Program: National Student Exchange
Date: Fri Oct 09, 2015 - 10:40:33 am
1) Below are your program's student outcomes (SOs). Please add or update as needed.
The program provides opportunities for students to broaden their personal and academic experiences while experiencing new cultures, as well as for them to develop maturity, flexibility, independence, self-confidence, and understanding of other people in other settings. A survey is conducted each year of both outgoing and incoming exchange students to determine to what extent they feel they have been able to achieve their own objectives in the areas of: 1) academics, 2) cultural awareness, 3) social life, and 4) personal growth.
Skills needed for students to achieve these goals, and for which the national program and campus NSE office provide support, include:
For outgoing students:
1) To be able to determine courses needed during the period planned for exchange, including major, general education, and enhancement courses not available at UHM.
2) To research available schools for exchange via the NSE national website and printed guidance materials, choosing one appropriate for personal, social, and cultural interests, which also meets academic needs.
3) To search the host school catalog (on the NSE national website)and determine through the A&R transfer credit website (www.hawaii.edu/admrec/odstc) and meetings with major advisors what courses taken on exchange will count for UHM requirements. To complete an advising form and obtain major advisor signature for study plan.
4) To follow all instructions from the host school coordinator regarding application, financial aid, registration, getting campus housing, and any other host school requirements.
For incoming students:
1) To be able to determine courses needed during the period planned for exchange, including major, general education, and special interest courses only available at UHM.
2) To understand that exchange students register very late at UHM, that upper division business courses are not available to them, and that because of limitations UHM is not a good choice for many juniors and seniors.
3) To follow guidelines provided in the national NSE Directory of Exchange Opportunities, the national website www.nse.org, and the UHM NSE Student Handbook and other forms sent immediately on acceptance for application, financial aid processing, campus/off-campus housing application, and health clearance.
4) To follow additional detailed instructions for obtaining course overrides, registration, and financial aid application and processing.
5) To attend mandatory August orientation for information on UHM student rights and responsibilities, including specific rights and responsibilities in campus housing.
2) Your program's SOs are published as follows. Please update as needed.
Program's Website. URL: www.nse.org Student Handbook. URL, if available online: www.nse.org (NSE Student Guide:Exchange Policies & Procedures) Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure. URL, if available online: www2.hawaii.edu/~nse UHM Catalog. Page Number: 519 Other: www2.hawaii.edu/~nse/2014.htm (specific information/instruction site, for accepted incoming students) Other: What's Next for NSE? Specific advising and financial aid information for outgoing students3) 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 (10/07/2015)
4) Did your program engage in any program assessment activities between June 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015? (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 between June 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the student outcomes that were targeted, if applicable.
We monitored not only student achievement of the above goals (most students who actually carried out the goals were successful in following instructions shown on the site map), but more broadly, the national goals for exchange. We wished to learn the extent to which visiting students took advantage of their opportunities for formal study of other cultures and languages at UHM, as well as their enrollment in UHM's courses in Asian Studies, Pacific Island Studies, Hawaiian Studies, Ethnic Studies, American Studies, Women's Studies, and Political Science for the diverse perspectives of these courses in the Hawai'i setting. We were also interested in the academic achievements of students during their exchange semester or year. In addition, we wanted to know the students' personal evaluations of the extent to which they were able to meet their own objectives for the exchange experience, as well as the problems they encountered.
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.
*STAR reports for each incoming student's enrollment and grades
*A survey tool used for incoming and outgoing exchange students over the last 20 years (which has been shared with other campuses and has contributed to a national NSE consortium experience evaluation form). On a 5-point scale, students evaluate the extent to which they've been able to meet their objectives for the exchange academically, in cultural awareness, in social life, and in personal growth. In addition, they are asked to report the greatest problems they've had in coming to the exchange campus (getting housing, getting financial aid, getting needed classes), and what additional information they would like to have received besides that provided. They are also given the opportunity to report other problems from a list of selections. Their suggestions are used to modify communication and support.
7) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.
STAR reports were obtained for 181 visiting student terms (134 fall and 47 who continued for spring), During this time, 38 incoming students and 12 outgoing students submitted the survey.
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.
For the assessment questions/goals stated in Question #5, these were the findings:
The 2014-2015 term enrollments showed the following:
Hawaiian language, Hawaiian Studies, or Hawaiian History: 67
Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German: 38
Asian Studies, Pacific Island Studies, American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Women's Studies, Political Science, Peace Studies: 42
Term average grades:
Deans' List: (4.00 or all A's): 26; 3.50-3.99: 62 TOTAL: 88
3.00-3.49: 47
2.50-2.99: 26
2.00-2.49: 12
Below 2.00: 8
(TOTAL: 181 term reports)
The survey sent to students included questions worded: "To what extent have you been able to meet your objectives in the following areas? Academic, Cultural Awareness, Social Life, Personal Growth. Rate from Not a All (1) to Very Well (5)
Averages of the responses were:
Academic: 4.85
Cultural Awareness: 4.68
Social Life: 4.35
Personal Growth: 4.80
Outgoing students' average responses were:
Academic: 4.00
Cultural Awareness: 4.65
Social Life: 3.80
Personal: 4.45
11) What was learned from the results?
For the most part, students succeeded in meeting their objectives in all areas. Other valuable information was gained from less positive responses, which are also shared with relevant campus offices for consideration.
12) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.
One survey question adresses the greatest concerns students had before coming--getting campus or off-campus housing, getting financial aid, getting needed classes, or other. Another question is "What additional information would you like to have received beyond that emailed to you?" Each year pre-arrival communication with students is updated based on these responses. The NSE coordinator is the central liaison betwen individual students and Student Housing and Financial Aid Services, as well as with all academic departments in assisting students with course enrollments.
13) Reflect on the assessment process. Is there anything related to assessment procedures your program would do differently next time? What went well?
We feel that our assessment tool is effective in determining how students evaluate the achievement of their goals, as well as suggest how our support can be expanded or modified.
14) If the program did not engage in assessment activities, please explain.
Or, if the program did engage in assessment activities, please add any other important information here.
Information is provided for potential incoming and outgoing students at www.nse.org and www2.hawaii.edu/~nse
Additional information for outgoing students can be found in the NSE consortium "Student Guide: Exchange Policies and Procedures" which is updated each year and available for any interested student at the NSE Office.
Accepted students are sent most necessary information through a website, attachments, and detailed emails. A mandatory orientation is held for all incoming exchange students the day before classes begin. Careful attention to the details provided through these communication modes supports success in achievement of student goals for exchange.