Undergraduate Student Learning Assessment Plan
Updated: April 20, 2021 Assessment in the Manship School is an ongoing, faculty-led process to determine if students are meeting the educational goals of the program. This process values significant input from faculty, professionals and alumni in the fields encompassed by the school. It is a circular system that evaluates student learning at the program level with a focus on cohorts. The key to effective assessment is stating and communicating clear learning objectives, assessing the related learning outcomes, and then taking action to improve the achievement of those learning outcomes. The Manship School has chosen a distinctive way to express and communicate its learning outcomes based on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communication’s (ACEJMC) core values and competencies. We call our approach “The 1, 2, 3s of a Manship Education” (view comprehensive plan). It divides the ACEJMC 10 into three categories for easy digestion by current and prospective students while clearly stating what the school values. The Manship School faculty strives to make assessment and its resulting changes a habitual and positive part of our teaching values and goals at the core of our mission to develop professional communicators. This plan was modified before the last accreditation report following to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) specifications. The modified plan was voted on in October 2013 and put in place immediately. This plan called for a simpler, yet more applicable process that will net the school better data in order to improve our teaching strategies and better meet our course and program outcomes. The plan was modified again in December 2019 and in April 2021 to ensure compliance with SACS and ACEJMC. View comprehensive undergraduate student learning assessment plan.School Mission Statement
The mission of the Manship School is to produce highly competent communicators with broad knowledge and training in the liberal arts and the media. The school promotes effective communication, critical thinking and ethical responsibility. Through its teaching, research, and public service, the school is committed to leading the study and practice of media and public affairs. Believing that media should reflect and provide leadership to society, the school seeks diversity in its outlook, student body, faculty and staff.
Goals & Contents of the Assessment Plan
Above all else, the goal of this plan is to ensure students in the program receive excellent and innovative instruction and academic experiences that meet the school’s teaching goals. The plan is streamlined to better assess the program’s goals and make the feedback loop more successful. The plan was adjusted to comply with both ACEJMC’s and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ (SACS) accreditation standards.
Each concept in The 1, 2, 3s has a specific learning outcome, and these learning outcomes are listed on the following pages. The Assessment Plan and accompanying materials immediately follows, specifying how the school uses direct and indirect measures to assess programmatic student learning.
The measures include:
- Capstone Senior Manship Exam (direct measure)
- Capstone Senior e-portfolio/project evaluations (direct measure) Aggregate Internship Evaluations (indirect measure)
- Student Awards (indirect measure)
- Student Exit Survey (indirect measure) (ended in 2018) Alumni Survey by Career Services (indirect measure)
The 1, 2, 3s of a Manship Education – Goals & Student Learning Outcomes
Believe it. Know it. Share it.
These professional values and competencies are endorsed by the faculty and are woven into the course learning outcomes throughout the curriculum. Upon completion of the Manship School course work, graduates should value, understand and be able to implement the following:
1 Values – Believe it
Learning outcome: Freedom of Expression and the range of systems of freedom around the world
ACEJMC expectation: Apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, in a global context, and for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located.
Learning outcome: Historical roles of media institutions and individuals in society
- ACEJMC expectation: Demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.
Learning outcome: Ethical ways of pursuing truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity
- ACEJMC expectation: Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
Learning outcome: Diversity of ideas, viewpoints and experiences domestically and globally
- ACEJMC expectations: Demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and ability, domestically and globally, across communication and media contexts.
2 Knowledge – Know it
Learning outcome: Understand and apply theories in presenting visual and written information
- ACEJMC expectation: Present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies.
Learning outcome: Think analytically, creatively and independently
- ACEJMC expectation: Apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.
Learning outcome: Use, conduct and evaluate research
- ACEJMC expectation: Apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.
Learning outcome: Understand and apply statistical information
- ACEJMC expectation: Effectively and correctly apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
Learning outcome: Use technology and current tools of the profession
- ACEJMC expectation: Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.
3 Sharing of Information – Share it
Learning outcome: Write clearly and accurately
- ACEJMC expectation: Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
Learning outcome: Edit and critically evaluate own work and the work of others
- ACEJMC expectation: Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
The Manship School promotes awareness of The 1, 2, 3s of a Manship Education by various means. The Dean will introduce them in every introductory media writing class. Additionally, they are attached to every syllabus and discussed at new student orientations. Finally, framed copies have been placed on the wall in every Manship classroom.