Political Science Program Quality Assessment and Improvement

Cameron University requires all programs to annually evaluate program effectiveness. As chair of the assessment process for the political science program, my responsibilities involve full coordination of the strategic planning and adaptive management plan. Coordinating program faculty, we developed program goals and measurable objectives, assessed achievement of these objectives using a combination of direct and indirect measures, and took steps to improve those areas in which weaknesses were apparent. As a consequence of the past four years’ efforts, the program consistent exceeded national averages in student performance in several subfields of the discipline. I also led the expanded assessment efforts in political theory. Resulting changes in the program led to the first-ever achievement of program objectives in political theory.

Common Course Evaluation Process

Until 2007, the course evaluation process at Cameron University took place entirely within individual departments. The result was a chaotic set of very different standards for performance that prevented effective evaluation of university performance. The Academic Standards and Policies Committee on which I served was tasked with remedying the situation. In a stakeholder-focused process to which each committee member brought a different set of interests and goals, the committee identified specific goals for the common course evaluation, selected a commercial provider whose service best balanced the need for flexibility and for a common structure, and conducted a pilot implementation study. The process has been fully implemented for the 2007-2008 academic year, and will generate consistent and nationally comparable data to enhance decision-making in the university.