Program: Honors
Date: Fri Oct 12, 2012 - 11:53:38 am
1) Below are your program's student outcomes (SOs). Please add or update as needed.
Selected Studies Student Learning Outcomes
The Honors Program has identified a set of specific outcomes for students who complete the Selected Studies program. Students who earn Sophomore Honors will be able to:
- Show an understanding of the diverse nature of scholarship in the university;
- Articulate clearly a sound argument in written and oral form;
- Synthesize and analyze information from a variety of sources;
- Conduct basic bibliographical, historical and geographical research;
- Engage purposefully in leadership/service, mentorship and/or multi-cultural/intercultural activities.
Upper Division Honors Program Student Learning Outcomes
The Honors Program has identified a set of specific outcomes for students who complete the upper division component of the Honors Program. Honors degree candidates will be able to:
- Write and publicly defend a proposal for the Senior Honors Project;
- Conduct independent scholarly work of professional or near professional quality in their field;
- Report research in oral and poster presentations in the format expected at professional academic conferences;
- Engage purposefully in scholarship, leadership/service, and/or multi-cultural/intercultural activities outside of the classroom.
2) Your program's SOs are published as follows. Please update as needed.
Program's Website. URL: http://www.honors.hawaii.edu/programs/standards/slo.html
Student Handbook. URL, if available online: Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure. URL, if available online: UHM Catalog. Page Number: Other: Honors course syllabi Other: 3) Provide the program's activity map or other graphic that illustrates how program activities/services align with program student outcomes. Please upload it as a PDF.
- File (10/12/2012)
4) Did your program engage in any program assessment activities between June 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012? (e.g., establishing/revising outcomes, aligning activities to outcomes, collecting evidence, interpreting evidence, using results, revising the assessment plan, creating surveys, etc.)
Yes
No (skip to question 14)5) For the period June 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the student outcomes that were targeted, if applicable.
In Spring 2012, we began to ask students who have successfully completed the Selected Studies Program (SSP) to complete a survey asking to what degree they feel that they fulfill the student learning outcomes of SSP. They are also asked to share what they believe are the best aspects of SSP, as well as what areas need improvement.
Another addition that was created during Spring 2012 is that students who are planning on withdrawing from the Honors Program are asked to communicate with the academic advisor or director before doing so to discuss possibilities for the student to stay in the Honors Program. If not, then what limited the student from successfully finishing the program and what suggestions may s/he have for us to improve.
6) State the type(s) of evidence gathered to answer the assessment question and/or meet the assessment goals that were given in Question #5.
An online survey is administered to students who successfully complete the Selected Studies Program.
A meeting is conducted with students who plan on withdrawing from the Honors Program.
7) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.
22 people completed the survey. Upon successful completion of the Selected Studies Programs, students are notified by email that they have earned a Sophomore Honors Award. In that same email, they are asked to complete the survey.
When students contact the Honors Program, they are asked if they have met with the academic advisor or director to discuss their withdrawal yet. If they have not, then an appointment is scheduled with the academic advisor or director. 44 students have gone through this process so far.
8) Who interpreted or analyzed the evidence that was collected? Check all that apply.
Program faculty/staff member(s) Faculty/staff committee Ad hoc faculty/staff group Director or department chairperson Persons or organization outside the university Students (graduate or undergraduate) Dean or Associate Dean Advisory Board Other: 9) How did he/she/they evaluate, analyze, or interpret the evidence? Check all that apply.
Compiled survey results Used quantitative methods on student data (e.g., grades, participation rates) or other numeric data Used qualitative methods on interview, focus group, or other open-ended response data Scored exams/tests/quizzes Used a rubric or scoring guide Used professional judgment (no rubric or scoring guide used) External organization/person analyzed data (e.g., Social Science Research Institute) Other: 10) For the assessment questions/goals stated in Question #5, summarize the actual results.
There were extremely positive results for the survey. Most of the responses were "Agree" and "Strongly Agree" with only one or two "Neutrals." There were no "Disagree" or "Strongly Disagree" responses.
The responses about the meetings with students who were withdrawing were largely due to time constraints and classes could not fit into students' schedule.
11) What was learned from the results?
We need to provide more co-curricular activities for our students to engage in and feel more of an identity of being an Honors student.
We need to create more Honors tracks within majors, as well as more Honors classes in general.
12) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.
The Honors Student Organization, which the Honors Program supports, has increased its number of social, professional development, and volunteer to more than triple of what was offered last year.
The Honors Program has created Honors tracks in American Studies and Anthropoloy. We are also in the process of creating more Honors tracks in the Shidler College of Business and College of Engineering. We are increasing the number of Honors course offering as well, including Communicology 151A and SOCS 150A.
13) Reflect on the assessment process. Is there anything related to assessment procedures your program would do differently next time? What went well?
The survey responses have been going well.
The meetings with students who were planning on withdrawing has decreased the number of students who actually withdraw from this department.