General Education Course Review -- Evaluation & Feedback: PHYS 1103
The purpose of the General Education Committee (GEC) is to provide guidance and direction to the VCAAR to improve the quality and relevance of the University's general education curriculum. The GEC considers proposals for modification of the general education curriculum and reviews each course in the general education program once every four years to determine its acceptability as a general education course.
The GEC will review assessment data on the general education program provided by the Assessment Office and make recommendations to the VCAAR.
Year: 2015-2016 General Education Goal: Using Science to Accomplish Common Goals
Title of Course: PHYS 1103 Introduction to Space Science
_N__Syllabi reflect brief course description (40 words or fewer), as it appears in bulletin.
All syllabi have been submitted but none list the Bulletin description.
_~~__ Syllabi list general education goal and related student learning outcome.
The SLO is correctly shown on the syllabi but the goal is not.
_N__ Prerequisites are appropriate for level of course.
The prerequisite is inconsistent with current standards and should be updated or removed.
_?__Level of education of instructors for this course complies with ADHE and ASU Faculty Handbook.
ADHE - Master’s degree with at least 18 graduate hours in field for general education courses
ASU Faculty Handbook - section II.h. Credentials, p. 40
A review of teaching credentials is underway by the Provost’s office and the GEC and department will be advised of the results when complete.
Assessment of General Education Goal –Using Science to Accomplish Common Goals
_X_ Understand concepts of science as they apply to contemporary issues
_?_The above student learning outcome is being assessed across sections for continuous quality improvement of student learning.
The GEC is unable to make a judgment without much more detail. The report does not describe in an explicit way the nature of its data—what kinds of items, when they were collected, or the sampling procedure employed if any. Moreover, there is no way for the committee to determine whether the admittedly very impressive results really do capture students’ ability to understand concepts of science as they apply to contemporary issues.
_Y_ Report of the assessment findings has been submitted.
_Y_ Data are being used to improve student learning.
The faculty reports a number of ways in which it has attempted to “close the assessment loop,” but this hangs on an assessment program the GEC is unable to evaluate.
decision of general education committee
_____Course is acceptable as a general education course linked to the General Education goal.
_____Course is not acceptable as a general education course linked to the General Education goal.
__X__Course is acceptable as a general education course linked to the General Education goal given the following modifications:
The department takes appropriate corrective actions to address the issues of concern shown above.
_____Unable to evaluate as a general education course linked to the General Education goal.
Action required
__X__None
_____Follow up Review
_____Meeting with Department Chair
GEC Chair ______Date______
Approved 10/30/2012; revised 18 Nov 14