UNK Assessment: English Graduate Portfolio

ASSESSMENT PLAN (Revised, 1997-98) Graduate Assistants submit an evaluation portfolio during the spring semester which includes current curriculum vitae, a self-assessment statement, course syllabi, student evaluations, and optional information such as copies of publications or presentations. The Graduate and Composition Directors and other supervisors also include letters of evaluation. The portfolio is evaluated by the Graduate Director annually. ____________ Graduate Assistants submit an evaluation portfolio during the spring semester which includes current curriculum vitae, a self-assessment statement, course syllabi, student evaluations, and optional information such as copies of publications or presentations. The Graduate and composition Directors and other supervisors also include letters of evaluation. The portfolio is evaluated by the Department Chair annually.	1999-2000 ASSESSMENT We made some changes this year based in part on our portfolio assessment of graduate students. After continuing assessment by means of portfolios of our first year Graduate Assistants, we have instituted a programmatic change to ensure quality teaching and academic experiences for new graduate students, which is set to begin in the 2000-2001 school year. New Graduate Assistants in their first semester will teach only a single class, rather than the normal assignment of two courses heretofore. Also to be implemented is a mentoring program for ongoing assessment of the teaching of new Graduate Assistants.
	1998-99 ASSESSMENT Portfolio review continues to be a major component in the assessment of our Graduate Assistants. The reappointment of Graduate Assistants to a second year in the program is contingent upon a through review of their portfolios. This review continues to be supervised by the Graduate Program Director and the Composition Coordinator. Some Graduate Assistants have encountered problems in the first year of appointment, especially in the areas of course preparation and balancing the teaching load with their own course work. The Department will be considering specific programmatic changes, including mentoring and a reduction in teaching loads, to address this problem in 1999-2000.
	1997-98 ASSESSMENT In general, the quality of our graduate student portfolios is strong. There is ample evidence to suggest that their teaching of composition is very effective, based upon student comments, evaluation data sheets, and faculty reviews of their teaching. On the whole, the portfolios confirm that our English 805 course and faculty mentoring program is working well to train our GA's in the Teaching of Composition. As a result of our Portfolio evaluation, we will meet early in the second semester with our GA's to review their teaching in the fall semester, rather than to wait until the middle of the spring semester. Should there be any problems that need to be addressed, these could be addressed early in the spring semester by the Composition Coordinator and by the Graduate Program Director. Also, the Portfolios confirm the importance of graduate students assembling a Curriculum Vitae, something new we have required of them this year. In turn, the assembling of Vitae could serve as an important opportunity for graduate faculty to counsel our graduate students about professional employment upon their graduation.
	1996-97 ASSESSMENT