TAMIU | IARP | Assessment

Assessment

What is Assessment?

Assessment is the ongoing and systematic process of identifying objectives and means to measure them, gathering measurements of the objectives, using the information to make decisions about improvement and implementing improvements based on the data gathered. The most important aspect of this definition, if emphasis could be drawn to one item, is the using of information.

Who is Involved in Assessment at TAMIU?

All undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, educational services, and administrative offices at TAMIU identify expected outcomes and annually assess the extent to which outcomes are met. Assessment results are used to drive continuous improvement, ensuring the institution provides a high quality education while complying with the SACSCOC Principals of Accreditation.

The Office of Institutional Assessment, Research & Planning supports the annual assessment process and comprehensive review of our programs and offices. OIARP additionally provides ongoing workshops and individualized sessions for faculty and staff. Sessions assist in facilitation of meaningful assessment cycles to provide useful evidence in making informed decisions to better TAMIU for its stakeholders.

What does the Assessment Process Look Like?

Image of assessment process

The Assessment Process is divided into four essential stages: planning, data collection, data analysis/reporting, and use of results for improvement. Each phase of the process includes all program faculty (undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs) and administrative educational support staff at TAMIU in our assessment efforts, and ensures everyone understands his/her role. The assessment process allows programs/offices to 1) identify which program learning outcomes (PLOs), performance objectives (OBJs) or student learning outcomes (SLOs) will be assessed this academic year and determine how and when those PLOs, OBJs, or SLOs will be assessed, 2) assign responsibility to faculty or staff for data collection (3) analyze the data, and 4) determine what improvements need to be made for the continued success for our students and stakeholders of TAMIU.

Student Achievement

Goals for Student Achievement

Texas A&M International University Mission Statement

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), a Member of The Texas A&M University System, prepares students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex, culturally diverse state, national, and global society. TAMIU provides a learning environment built on a solid academic foundation in the arts and sciences. The University offers a range of baccalaureate and master’s programs and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in International Business Administration. In addition, the University pursues a progressive agenda for global study and understanding across all disciplines.

Through instruction, faculty and student research, and public service, TAMIU improves the quality of lives for citizens of the border region, the State of Texas, and national and international communities.

Texas A&M International University Strategic Goal 2: Empowered Student Success

Texas A&M International University aspires to prepare a community of critical thinkers for leadership roles by providing a strong support system.

Texas A&M International University Strategic Goal 4: Transformative International Experience

Texas A&M International University aspires to provide international experiences through global study and understanding across all disciplines.

Key Performance Indicators

First Year Persistence Rate

Graduation Rates

4-Year Graduation Rate
6-Year Graduation Rate
8-Year Graduation Rate (Indicator for SACSCOC)
4-Year Non-First Time Entering (Transfer) Graduation Rate

Completion Rates by Economically Disadvantaged students

Total Degrees Awarded

State Licensing Exams

Study Abroad Participation

Summary Table of Student Achievement Measures and Current Status (Fall 2020)

8.1 summary table

For More information, please read our 2020 Student Achievement Report.

Academic Program Assessment

Expectations:

Academic programs will be engaged in the assessment process by explicitly stating program learning outcomes, continuously evaluating students’ achievement of those outcomes, providing evidence that results have been used to consider programs, and demonstrating that assessment is ongoing and continuous.

Process:

All transcribed certificates offered for credit by TAMIU, undergraduate, graduate, and minor programs are expected to fully participate in the assessment process. All programs are responsible for following our Annual Assessment of Academic Programs workflow through AEFIS.

2020-2021 Assessment Timeline:

Academic Program Assessment (APA) Application and Assessment Guidelines:

Quick Guide

Department Academic Liaison Feedback for Academic Plans

Rubric for Evaluating and Providing Feedback for Academic Plans

Department Academic Liaison Feedback for Academic Report

Rubric for Evaluating and Providing Feedback for Academic Report

Academic Assessment Workflow

Data Day - Using your Assessment Results for Program Improvements

Instructions:

Using AEFIS for Academic Planning ~ Program Coordinators

Using AEFIS for Academic Planning ~ Department Chairs

Using AEFIS for Academic Reporting ~ Program Coordinators

Using AEFIS for Academic Reporting ~ Department Chairs

How to Locate Past Assessment Reports on AEFIS

Basic Expectations for the Assessment Process:

1) Learning Outcomes – Each program and transcribed certificate must have a set of comprehensive program learning outcomes which are measurable (i.e., need to use action verbs such as those found in the Bloom’s tables) and can all be assessed within a 3-year cycle. We generally recommend narrowing down the list of outcomes to 3 to 5 high-level outcomes (e.g., analyzing, synthesizing, creating, etc.) the faculty would expect students to be able to do or know as a result of graduating from the program.

