Assessment Month 2013 - Taking Root with Assessment

This year’s Assessment Month, themed “Taking Root with Assessment,” offered workshops for both staff and students then culminated with the Assessment Reception.   Assessment Month focused on improving program assessment and student learning through training and sharing ideas.  Our annual Assessment Reception continues to be a force in creating college wide collaboration and communication about Assessment as we had BC Faculty, Staff, Administration, and District employees attend. 

 I want to thank all of the Faculty that took time to share their expertise and assessment strategies; Michael Einhaus, Lori Larkin, Patrick and Janet Fulks, Dawn Dobie, Nancy Guidry, and Todd Coston. We had very positive comments on all of the workshop evaluations.

The Assessment Reception was very successful.  Thank you to all the assessment committee members that helped set up.  A special thank you to Lindsey Ono and Chef Coyle for giving your time, resources, and talents to make the reception successful. 

I applaud all of our faculty and staff that are committed to student improvement through assessment on campus. 

- Bernadette Towns

Kris Tiner and company entertained us with jazz.

Agenda - 3/8/2013

Assessment Meeting Agenda

3/8/13

8:00- 9:00

Levinson 40

* Coffee and Treats will be served!!!

 

*Approval of Minutes 2/8/13

 

*Updates

·      Accreditation Report and Follow up- Bonnie

·      Curriculum Clinic

 

*Topic for discussion

·      Strengthening Success

·      Assessment Reception- Bulletin Boards

·      Assessing the Assessment Committee

 

*Action Items from last meeting:

Assessment Month Workshops- schedule presenters

o   4/11- Thursday- 12:00

o   4/12-Friday- 9:00- Assessment Module

o   4/16- Tuesday- 1:00- Student Workshop

o   4/17- Wednesday- 4:00

o   4/22- Monday- 3:00

o   4/24- Wednesday 4:00

Meeting minutes - 2/8/2013

Assessment Meeting Minutes

2/8/13

8:00- 9:30

Levinson 40

Attendees: Michelle B, Susan M, Patrick S, David N, David K, Dawn D, Denise M, Michael E, Pam D, Bernadette T., and Karimeh A.

 *Approval of Minutes 11/9/12- minutes were approved

*Updates

·      Think Tank- theme/activity ideas- Denise-reported that they had over 20 participants at the flex think tank meetings. Many good conversations and discussions . The think tank will be meeting again….

·      Course Outcomes- Bernadette reported that they are still working on approval of course outcomes and getting curricunet to work properly.

·      Flex Week Assessment Workshop- Bernadette reported they had about seven participants going through the assessment module.

*Topic for discussion

·      Curriculum Clinics- L148, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., on the following dates: 2/28, 3/14, and 4/11- David Koeth agreed to attend these meetings. David asked for some vocabulary and instructional materials to be established for the meeting.

·      Maintaining Committee Portal- Dawn Dobie and Patrick Serpa agreed to attend training and facilitate the portal.

·      Assessment Month- workshop dates & times- Patrick, Bernadette and Michael E. agreed to set up food and presenters for dates assigned. The rooms have already been booked by Bernadette for each workshop.

o   4/11- Thursday- 12:00

o   4/12-Friday- 9:00

o   4/16- Tuesday- 1:00- Bernadette- Student workshop

o   4/17- Wednesday- 4:00

o   4/22- Monday- 3:00

o   4/24- Wednesday 4:00

·      Assessment Reception- 4/25- Thursday- 3:00-6:00- Bernadette has already been getting calls about when this year’s event is going to be from faculty chairs. The “room” is booked and Chef will take care of the food.

·      Assessing the Assessment Committee- We discussed

*Action Items from last meeting:

·      Bernadette write article about Student Success Conference and post on Blog- this was completed, posted on blog and an email went out to BC Faculty and Staff.

 

BC Assessment committee presents at 2012 Student Success Conference: Embracing and Leading Change

In October of 2012, David Koeth, Bonnie Suderman, and Bernadette Towns made a presentation at the 2012 Student Success Conference held in Costa Mesa, California. The theme of the conference was “Embracing and Leading Change.”

The topic of the session was: “Spotlight On Assessment: Transforming your Campus Assessment Process and Outlook.”

The workshop was well attended and well received. Bonnie shared the theory behind the Bakersfield College approach; while David and Bernadette shared the activities that have been done on campus to transform the attitudes toward assessment.

Attendees were very excited about things happening on our campus; many mentioned being inspired after the presentation.

The work that has been done on assessment at Bakersfield College is commendable and we have much to be proud of.

