COUNCIL ON ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT (CAA)
MINUTES, DECEMBER 15, 2004
LC-31J; 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Present: Malcolm Sherman, Jon Bartow, Sue Faerman, Deborah Bernhard, David Dai, Maria Brown,
Richard Collier, Joel Berkowitz, Kristina Bendikas, Lisa Dulgar-Tulloch, Lee Franklin
The Council discussed draft guidelines for reviewing program self-studies that came out of a discussion
at the qualitative subcommittee. Collier distributed “Some More General Working Principles for the
Academic Advisement Council,” which summarized the discussion that took place in the qualitative
subcommittee It was agreed that appending the list of self-study sections from the “Provisional
Procedures for Joint Review of Established Graduate and Undergraduate Programs, 2003-2004” to the
general working principles would serve as a guideline for the CAA reviewers.
Sherman noted that going forward, it would be helpful to review the self-studies at an earlier stage,
before they are finalized. It was noted that if the CAA wishes to follow-up with departments regarding
particular aspects of their self-studies and implementation of their assessment plans, the onus is on the
CAA to do so, and this would fall to the CAA staff. Szelest noted that the Director of Assessment
and/or himself would be able to perform this function on behalf of the CAA.
Brown asked if we get feedback from the departments regarding the external reviewer report? Sherman
noted that we should ask the departments to submit brief responses to external reviewer reports along
with our own report.
Sherman asked Collier to craft language for him, as Council chair, for transmitting our acceptance of the
Theatre and Political Science self-studies to the Senate, and to ask the departments to submit responses
to the external reviewer reports to the CAA. The CAA report/recommendation will be sent to the Senate
Chair, with CCs to Dean Faerman, Dean and Interim Provost Mumpower, and to the school/college
dean.
Discussion regarding whether or not the CAA should send recommendations for follow-up to other
Senate councils or administrative officers ensued. For example, the Theatre self-study noted some
lighting and space issues that affected curriculum offerings and raised health and safety issues. It was
resolved that in order to promote a continuous process of assessment within the academic departments,
the CAA, in general, would note issues of interest back to departments and deans and request a response
from them. The responsibility for following through on (resolving?) important issues would then lay
with the units most directly affected. There would therefore be two parts to the CAA report, 1) whether
the CAA accepts or rejects the self-study, and 2) a request for a follow-up report, if necessary, by the
department and dean. With regard to the Theatre and Political Science program reviews, the CAA
would report to the Senate that it accepted the Theatre and Political Science self studies, and is following
up with the departments regarding a few areas of concern.
The Economics review was briefly discussed, but it was decided that we would carry over review of the
Economics self-study and external reviewers report to the next meeting as Professor Lanford, who
drafted the quantitative subcommittee report on Economics, was not present.
In other business:
Council members asked if some means, other than e-mail, for making the departmental self-studies and
external reviewer reports available could be developed? It was noted that the e-mail attachments are
very large and unwieldy for many Council members. Szelest noted that he would work with the
Director of Assessment on this issue.
Szelest was asked to forward two self-studies (and external reviewer reports) to each review
subcommittee so that Council members could continue their reviews over the semester break.
Next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday January 26, 2005, 3 – 4:30 PM, LC 31J, but this
may change due to member availability. Council members are asked to forward both their preferred and
unavailable meeting times to Bruce Szelest (Bszelest@albany.edu) for Spring 2005 CAA meeting
scheduling.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Szelest