2) Measures – Each program and transcribed certificate must use direct measures of learning that are aligned with the outcomes. When done well and in the aggregate, these methods will allow programs to determine not only the extent to which students achieved the outcome, but will allow faculty to identify both strengths and areas for improvement for the program, which is a requirement of the process.

3) Data Analysis & Reporting – Data Analysis allows programs to 1) determine whether or not students met the benchmark, 2) make necessary improvements as a result of the new information, and 3) identify themes and trends in program assessment. It is recommended that degree programs incorporate the analysis of all assessment data as a routine part of departmental functioning. The data gathered for each PLO should be analyzed and evaluated either on a semester or annual basis.

4) Using Results for Improvement – The use of results for improvement may be one of the most significant aspects of the assessment phase. It involves program faculty working together in closely examining the results to improve the quality of students’ experiences and learning. It is important to learn from the assessment results to “close the loop” rather than simply maintaining the benchmark or criterion. There is no one, right way to use information for decision making; as long as you’re collecting data and using the findings to inform next steps, then you’re on the right path. Some examples changes you might think about using assessment information are teaching approaches, curriculum changes, and/or change assessment processes.

Your action plan due to assessment results, as well as, your data analysis will be the final entry into the AEFIS Data Collection in the assessment process.

Resources

All programs and transcribed certificates are encouraged to utilize any of the resources below throughout the assessment process.

Webinar Videos

Karol Batey hosts Assessment: The Musical! Episode 1: The Show Must Go On!

IARP Hosts Data Day: Using Your Assessment Results for Program Improvement

Have questions, concerns, or feedback? Send an e-mail.

Administrative and Educational Support Units Assessment

Overview:

The purpose of AES assessment process is to ensure that all offices progress in their mission to promote success of the whole student at TAMIU. These units provide direct support to faculty and students as related to their educational programs, indirect support for student learning, or a specific co-curricular mission that supports the college experience.It would be common to find that some of these units have expected student outcomes very similar to those of educational programs. In addition, expected outcomes might not be related to a directly measurable students learning outcome but instead related to administrative goals for the unit. It is sometimes difficult to separate assessment of outcomes of administrative goals from assessment of outcomes related to academic and student support services. It is expected that all services engage in institutional effectiveness processes.

Process:

All administrative and educational support units are expected to fully participate in the assessment process. All units are responsible for following our Annual Assessment of Administrative and Educational Support workflow through AEFIS.

2020-2021 Assessment Timeline:

Administrative and Educational Support (AES) Application and Assessment Guidelines:

Quick Guide

Reviewer Feedback for AES Plans

Rubric for Evaluating and Providing Feedback for AES Plans

Reviewer Feedback for AES Report

Rubric for Evaluating and Providing Feedback for AES Report

AES Assessment Workflow

Instructions:

Using AEFIS for Assessment Planning ~ Office Coordinators

Using AEFIS for Assessment Planning ~ Office Reviewers

Using AEFIS for Assessment Reporting ~ Office Coordinators

Using AEFIS for Assessment Reporting ~ Office Reviewers

How to Locate Past Assessment Reports on AEFIS

Resources

All Administrative and Educational Support units are encouraged to utilize any of the resources below throughout the assessment process.

Administrative Support Units Institutional Effectiveness

Overview:

Effective institutions demonstrate a commitment to ongoing, comprehensive, and integrated research-based planning and evaluation processes that (a) focus on institutional quality and effectiveness and (b) incorporate a systematic review of institutional goals and outcomes consistent with its mission. An institutional planning and effectiveness process involves all programs, services, and constituencies; is linked to the decision-making process at all levels; and provides a sound basis for budgetary decisions and resource allocations.

