Academic Year Assessed: 2020-2021
College: Agriculture
Department: Animal and Range Sciences
Department Head: Carl Yeoman

The Assessment Reports submitted in Fall 2021 for the Animal Science degree program and Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology program were evaluated by members of the University Assessment and Outcomes Committee.

Commendations, recommendations and ratings for the Animal Science Assessment Report and the Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology Assessment Report submitted by Carl Yeoman, interim head of the Department of Animal and Range Sciences are below.

Animal Science Assessment Report

Click to download Animal Science Evaluation of Assessment

MAJORS/MINORS/CERTIFICATE  OPTIONS
B.S. — Animal Science Equine Science
B,S,  —  Animal Science Livestock Management and Industry
B.S. —  Animal Science Science
B.S. — Ranching Systems N/A
Minor — Genetics  

 

COMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
Very clear and descriptive throughout the whole assessment report; clear strategy for implementing changes. Keep it up! You have a strong plan and seem to have a culture in the department that appreciates the value of assessment. This serves our students well.
This is the strongest assessment report I have seen this year. A true exemplar of how to conduct program assessment, what to do with the results, and how it can inform program changes. In this report, I saw extra effort was made to include all of the options with in the major (i.e. including an Equine Science class) and majors, conduct appropriate sampling, and reflect on results. I think the conclusions reached regarding the data are merited and I hope the process is improved in the future with norming by raters. Even though this Program Learning Outcome (PLO) isn't formally assessed again until 2022-2023, I would encourage you as a faculty to continue discussing this and monitoring (even informally) how students can better learn critical thinking.
Outstanding assessment. Your process is uncovering issues, whether they be with the process itself or a change in the skills of the students. Thank you for keeping your eye on the students! My only recommendation would be to share with your colleagues the value of assessment! That it isn't onerous and that it is useful. Thank you again for your attention to this important component. 
  Please help teach other departments how to do this!

Specific Item Ratings and Feedback

PROGRAM REPORT ELEMENT RATING
Program Learning Outcomes - Student learning outcomes identify the intended knowledge, understandings, or abilities that students will acquire through the academic program. The majority of these outcomes are at a high cognitive level. Outstanding
What Was Done and How Data Were Collected Sections (Assessment Plan ) - The report describes the methodology about data collection and analysis. Outstanding
What was learned (Assessment Findings) -Findings describe what was learned from the assessment measures. Comparisons are made to threshold values (if they are present). Thoughtful interpretation is made to define Areas of Strength and Areas that Need Improvement based on analysis of data. Outstanding
How We Responded - Sharing Results with Faculty - Results were communicated to the department, or program faculty, with a forum for faculty feedback and recommendations. Outstanding
How We Responded - Changes in Response to Findings -The findings are used to inform annual action plans to improve the program. Assessment findings are appropriately used as information that drives improvement in learning, instruction, curriculum or strategic planning. Outstanding
Closing the Loop - Based on assessment from previous years, program level changes that have led to program improvements have been implemented and are described. Outstanding

 

Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology  Assessment Report

Click to download Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology Evaluation of Assessment

MAJORS/MINORS/CERTIFICATE OPTIONS
B.S. —  Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology Wildlife Habitat Ecology and Management 
B. S. —  Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology Rangeland Ecology and Management
Minor — Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology  

Ratings from highest to lowest: Outstanding, Excellent, Achieving, Needs Development, Inadequate

COMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATIONS
Outstanding assessment. Thank you for keeping an eye toward the students! Keep it up and tell your colleagues!
This (and the other report from Animal and Range Sciences) are the strongest reports I have seen this year. The department and faculty really seem to understand and value assessment. The description of the discussion and outcomes from the faculty retreat in early Fall 2021 reflect this. Thank you for the feedback about student writing - we have seen this in other assessment reports.
The thoughtfully developed rubric allows you to identify the specific areas where student learning could be improved on this learning outcome.  
Even though this Program Learning Outcome (PLO) isn't scheduled to be reviewed again for a few years, I hope that the faculty continues discussion about student learning around this.  

Specific Item Ratings and Feedback

PROGRAM REPORT ELEMENT RATING
Program Learning Outcomes - Student learning outcomes identify the intended knowledge, understandings, or abilities that students will acquire through the academic program. The majority of these outcomes are at a high cognitive level. Outstanding 
What Was Done and How Data Were Collected Sections (Assessment Plan ) - The report describes the methodology about data collection and analysis. Outstanding
What was learned (Assessment Findings) - Findings describe what was learned from the assessment measures. Comparisons are made to threshold values (if they are present). Thoughtful interpretation is made to define Areas of Strength and Areas that Need Improvement based on analysis of data. Outstanding
How We Responded - Sharing Results with Faculty - Results were communicated to the department, or program faculty, with a forum for faculty feedback and recommendations. Outstanding
How We Responded - Changes in Response to Findings -The findings are used to inform annual action plans to improve the program. Assessment findings are appropriately used as information that drives improvement in learning, instruction, curriculum or strategic planning. Excellent
Closing the Loop - Based on assessment from previous years, program level changes that have led to program improvements have been implemented and are described. N/A

Ratings from highest to lowest: Outstanding, Excellent, Achieving, Needs Development, Inadequate