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Enhancing General Education Assessment: A Pilot Project at San José State University

This pilot project aims to assess the effectiveness of General Education (GE) at San José State University (SJSU). Since 1998, GE has been structured into core and upper-division courses, focusing on essential skills and knowledge. Assessment plans are mandatory for initial and continuing certification of GE courses. By directly evaluating Program Learning Objectives (PLOs), this project will provide insights into students' knowledge upon degree completion. The initiative aligns with accreditation standards and seeks to improve integrative learning at SJSU.

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Enhancing General Education Assessment: A Pilot Project at San José State University

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  1. Program Level GE Assessment: A Pilot Project Stephen Branz Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies and Director of General Education San José State University San Jose, CA Stephen.Branz@sjsu.edu

  2. Program Level GE Assessment: A Pilot Project • Structure of GE at SJSU (CSU) • Core (Lower Division) – 13 courses • Basic Skills (Oral Comm, Written Comm IA, Critical Thinking, Mathematical Concepts) • Knowledge • Science – Physical, Life (and lab) • Arts & Letters – Arts, Letters, Written Comm IB • Social Sciences – Human Behavior, Comparative Systems, Social Issues • Human Understanding & Development

  3. Program Level GE Assessment: A Pilot Project • Structure of GE at SJSU (CSU) • SJSU Studies (Upper Division) – 4 courses (must be taken in residence; SLOs support Integrated Knowledge) • Earth and Environment (~Science) • Self, Society & Equality in the U.S. (~Soc Sci) • Culture, Civilization & Global Understanding (~Humanites & Arts) • Written Communication II

  4. Program Level GE Assessment: A Pilot Project • Assessment of GE at SJSU (since 1998) • Initial Certification of a GE course is based in part on an Assessment Plan • Continuing Certificationis based on assessment reports (previously every 4 years; now aligned with 5-yr program review) • Board of General Studies (Academic Senate committee) oversees the entire process

  5. Program Level GE Assessment: A Pilot Project • Assessment of GE at SJSU (since 1998) • SLOs established & assessed for all 17 GE Areas at course level (direct assessment) • 9 GE Program Objectives (indirect assessment only) – mapping of Area SLOs to Program Level Objectives (PLOs) • Why should GE PLOs be directly assessed? • Your Turn!

  6. Program Level GE Assessment: Why is it needed? • Why should PLOs be assessed directly? • For both GE and degree programs, we want to determine what students know when they complete their degrees – Why? • Measure (assess) relative to program objectives • Ideally in capstone or culminating experiences • Native vs. Transfer students, etc. • Accrediting agencies, governing boards, etc.

  7. Program Level GE Assessment: Why me/us? • SJSU faculty grudgingly accept “assessment”….. HOWEVER….. • Course level assessment of GE Area Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) well established, but no direct assessment of Program Learning Objectives (PLOs) – Why is this needed? • Integrative learning is more than the sum of the parts; culminating assessment – Really? Why? • Supports WASC accreditation, EO 1033 expectations, and SJSU Mission – Who cares?

  8. Program Level GE Assessment: How? (NIMBY) • How should PLOs be assessed? • Mapping of course objectives vs. program objectives? • False starts & dead ends – useless? • Have course instructors assess PLOs in their upper division GE courses? • Have BOGS develop and implement (and grade?) a final exam Q for upper division GE courses • Refined ideas about what is NOT possible 

  9. Program Level GE Assessment: Strategy/Plan? • How should PLOs be assessed? • Common Exit Exam? (compare with SJSU WST) • Common Assessment Tools? (aka “signature assignments”) • Common Assessment Rubrics? • Sampling? • Group Reading? If so, how to calibrate? • What to do with results???

  10. Program Level GE Assessment: What Worked! • How should PLOs be assessed? • Carrots, not sticks! • Results

  11. Program Level GE Assessment: A Pilot Project • Discussion • Q&A

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