Congratulations, Bakersfield College Assessment Committee!

Click here to see the PowerPoint presentation from the conference.

Assessment Meeting Minutes, 10/12/12

Assessment Meeting Minutes
10/12/12

Attendees: Michelle B, Bernadette T., Patrick S., Susan M., Pam D., David N., Denise M., Dawn D., Manny M., Brian H., David K., Karimeh A.


*Approval of Minutes 9/14/12- minutes were approved unanimously.

*Updates
•    Program Assessment- 100% of program assessments were submitted.

•    Course Assessments- 100% of course assessment timelines were submitted.

•    Think Tank- theme/activity ideas- Denise gave everyone a handout summarizing the think tank meeting. The think tank decided on “Improving Writing Across Campus in all Disciplines”. There will be another meeting next month to continue the think tank discussion. A campus wide invitation will to invite participants for the think tank was discussed. The assessment committee agreed to support the think tank topic and activities during assessment month.

•    Accreditation- Week of October 22- We tentatively have an assessment meeting set up for the accreditation team to visit, in the event that they want to sit in. If the team does not request to sit in, the meeting will be canceled. It is tentatively set for Tuesday the 23rd, 11:30-1:00.

•    Assessment Presentation- Bernadette reported that she, David, and Bonnie had attended the student success conference and presented on all the things Bakersfield College had done in assessment. She reported that the presentation was well received and many people left saying they were inspired. It was suggested that an article of this presentation be put together and reported on the assessment blog, so that all of campus would be informed. Bernadette agreed to get that done.


*Upcoming Spring Events Planning

•    Assessment Week/Month- The committee decided to have an assessment month and spread out the workshops with varying days and times to give more people the opportunity to attend. “Growing Strong: Take Root with Assessment”, was the theme selected for assessment week this year. It was decided to use green ribbons to signify assessment month. David agreed to come up with some images for theme.


o    Students-It was discussed to have student writing workshops offered during assessment. The committee decided to have a writing contest on campus during assessment month offering first, second and third place. The student will have two topics to choose from, “How to succeed at BC” or “How not to succeed at BC”. How the winners were to be selected was a topic of great discussion, one idea was having Faculty and Staff read them using a rubric. It was decided to let the think tank determine how to approach this topic. 


o    Faculty Training- Topics/ Days/Times- During assessment month, two faculty and staff trainings will be available each week month on assessment and writing topics, and one writing workshop for students. It was discussed to have some treats or pizza at trainings to draw participants.  Possibly treats for faculty workshops and pizza for student workshops.

o    The committee also discussed having assessment month in February for Spring 2014.  Members of the committee felt it would be less busy for faculty than April and we could possibly get more participation. It was also mentioned that the theme could revolve around “Love” since Valentines Day is in February.

•    Assessment Reception
o    Date- April 25th, from 3-6
o    Location- garden
o    There was a discussion about asking Chef to prepare maybe root vegetables, or carrot cake to go with annual theme. 
o    In order to fulfill the assessment strategic goal number 4, it was discussed to select four superior assessment plans that had been submitted this semester and post them on a board at the assessment reception . 
o    It was decided to invite the BC jazz group again to play at the reception. 

Action Items:
•    Bernadette write article about Student Success Conference and post on Blog
•    Bernadette secure rooms for assessment month workshops
•    Bernadette follow up with committee regarding accreditation assessment committee meeting.
•    Bernadette will talk to Chef about foods to be offered during the assessment reception.
•    David put together “branding” images for assessment month.
•    Think Tank- follow up with think tank regarding how the student essay contest will be scored.  And what type of training for faculty and staff members should be offered during assessment month.

Assessment Committee agenda 11/9/12

Assessment Meeting Agenda
11/9/12
8:00- 9:30
Levinson 40

* Coffee and Treats will be served!!! J

*Approval of Minutes 10/12/12 
*Updates
·      Accreditation
·      Think Tank- theme/activity ideas
·      Course Outcomes

*Topic for discussion
·      Assessing the Assessment Committee

*Action Items from last meeting:
·      Bernadette write article about Student Success Conference and post on Blog
·      Bernadette secure rooms for assessment month workshops
·      Bernadette follow up with committee regarding accreditation assessment committee meeting.
·      Bernadette will talk to Chef about foods to be offered during the assessment reception.
·      David put together “branding” images for assessment month.
·      Think Tank- follow up with think tank regarding how the student essay contest will be scored.  And what type of training for faculty and staff members should be offered during assessment month.