualifying, preliminary examinations, dissertation defense
3.Ability to critically analyze, interpret and extrapolate data from research and the scientific literature
Completion of course work
Preliminary examination, dissertation defense
4. Written communication skills
Completion of course work
Preliminary examination proposal
Publication of dissertation research
Grant proposals
5. Oral communication skills
Qualifying and preliminary examinations, dissertation defense
Presentation at scientific meetings
Presentation at divisional seminars
6. Methodological and technical expertise
Preliminary examination, dissertation defense
Publication of dissertation research
Presentation at scientific meetings
Presentation at divisional seminars
7. Teaching experience
Classroom evaluation of teaching effectiveness
ICES evaluations
8. Knowledge of professional ethics
Preliminary examination, dissertation defense
Publication of dissertation research
9. Placement into appropriate postgraduate positions
2, 5 and 10 year postgraduate surveys
SECTION IV
Plans to Use Results for Program Improvement
The Director of the Division will oversee the outcomes assessment program. Data will be collected and analyzed annually and results will be reported to the faculty and the External Advisory Committee. Using feedback from faculty and the External Advisory Committee, further outcomes may be incorporated into our on-going assessment. In addition, recommendations for changes will be sought from faculty and the External Advisory Committee. Changes could include revision of course requirements, development of new courses and/or revision of existing courses and/or requirements.
SECTION V
Timetable for Implementation
1999-2000
develop instruments to be completed by members of qualifying and preliminary exams committees
develop and send instruments to two, five and ten year graduates
2000-2001
collect data from exam instruments
analysis of results, report to faculty and the External Advisory Committee
develop plans to repond to concerns raised by surveys
SECTION VI
Resources and Support Needed
Implementation of the outcomes assessment program will be conducted by the Division Director with assistance from the Division secretary. It is anticipated that the secretary will commit ~5% of her time over the year to these responsibilities. Hourly student clerical help will be hired as needed to assist directly with this process or to release the Division secretary from other duties.