It is critical that administrative support services are provided effectively in order for the institution to obtain its strategic goals as well as operational efficiency. These offices serve the educational mission of the institution in a much more indirect way than do offices related to educational programs or academic and student services, but they are just as critical for the ability of the institution to achieve its mission.

While these units rarely have “expected learning outcomes,” “expected outcomes” for administrative units typically include outcomes such as efficiency and quality of service targets (e.g., energy usage, response times, error rates, “clean report” targets, satisfaction rates); monetary targets (e.g., fund-raising targets, research grant targets, auxiliary income targets). Many times, the goals are explicit parts of the budgeting process or components of the strategic plan.

It is expected that administrative services engage in a process to evaluate their effectiveness

Process:

All administrative support units are expected to fully participate in the institutional effectiveness process. All units are responsible for following our workflow through AEFIS located at site https://tamiu.aefis.net

2020-2021 Assessment Timeline:

Administrative Support (AS) Application and Institutional Effectiveness Guidelines:

Quick Guide

Reviewer Feedback for AS Plans

Rubric for Evaluating and Providing Feedback for AS Plans

Reviewer Feedback for AS Report

Rubric for Evaluating and Providing Feedback for AS Report

AS Institutional Effectiveness Workflow

Instructions:

Using AEFIS for IE Planning ~ Office Coordinators

Using AEFIS for IE Planning ~ Office Reviewers

Using AEFIS for IE Reporting ~ Office Coordinators (Coming Summer 2021)

Using AEFIS for IE Reporting ~ Office Reviewers (Coming Summer 2021)

Resources

All Administrative Support units are encouraged to utilize any of the resources below throughout the assessment process.

How to Write an Institutional Effectiveness Plan – Presentation Slides
Collecting and Analyzing Data - Presentation Slides (Coming Soon)
Direct Versus Indirect Measures
Strategic Plan

General Education Core

What is the Core Curriculum?

The Texas A&M International Core Curriculum, in compliance with the Texas Core Curriculum, is a set of common courses that are required of all undergraduate students and are considered the necessary general education for students, no matter their choice in major. The Core Curriculum ensures that students will be provided with the essential knowledge and skills to succeed in college, their careers, their communities, and in life. Through the core curriculum, students will (1) gain a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, (2) develop principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and (3) advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for lifelong learning.

What are TAMIU's Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcomes?

What courses are included in the TAMIU Core Curriculum?

2020-2021 Core Curriculum Courses

Communication Outcome		Critical Thinking Outcome					Empirical & Quantitative Outcome		Teamwork Outcome
ASTR 1310	MATH 1332	ARTS 1303	BIOL 1370	ENGL 2322	HIST 1301	PSCI 2305	ASTR 1110	CHEM 1170	ASTR 1310	GEOL 1303
ECO 2301	MATH 1342	ARTS 1304	BIOL 1371	ENGL 2323	HIST 1302	PSCI 2306	BIOL 1106	EPSC 1170	BIOL 1306	MATH 1314
ECO 2302	MATH 2412	ASTR 1110	BIOL 2302	ENGL 2327	MUSI 1306	SPAN 2350	BIOL 1111	GEOL 1103	BIOL 1370	MATH 1316
LEDR 2301	MATH 2413	BIOL 1106	CHEM 1170	ENGL 2328	MUSI 1310	THAR 1310	BIOL 1170	PHYS 1170	BIOL 1371	MATH 1324
MATH 1314	PHYS 1370	BIOL 1111	CHEM 1370	EPSC 1170	PHIL 2306	UNIV 1102	BIOL 1171	PHYS 2125	BIOL 2302	MATH 1332
MATH 1316	PHYS 2325	BIOL 1170	ENGL 1301	EPSC 1370	PHYS 1170	UNIV 1402	PHYS 2126		CHEM 1370	MATH 1342
MATH 1324	PSCI 2301	BIOL 1171	ENGL 1302	GEOL 1103	PHYS 2125				EPSC 1370	MATH 2412
MATH 1324	PSCI 2301	BIOL 1306	ENGL 2311	GEOL 1303	PHYS 2126				MATH 2413

How is the Core Curriculum Assessed?

