2017-2020 Assessment Schedule
The 2017-2020 Mason Core assessment cycle launched in Summer 2017 and was completed in Spring 2020. The Associate Director for Undergraduate Education implemented the assessment plan, in partnership with the Stearns Center, the Mason Core committee, and Mason Core teaching faculty. The Stearns Center shared in the planning and implementation of the faculty pre-assessment workshops, and promoted its faculty development activities for interested Mason Core faculty. Mason Core committee members participated in the pre-assessment workshops, peer review of portfolios, and post-assessment meetings with faculty. Faculty teaching Mason Core courses will prepare course portfolios, and will be invited to serve as peer reviewers.
A planning committee for each of the cohorts was convened in the planning semesters. Each committee was composed of course coordinators and key faculty who regularly teach or plan for the Mason Core courses in their area, and a representative from the Mason Core Committee. The committee assisted with the planning in their areas, select and develop rubrics, and provide important disciplinary guidance for the assessment.
| Summer 2017 | Fall 2017 | Spring 2018 | Summer 2018 | Fall 2018 | Spring 2019 | Summer 2019 | Fall 2019 | Spring 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | Peer Review/Post-Assessment | ||||||||
| Oral Communication | Peer Review/Post-Assessment | ||||||||
| Quantitative Reasoning | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review and Post-Assessment | ||||||
| Information Technology | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review and Post-Assessment | ||||||
| Natural Sciences | Planning | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review and Post-assessment | |||||
| Civic Engagement | Planning | Planning | Planning | Planning | |||||
| Global Understanding | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review/Post-Assessment | ||||||
| Western Civilization/World History | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review/Post-Assessment | ||||||
| Arts | Planning | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review/Post-Assessment | |||||
| Literature | Planning | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review/Post-Assessment | |||||
| Social and Behavioral Science | Planning | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review/Post-Assessment | |||||
| Mason Korea (all Mason Core categories) | Planning | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review/Post-Assessment | |||||
| Writing Intensive in the Major | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review | Post-Assessment | |||||
| Synthesis/Capstone (Critical Thinking) | Planning | Portfolios | Peer Review | Post-Assessment |
Planning: planning committees meet, faculty participate in pre-assessment workshops
Portfolios: Faculty prepare portfolios to be due at end of semester
Peer Review/Post-Assessment: Peer review, post-assessment report, faculty post-assessment meeting