Middle States Reaccreditation and Library Information Literacy Assessment Activities

1. Middle States Reaccreditation and Library Information Literacy Assessment Activities Gregg Silvis, Assistant Director for Library Computing Systems Sandra Millard, Assistant Director for Library Public Services Margaret Grotti, Coordinator, Library Instruction March 12, 2010 University of Delaware Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

2. Middle States Commission on Higher Education • A voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that is dedicated to quality assurance and improvement through accreditation via peer evaluation. • If a college or university wants its students to obtain loans and grants from the federal government through the Student Assistance Programs in Title IV of the Higher Education Act, the institution must have regional or national accreditation. • The federal government protects its financial interest by requiring accrediting organizations to ensure that their member institutions comply with certain federal regulations. University of Delaware Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

3. Middle States Commission on Higher Education • Colleges and universities in the Middle States region normally are evaluated every five years. • The most comprehensive evaluation is based upon a report that the institution prepares about itself, called a self-study report. This decennial evaluation always includes a visit by a team of evaluators who report to the Commission. • Last completed by the University in January, 2001 • Five years after each decennial comprehensive evaluation, there is an interim evaluation that is based upon a Periodic Review Report (PRR). It includes a description of how the institution responded to any recommendations made by the institution in its own self-study report, by the visiting team that evaluated the institution, and by the Commission. • Last completed by the University in May, 2006 University of Delaware Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

4. Middle States Commission on Higher Education • Requires that an institution must meet 14 standards in the following areas: 1. Mission and Goals • 2. Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal • 3. Institutional Resources • 4. Leadership and Governance • 5. Administration • 6. Integrity • 7. Institutional Assessment • 8. Student Admissions and Retention • 9. Student Support Services • 10. Faculty • 11. Educational Offerings • 12. General Education • 13. Related Educational Activities • 14. Assessment of Student Learning University of Delaware Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

5. 2011 University of Delaware Reaccreditation • Middle States Self-Study Steering Committee – Suzanne Austin and Michael Chajes, Co-Chairs • The University will utilize the “Special Topics” approach to the 2011 decennial self study report. • The three topics were taken from the University’s strategic planning document, Path to Prominence: • A Diverse and Stimulating Undergraduate Academic Environment – Alan Fox, Working Group Chair • A Premier Research and Graduate University – Debbie Hess Norris and Mark Barteau, Working Group Co-chairs • Excellence in Professional Education – John Sawyer, Working Group Chair University of Delaware Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

6. 2011 University of Delaware Reaccreditation • August, 2010 – Preparation of final report • September-October, 2010 – Open hearings for the University community • December, 2010 – Final report submitted to Middle States • January-April, 2011 – University hosts a small team from Middle States that will conduct a document review. This review will demonstrate general compliance with the 14 standards. • Afterwards, the main evaluation team will visit campus to provide feedback on the 3 special topics. University of Delaware Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

7. “The University of Delaware is committed to implementing and institutionalizing a University-wide student learning outcomes assessment program. • The student outcomes assessment program has one central goal: to create a University of Delaware culture of continuous academic improvement that is focused upon student learning.” • -- UD Office of Educational Assessment Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

8. UD Office of Educational Assessment • http://assessment.udel.edu/ • Assessment Manual • http://www.assessment.udel.edu/The%20Assessment%20Office/manual.html • Assessment Database • http://assessment.udel.edu/assessment_system Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

9. UD Provost’s Assessment Retreat • February 5, 2010 • 132 chairs, directors, deans attended • Library administrators attended • Provost Tom Apple • Jodi Levine Laufgraben, Temple University’s Associate Vice Provost and Director of Periodic Program Review • Faculty Panel: Successful assessment practices Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

10. Break out sessions including: • Supporting Assessment: Conversations with Deans, Chairs and Program directors • Michael Middaugh, UD Associate Provost, Institutional Effectiveness and Jodi Laufgraben, Associate Vice Provost, Temple spoke on strategies to support and sustain assessment. Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

11. Special mention of Information literacy assessment • Needs to be referred to in all academic departmental assessment plans • Assessment methods may vary but need to show how learning outcomes are met • Library provide links to online resources to be used in University documents related to information literacy learning outcomes assessment Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

12. Library Instruction at the University of Delaware Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

13. Laying the Foundations for Assessment: • Winter 2009: English 110 Syllabus Study: • Analyzed a random sample of English 110 syllabi to determine which information literacy competencies are addressed within the curriculum • Based upon the evidence gained, we developed five learning outcomes which “filled the gaps”. • Learning outcomes were vetted by the reference department and by the Writing Program • Fall 2009: Outcomes-Based Instruction for English 110 Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

14. English 110 Learning Outcomes: • After attending a Library Instruction session, students will be able to: • identify keywords, synonyms and related terms for their information need. • construct search strategies using appropriate commands. • consult a variety of search systems to retrieve information in a variety of formats. • use classification schemes to locate information resources. • identify appropriate services to retrieve information. Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

15. Moving Towards Assessment: What’s Next? • Summer 2010: Reference in-service sessions • Fall 2010: Pilot assessment of English 110 Tutorial (online) • Spring 2011: Reference will articulate a cyclical assessment plan based upon lessons learned from the pilot assessment • Fall 2011: Reference will implement assessment plan for library instruction to English 110. Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267

16. Library Instruction Information • Information Literacy at the UD Library • http://www2.lib.udel.edu/usered/infolit.htm • Program Statement • http://www2.lib.udel.edu/usered/statement.htm • English 110 Library Tutorial • http://www2.lib.udel.edu/e110/tutorial2009/homepg/index.html Morris Library, 181 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19717-5267