Core Curriculum is assessed through the AEFIS system. This system tracks all of our assessment activities. The following PowerPoints can assist you in your use of this system:

Using AEFIS to Create Assignments for Core Curriculum

Using AEFIS to Convert Blackboard Assignments for Core Curriculum

Linking Assignments to Core Curriculum

How to Score Core Curriculum Using AEFIS

Additional Resources

Rubrics

VALUE Rubrics

Due Date for spring 2021: may 21, 2021

Writing Intensive Assessment

What is WIN Assessment?

In 2005, Texas A&M International University launched "Write on, TAMIU", a Quality Enhancement Plan to improve undergraduate writing and become part of a campus culture promoting and valuing writing. This campaign promised to prepare students for success in their personal and professional lives by embracing writing. Since then, TAMIU continues to hold WIN assessment as a separate area of institutional assessment linked to a graduation requirement.

What is the Student Learning Outcome for WIN Assessment Courses?

What courses are included in TAMIU WIN Assessment?

Spring 2021 WIN Courses

ARTS 4333	COMM 3321	ENGL 2322	KINE 3312	PSYC 3302
BA 3301	COMM 3327	ENGL 2323	MATH 4345	PSYC 4301
BA 3310	CRIJ 3301	ENGL 2327	MATH 4390	SENG 4301
BA 4390	CRIJ 3301/SOCI 3301	ENGL 2328	NURN 3311/NURS 3311/PHLT 3311	SENG 4390
BIOL 4402	CRIJ 4321	ENGL 4301	NURN 3312/NURS 3312	SOCI 3304
BIOL 4418	CSDO 4226	ENGL 4307	NURN 4310	SOCI 4375
BIOL 4471	EDCI 3301	ENGL 4399	NURS 4310	SOCI 4380
BIOL 4472	EDEL 3374	GEOG 3352	PHIL 4380	SPAN 3305
CHEM 4499/BIOL 4472	EDRD 3320	HIST 3387	PSCI 3301/SOCI 3301	SPAN 4302
COMM 1326	ENGL 2307	HIST 3394	PSCI 4313	THAR 4313
COMM 3310	ENGL 2311	HIST 4310	PSCI 4351	THAR 4313

How do we record WIN Assessment Results?

WIN Assessment is done through the AEFIS system. This system tracks all of our assessment activities. The following PowerPoints can assist you in your use of this system:

Using AEFIS to Create Assignments for WIN Assessment

Using AEFIS to Convert Blackboard Assignments for WIN Assessment

Linking Assignments to WIN Assessment

How to Score WIN Assessment Using AEFIS

Additional Resources

WIN RUBRIC

Due Date for for spring 2021: May 21, 2021

Institutional Outcomes, Objectives, and Marketable Skills

Institutional Outcomes tower Image

Institutional Outcomes ~ Information Coming Soon!

program learning outcomes image

Program Learning Outcomes ~ Information Coming Soon!

Assessment Deadlines

Important Due Dates for 2020-2021

Academic Program Assessment 2020-2021
Assessment Report Support Weeks (Program Coordinators)	08/30/2021 - 09/10/2021
Initial Draft of Assessment Report Due	09/10/2021
Support Week (Chair)	09/13/2021 - 09/17/2021
Chair Feedback and Review for Assessment Report	09/17/2021
Final Assessment Report Due	09/24/2021

Administrative & Educational Support (AES) and Administrative Support (AS) 2020-2021 Deadlines
Assessment Report Support Weeks (Office Coordinators)	09/13/2021 – 09/24/2021
Initial Draft of Assessment Report Due	09/24/2021
Support Week (Office Reviewer)	09/27/2021 – 10/01/2021
Reviewer Feedback for Assessment Report	10/1/2021
Final Assessment Report Due	10/8/2021

Core Curriculum and WIN Assessment 2021-2022 Deadlines
Fall 2021 Scoring Due	TBA
Spring 2022 Scoring Due	TBA

Core Curriculum and WIN Assessment

2021-2022 Deadlines

Fall 2021 Scoring Due

TBA

Spring 2022 Scoring Due

TBA