Planning and Assessment

Assessment at Midwestern State University supports the continuous improvement of the institution. Through the assessment process, the university is able to define the ever-changing needs of its campus community, develop data-informed strategies to address these needs, and determine the effectiveness of its actions across academic programs, educational support services, and administrative offices. The assessment process includes establishing outcomes, objectives, and measures, collecting and reporting data, and implementing action plans for programs and departments across campus.

The tabs below include additional information and resources regarding the annual assessment cycle and assessment of the general education outcomes for the university, which for our institution is synonymous with assessment of the THECB core objectives.

• Programmatic Assessment
• Core Curriculum (General Education)

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  Assessment Calendar                                     

        

  Weave Software

  Weave is the software utilized for assessment. For instructions on what to enter/how to enter information into Weave, please go to the Assessment Resources tab above. This is where assessment plans are submitted on November 1 each year. Please click on the link below to access the software.

  Weave

  To log in, use your MSU computer login. On the log in screen there is also a link that says you can access the website using your institution's sign-on. Click on this link, and type in mwsu to proceed with logging in. If you are unable to log on, please contact Eboneigh Harris at eboneigh.harris@msutexas.edu.

  Assessment Resources

  Assessment Handbook (PDF)

  Basics of Assessment (Powerpoint)

  Curriculum Maps (Powerpoint)

  Curriculum Map Example (PDF)

  Developing Outcomes (PDF)

  Weave- Proper Reporting of Assessment (Powerpoint)

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  Core Curriculum (General Education) Overview

  
  As part of Midwestern State University's ongoing core assessment efforts, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness collects assessment data and reports for use by the Midwestern State University community. The Core Learning Objectives identified by the THECB include:

  • Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
  • Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication
  • Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS) - manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
  • Teamwork (TW) - ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
  • Social Responsibility (SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
  • Personal Responsibility (PR) - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making

  Midwestern State University utilizes a rotational and sampling method to collect results from in-class assessments for the core objectives. This plan not only reduces the reporting burden on instructors, but also ensures that all core instructors have a yearly reporting duty, and that all objectives are covered consistently in a four year cycle. The proposed targets account for variations in our approved rubrics, while also setting appropriate achievement goals. Courses are grouped by course prefix, and each group will be assigned one objective, of their three or four, to report for each year. These objectives are then rotated throughout the four year cycle (refer to Core Curriculum Assessment Schedule below).

  
  

  Target:

  80% of students should score 2 or higher on the THECB approved rubric. (2 is passing on all rubric scales: 3 point, 4 point, and 5 point.)

  Reporting Goal:

  100% of courses will provide data.

  Reporting:

  Sampling

  You are not obligated to evaluate the work of every student.  Each instructor should determine the number of students to evaluate since the scope and complexity of the work being evaluated varies greatly across disciplines and courses.  An adequate random sample of your students' work to submit is appropriate.
  

  
  Rubrics

  Please use the AAC&U Value rubrics.

   

  Spreadsheet of Results

  Please try to keep a spreadsheet of the results that show the dimensional scores of the rubrics, as well as the total scores. We do not need the students’ names. The average and the pass/fail should automatically calculate as you enter in the data. Spreadsheet templates have been provided below.

  Save the file using the following convention:
  Course-Last name-Academic Year (AY)                 
  MWSU1234-Harris-2020

  Enter the Results

  To enter the overall results for each rubric, use the Data Reporting Form. Faculty can use their MSU email to log in. If you teach multiple sections of the same course throughout the year, you can aggregate the results for the specific course across the entire academic year and enter the information only once. We are only looking at this on a yearly basis. The following questions will be asked on the form:

  • Do you report by semester or academic year?
  • Which semester/academic year are you reporting for?
  • Please enter the course department and number. (Ex: ENGL1113, PSYCH1133, MATH2013)
  • How many sections of this course are you reporting on with this form?
  • Please identify the core objective being reported on that was assigned by your department chair.
  • Please give a brief description of the assignment being evaluated.
  • What was the name of the rubric you used?
  • Please select the type of scale your rubric used.
  • How many of the sample achieved satisfactory score for the assigned objective on the approved rubric? (Ex: A score of 2 or higher on a 4 point scale)
  • Please upload the spreadsheet, a copy of the assignment being graded with the rubric, and a copy of the rubric.

  Attach Files

  Copy an example of the assignment, the rubric, and the spreadsheet with the rubric results and submit the reporting form. You will have to select a file, upload it, and then select another file.  The system will not allow you to select multiple items to upload at once.

  
  Questions or Concerns?

  Please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Institutional Effectiveness with any questions or concerns.

   

   Core Curriculum Assessment Schedule

  Core Objective Assessment Schedule by Course/Subject

  	AY 2021 (Fall 2020, Spring 2021)	AY 2022 (Fall 2021, Spring 2022)	AY 2023 (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)	AY 2024 (Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
  ART	CT	COM	TW	SR
  BIOL	QNT	TW	CT	COM
  BUAD	CT	COM	QNT	SR
  CHEM	TW	CT	COM	QNT
  CMPS 1023	COM	SR	PR	CT
  CMPS 1044	COM	QNT	CT	COM
  COUN 2023	COM	CT	QNT	SR
  COUN 2143	COM	CT	PR	SR
  ECON	COM	QNT	SR	CT
  EDUC	COM	CT	QNT	SR
  ENGL 1103, 1123, 1143, 1153, 2123, 2203	PR	CT	COM	TW
  ENGL 2413, 2423, 2613, 2623, 2813, 2823	COM	CT	PR	SR
  ENSC	TW	CT	COM	QNT
  FREN	COM	SR	PR	CT
  GEOS	COM	QNT	TW	CT
  GERM	COM	SR	PR	CT
  GNSC	TW	CT	COM	QNT
  HIST	CT	COM	SR	PR
  HUMN	COM	CT	PR	SR
  LATS	COM	SR	PR	CT
  MATH	CT	COM	QNT	CT
  MCOM 1233, 1243, 2403, 2523	TW	PR	COM	CT
  MCOM 2213	SR	CT	COM	TW
  MUSC	TW	SR	CT	COM
  MWSU	PR	TW	CT	COM
  PHIL	CT	COM	SR	PR
  PHYS	COM	QNT	TW	CT
  POLS	SR	PR	COM	CT
  PSYC	QNT	SR	CT	COM
  SCIE	COM	QNT	TW	CT
  SOCL 1133	SR	QNT	CT	COM
  SOCL 1143	CT	COM	QNT	SR
  SOCL 2233	SR	PR	CT	COM
  SPAN	COM	SR	PR	CT
  SPCH	CT	COM	TW	PR
  THEA	TW	SR	CT	COM
  WGST	CT	COM	SR	PR

   

  AAC&U Value Rubrics and Spreadsheet Templates

   

  Links to AAC&U Values Rubrics and Spreadsheet Templates

  AAC&U Value Rubrics	Rubric Spreadsheets
  Civic Engagement Creative Thinking Critical Thinking Ethical Reasoning Global Learning Information Literacy Inquiry & Analysis Integrative Learning Intercultural Knowledge Lifelong Learning Oral Communication Problem Solving Quantitative Literacy Reading Teamwork Written Communication	Civic Engagement Creative Thinking Critical Thinking Ethical Reasoning Global Learning Information Literacy Inquiry & Analysis Integrative Learning Intercultural Knowledge Lifelong Learning Oral Communication Problem Solving Quantitative Literacy Reading Teamwork Written Communication