TAMIU Faculty Member Selected for Summer Signature Assignment Institutes

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) faculty member Dr. Hayley Kazen, assistant professional, University College, was recently selected as one of 19 faculty members from across the State to participate in the Summer Signature Assignment Institutes (SAIs).

Dr. Kazen met with select faculty from Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio during the month of June.

SAIs sessions held for two days in each of three Texas sites for two weeks. SAIs employed the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) Charrette model to develop signature assignments for the Texas Core Curriculum objective, Social Responsibility. This LEAP Texas Fellow project used the NILOA Charrette as a starting point, adding components for implementation, communal assessment, and research.

LEAP Texas is a collaborative of more than 60 higher education institutions with the capacity to reach more than 750,000 students. It is not driven by a particular institution, System of institutions, or a state office, but a collection of institutions with common issues and shared purpose.

Dr. Kazen’s SAIs work focused on creating a signature assignment to assess one of TAMIU’s general education learning outcomes. This workshop was for social responsibility which is assessed in TAMIU’s UNIV 1101 course, delivered by University College faculty.

“It was really helpful to meet with other faculty selected from across the State and work collaboratively on shared concerns to create powerful solutions,” Dr. Kazen said.

“Dr. Kazen’s selection to work with others at the State-level speaks highly of her commitment to our UNIV 1101 program, and to the program’s relevance for our students.  Her contributions, and those of other SAI participants, will help others create successful assessments,” said Dr. Catheryn Weitman, Dean of University College.

TAMIU’s University College grounds students in early academic college experiences, through First Year Experiences (FYE). Simultaneously, students interact and become aware of campus services available to support them as they complete their degree, as well as exposure to campus activities and events.

Common goals for the FYE are to utilize key elements of undergraduate research; to employ academic support services in order to persist independently, and to engage in non-academic offerings and student life resources.

For more on University College programs, contact Dr. Weitman at University College, 956.326.2801, or click on  http://www.tamiu.edu/uc/index.shtml