DEPARTMENT OF URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING
COLLEGE OF FINE & APPLIED ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
DEGREE PROGRAMS ASSESSMENT PLAN (DPAP)
Section I: Process
The task of preparing the Degree Assessment Plan (DPAP) was assigned to the Associate Head with the intention of coordinating it with the regular 5-year cycle of accreditation by the National Planning Accreditation Board. The Associate Head, attended two of the training sessions, accessed the www site, downloaded materials and submitted the funding request for the $1,000 assistance grant. The grant will partially fund a survey described in Section III-4.
Faculty Involvement
General development steps and content that were suggested for the outcomes assessment plan were discussed at the departmental faculty meeting on March 26, 1998. This is a meeting of all faculty who were not on sabbatical. A description of the campus program had been previously emailed to each faculty member and a handout on suggested approach was distributed and discussed. General relief was expressed that the Associate Head would draw together the plan and faculty would review and comment. Faculty consensus was reached at that meeting on the general approach, including:
1. Our existing mission statement and program goals for accreditation was to be used;
2. Increased use of campus generated surveys of alumni would be relied upon;
3. We would make more assessment use of ICES;
4. Evaluative data from our capstone and internship courses would be summarized, distributed and reviewed; and
5. Our regular survey of alumni on a two year interval would include items for outcomes assessment.
Input by faculty was requested in the first email as well as during and after the faculty meeting. A draft of the plan was reviewed in a virtual meeting via email, and most but not all comments were incorporated. The final preliminary version was forwarded to the Dean=s office and to the Provost's Committee on Student Outcomes Assessment (PCSOC). It was anticipated that some modifications to the preliminary plan might be suggested by PCSOC and any modification would be reviewed by the faculty as a whole.
Section II: Learning Objectives (Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes)
Outcome 1a
B.A. and Masters students will be prepared for careers as professional planners in the public, nonprofit and private sectors.
Outcome 1b
Ph.D students will be prepared for careers as teachers and researchers in specialized aspects of urban and regional planning.
Outcome 2
All students will be prepared to develop, analyze and discuss, in both verbal and written formats appropriate to their level, computerized, quantified and qualitative information on solutions to social, economic and environmental issues.
Outcome 3
All students will develop an understanding of the distinction between individual interests and the public interest to assist them as professionals and as citizens of a global society.
Section III. Measures and Methods
1. Entry Questionnaire:
Several faculty currently administer questionnaires in required classes in order to appreciate the range of student expectations, values and attitudes. Data from these sources will be compared to the alumni survey data in Measures 3 & 5. Because the departmental programs accept students from a wide spectrum of degree backgrounds we do not feel it is useful for program assessment purposes to administer a substantive knowledge entry survey to all students due to the lack of comparability.
2. ICES Data:
Expanded analysis of ICES data for each instructor and assistant in each course will be conducted. Additional items will be added to the core list for the department which will inquire about specific and general learning outcomes of the course. A specific set of items will be developed for workshops, UP 488 and UP499 courses. Data from all items will be recorded.
3. Campus Generated Data:
The information from the regular campus surveys of the alumni to determine opinions about their education will be compiled and included in a report on a biannual basis.
4. Alumni Survey:
A survey of alumni will be conducted biannually. The survey, to be coordinated with the Development Officer, will include specific and open-ended questions to elicit opinions on the quality and relevance of course work and the ability of alumni to perform professional work. In addition, items will be included to determine the respondents= ability to compete with other planners and other professionals in achieving the expected outcomes.
5. Performance Evaluation:
a. Employer Evaluation of Interns:
Employers will complete a confidential evaluation form on the performance of each Intern as a condition of awarding credit for the course. Data will be compiled for all internships.
b. Capstone Evaluation:
Depending on the quality of the information from the above measures, consideration will be given to development of a form to be completed by clients. Clients will be requested to complete a confidential questionnaire on the performance of students in workshops, projects and thesis.
6. Accreditation Review:
Data generated by the assessment methods will be incorporated, as appropriate, in our five-year accreditation document for the national Planning Accreditation Board. Evaluative comments from the PAB will also be incorporated in the next biannual review.
IV. Program Improvement
1. Biannual Review:
A summary of assessment data will be included in a report to the faculty in even numbered years. The data will be reviewed at the annual faculty retreat in the August following its preparation and recommendations will be made for appropriate improvements.
2. Management of Department:
The Head shall direct information of significance to the appropriate persons and committees of the department and shall use the data in organizing, managing, and evaluation of personnel and departmental programs.
3. Curriculum Revisions:
The assessment data shall be considered with other factors as the basis for needed change and continuing evolution of the various curricula. The Curriculum Committee and the Program Coordinators of department programs shall consider and recommend improvements in their areas of responsibility based on the relevant data.
4. Student Information:
Students shall be apprised of the non-confidential assessment data and recommendations flowing from it. Recommendations from the Student Planning Organization will be received by the faculty meeting and the Head.
5. Alumni Committee:
The Alumni committee shall be apprised of non-confidential assessment data and recommendations flowing from it. Recommendations from the Alumni Committee will be received by the faculty meeting and the Head.
6. Confidentiality:
It is intended that the assessment surveys will respect confidentiality to assure anonymity and utility in seeking to improve the programs of the department.
V. Timeline for Implementation
1. Upon adoption of this plan by the DURP faculty, implementation is anticipated to commence in Fall 1998 with Measures 1-3.
2. Development of necessary survey instruments for Measures 4 and 5 will begin in Fall 1998 with their application to begin in Fall 1999.
3. The first assessment review by the faculty will be completed Fall 2000.
4. Data generated in the interim will be presented to the faculty and students for discussion of possible revisions.
VI. Resources and Support Needed
1. The department will need to upgrade the skills required in the position of Admissions and Records Officer of the department or provide training and upgrades for backup positions. Development of the survey instruments and compilation of the data will be a ministerial task requiring statistical, computational and technical report preparation skills. It is estimated a person with such skills will require a salary of + or - $ 32,000. Which would exceed our current salary structure by $5,000.
In addition, survey expense will add an additional $2,000 per year to the operating budget.
VII. Plan Update and Revisions
The DPAP will be reviewed at the first faculty meetings of the academic year. Recommendations for revision may be made at those times by any faculty, staff of student in DURP.