Capstone Assessment as Faculty Development

Portland State University (PSU) is a public institution in Portland, Oregon, serving 28,000 students, including 23,000 undergraduates. PSU implemented Capstone courses in 1995 as the culminating experience in the revised general education program, University Studies (UNST). Capstones at PSU are community‐based courses composed of interdisciplinary teams of students actively engaged with community partners, designed to address the UNST learning goals (inquiry and critical thinking; communication; ethics and social responsibility; and diversity, equity, and social justice). Each Capstone course creates one or more collaboratively developed final products intended to serve the community partner. In this article, we describe the evolution of our Capstone assessment practice and highlight the current process we designed to assess these courses. Through this process—which is the latest and most successful iteration of an assessment protocol for these highly contextual courses—we recognized that conceptualizing an assessment process as simultaneously a forum for peer‐driven faculty support increases faculty ownership over assessment and investment in using assessment results to make change in their own courses

A Profile of Sophomore Inquiry Students Fall 2022

In order to better understand the students who enroll in Sophomore Inquiry (SINQ) courses and begin to identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of SINQ students from Fall 2022. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in SINQ during Fall 2022 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey. It is organized around three areas that contribute to student success: academic preparation and concern; financial and physical wellbeing; and connectedness to campu

University Studies Annual Assessment 2012-2013

Annual in-depth examination and assessment of Portland State University\u27s general education model, the University Studies Program. The tools and methods used to assess student learning are faculty driven and developed

A Profile of Freshman Inquiry Students Fall 2022

In order to better understand the students who enroll in Freshman Inquiry (FRINQ) courses and identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of FRINQ students from Fall 2022. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in FRINQ during Fall 2022 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey. It is organized around three areas that contribute to student success: academic preparation and concern; financial and physical wellbeing; and connectedness to campus

Portland State University Spring Symposium Report

The 2023 Spring Symposium arose in response to a request to PSU administrators in a Faculty Senate Resolution. That resolution noted the high level of interest by the Faculty Senate in both understanding and engaging in the university’s budgeting processes. The Symposium offered an opportunity for all PSU employees to come together to identify priorities and shared purpose regarding the university’s approach to long term financial planning. The recommendations created during the symposium are being shared with incoming president Ann Cudd to inform her thinking as PSU pursues a path toward financial sustainability. Table of Contents 04 Statement from President and Faculty Senate 05 2023 Faculty & Staff Spring Symposium Event Overview 08 Collaborative Governance Overview 10 Report Purpose & Intention 11 Process Recommendations 13 Next Steps 15 Acknowledgements 16 Appendix: Process Recommendation Too

Deepening Students’ Appreciation for Diversity Through University Studies Courses

This report gathers assessment data related to the diversity learning goal across levels and multiple years

A Profile of Sophomore Inquiry Students Fall 2011

Presents a profile of students enrolled in SINQ courses based on responses to the Prior Learning Survey and demographic and academic university data

A Profile of Freshman Inquiry Students Fall 2013

This report presents a profile of students enrolled in Freshman Inquiry courses during Fall 2013, including demographic, academic, and financial information

Assessment Brief: The ePortfolio Process and Student Learning

An analysis of student survey results relating ePortfolio classroom practices to students\u27 reported learning

A Profile of Sophomore Inquiry Students Fall 2013

This report presents a profile of students enrolled in Sophomore Inquiry courses during Fall 2013