10/25/96 Contact: Gary Moden, Ohio University, 614/593-2575

ATHENS, Ohio -- Five schools and one department at Ohio University's Athens campus have received financial awards in recognition of excellent assessment practices.

A university Assessment Review Committee recommended the awards be granted to units demonstrating best practices in areas such as clearly stating goals that match assessment activities; involving faculty in curricular assessment and improvement; focusing on student outcomes; and planning for improvements based on assessment results.

"Quality performance by our academic programs should be recognized by increased resources," President Robert Glidden said. "This is one way to accomplish this goal."

Three units received $45,000 each, and three received $22,000 each. Recipients are:

* School of Accountancy, $45,000, for setting up continuous improvement teams to look at five specific areas and to develop plans for improvement based on assessment in those areas.

* School of Communication Systems Management, $45,000, for using a variety of internal and external indicators as sources of information for assessment, and for focusing on problem solutions in the field and using feedback as a basis for improvement.

* School of Human and Consumer Sciences, $45,000, for using examination information for program assessment where appropriate, and for using portfolios to assess students in non-examination areas.

* School of Journalism, $22,000, for documenting students' experiences and obtaining feedback from employers in practica and internships, which serves as a basis for improving internships and assessing students' self-development.

* Department of Psychology, $22,000, for using assessment information to make curriculum changes to improve the math and science skills of students, and for using assessment data in making staffing decisions for undergraduate teaching.

* School of Recreation and Sport Sciences, $22,000, for developing and using evaluation tools to assess skills and competencies for practica and internships to eliminate previous inconsistencies, and for using exit interviews to obtain information for program improvement.

Funds awarded are not base funds, but may be carried forward from year to year.

The Assessment Review Committee made the recommendations after reviewing more than 50 program assessment reports. Award funding came from a $200,000 pool provided by the University Planning Advisory Council. This is the first time assessment awards have been granted to campus units. Funding is expected to be available for future assessment awards and for training activities at the college and/or departmental level.