Campus Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

What are the student learning outcomes in your unit?

The Department of Minority Studies’ general learning goal is to acquaint the student with the unique worldviews and experiences  of African Americans and Latinos and minority groups more generally. The goal is to prepare students to successfully engage in graduate and professional school education in all fields and disciplines; qualify for employment with public and private service providers and enterprises; and to exercise civic and community leadership roles with the academic edge and advantage gained by their knowledge of the minority experience and worldview.

The department pursues this general learning outcome through specific educational goals:

1) Development of critical thinking skills;
2) Development of analytical thinking skills;
3) Development of oral communication skills;
4) Development of written communication skills;
5) Development of academic research skills: the ability to read and understand primary and secondary sources, including archival documents, journal articles, monographs and textbooks;
6) Practical engagement with minority worldviews and experience.

Which outcome did you assess this academic year?

All specific educational goals

How did you assess their skills before, during and / or at the end of the semester / academic year?

Student Course Journals (weekly entries);Tests;  research papers; mid-term and final exam written assignments (Essays); annual progress interviews, portfolios;  listening and speaking evaluations in Afro-American and Latino Studies; Internships, Service Learning; Capstones;   

Exit Interviews

In Spring 2009 initiated Participation in University-Community conference on “Participatory Democracy” as a final exam/capstone  experience for approximately 40 students from department’s introductory course, Minority People in The U.S.

In spring 2010 participation in the university-community conference on Participatory Democracy serves as (an optional) final exam/capstone experience for approximately 70 department of Minority Studies students.   

Please summarize the data you have collected this semester / academic year.

Assessment of annual faculty reports and faculty meeting discussion indicates a general steady progress on specific educational goals, and notable individual achievements as manifested by student participation and leadership of research panel presentations; individual research and study projects; and group projects through BSU, ALMA, IUN Social Justice, Lectures in Race & Ethnicity, and Gary Revitalization/Historic Preservation.                         

Analysis of student evaluations and critical summaries of their roles in participatory democracy conference generates a highly positive assessment of student achievement in terms of specific educational goals.

Please describe any programmatic changes you have made or are planning to make based on the data you have collected.

Expand to all spring semester Minority Studies students’ participation in Participatory Democracy conference as a (optional) final exam/capstone experience.