MAC Meeting Minutes June 2008

Missouri Assessment Consortium Meeting
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 19, 2008

Meeting was called to order by Delores Honey, Chair - Missouri Southern State University at 10:00am
Delores Honey  greeted the members of the consortium and introductions were given by all in attendance and those participating via teleconference. 

Attendance Record: Delores Honey- MSSU, Greg Works-STLCC, DeniseCoyne-STLCC, Larry McDoniel-STLCC, Kandis Smith-UMC, Beth Nolte-LU, Steve Beal- LU, Brian Crouse-MDHE, Jeffery Smith-MDHE, Ron Pennington-SCCC, Pat Gillman-SFCC, Tia Ren-MST, Hillary Fuhrman-MDHE, Chris Frazier-SEMO, Mike Grelle-UCM, Martha Kirker-MSU, Jeremy Kintzel-MDHE, Janet Juhlin-SBU, Betty Linneman-JCCC, Michael Strait-UMKC, Cindy Heider-MWSU, Angelette Prichett-MDHE, Commissioner Robert Stein- MDHE, Deputy Commissioner Paul Wagner-MDHE, Doug Dunham-NWMS (Tele-Conference), Mary Abraham-MCCKC (Tele-Conference)

I. Curriculum Alignment Initiative (CAI) update was presented by Hillary Fuhrman of MDHE.  Ms. Fuhrman reported that a full report was presented to the CBHE during their June 12, 2008 meeting and it was approved.  During the CBHE board meeting the primary discussions  rising in regards to CAI were of policy implication and implementations.  In response to inquiries from MAC members, Ms. Fuhrman stated that some areas (e.g. psychology and cross-disciplinary competencies), were still in process, although all competencies were intended to undergo periodic examination and review.  She also stated that further work was ongoing in integrating course-level competencies developed in the CAI initiative with general education competencies comprising the 42-hour block.  Ms. Furhman said that the Steering Committee would meet July 18 to consider next steps, particularly the impact on potential statewide assessment policy.

In this area especially, Ms. Fuhrman stated that the MDHE would welcome the feedback of a "working group" comprised of MAC members and other interested participants  MAC members that came forward to volunteer were the following: Martha Kirker- Missouri State University, Cindy Heider Missouri Western State University, Mike Grelle-Central Missouri State University, Pat Gillman- State Fair Community College, Chris Frazier- Southeast Missouri State University, Michael Strait- University of Missouri Kansas City, Delores Honey-Missouri Southern State University.  Hillary then introduced Angelette Prichette to the group and stated that Angelette will be taking over for her as she transitions in a new status with MDHE due to the relocation of her family to California for her husband's new career opportunity.  Attendees congratulated Ms. Fuhrman on the new adventure as well as thanked her for all of the work she has put forth with MAC and CAI. 

II. Transfer Conference- Jeremy Kintzel- MDHE gave notice of the tentative date for the Transfer Conference that will be held in Columbia, MO on January 30, 2009.

III. Commissioner Stein greeted the consortium and outlined to two major aspects that were discussed by the CBHE board at the June meeting: The Coordinated Plan (CP) and Higher Education Funding (HEF).  He opened the discussion by saying that MAC is an important organization with the work being produced being much needed in the state.  Commissioner Stein continued with a brief summary as to the founding of MAC and the principles behind the development of the organization.  He then went into the developmental history behind the CP and what it holds for the state of Missouri as a whole.  He stated that the CP is a public agenda for higher education and that it is an umbrella across the state to include all institutions including independent.  Although the CP has been developed over the years in various forms of a Strategic Plan for higher education throughout the state, SB 389 was the legislation that became statue which now requires the CBHE to develop a comprehensive CP that contains 3 statewide performance measures and 2 Institutional measures.  The CBHE has developed certainly more than what was required by SB 389.  At the June CBHE board meeting it was announced that there would be a window of time until July 11, 2008 for CBHE members, Chancellors, Presidents, and other ranking members to work collectively on changes that they propose to the CP.  At the end of the June CBHE board meeting the CP was provisionally adopted and will come under final review at the next CBHE board meeting.  A question was raised on what implications the CP will have when reporting to the Legislature.  Commissioner Stein replied, that the CBHE and DHE will have to report to the Legislature annually.  Part of the vision of the CP is that it will be a document that will communicate to the Legislature, Institutions, and the general public.  There is much need, and it is expected, that the CP will communicate to the state of Missouri the value of higher education.  Discussion then turned to whether or not DHE recommends that institutions submit operational definitions on the CP.  Commissioner Stein replied that yes we would certainly appreciate this and that more detail is better than less. 

Commissioner Stein then proceeded to move on to updates on HEF. The board also adopted a new funding formula for state institutions with the development of HEF. This is a business plan and the focus of the plan is to provide a funding pyramid format that has three frames: Funding Core Mission, Strategic Initiatives, and Performance Funding.  HEF was developed by public institutions by all sectors: 4 year Public, 2 Year Public, and Linn State.  A question was raised as to why it appears that the CP and HEF are not as connected as they should appear to be.  Commissioner Stein replied that this stemmed from a variety of reasons, one of which was the inability to have money for initiatives contained in silos, but as a part of the CP.  On this note, not everything in the CP will have a link to funding, but everything in funding will have a link to the CP.  Dept. Commissioner Paul Wagner ?MDHE- also responded to another aspect of this, mentioning the reality of the timing to building both the CP and HEF at the same time. The preferred method would be to build the CP first and HEF second. A question was raised, then on the next level, how do we include target goals and what are the operational indicators with the best research lens possible.  Commissioner Stein encouraged all to read the recommendation from the CBHE June meeting that went out to all Presidents and Chancellors, and reiterated that MAC can be very helpful to MDHE on contextual information needed for the CP. Discussion then turned to building dialogue and opportunities for collaboration with MDHE staff: Jeremy Kintzel, Jeffrey Smith, and Brian Crouse.  A consensus developed that there would be an assembly of Institutional Research (IR) and Assessment professionals from the various institutions throughout the state that would hold a meeting to brainstorm and develop ways to obtain the data, methodologies, and instruments that will stand behind the CP.  A proposed date was set for Wednesday, July 16 (a proposal of expanding this to include Thursday, July 17, 2008, was made but was not adopted) at MDHE in Jefferson City, MO or at a TBA location if the group taking part in this outgrows  the space available at MDHE. Commissioner Stein will send a letter out to all Chancellors, Presidents, IR and Assessment professionals across the state to invite all who wish to participate in this collaborative brainstorming effort.  A reiteration of this meeting was presented by Commissioner Stein, which this is in no way an establishment of a formal work group or committee, or to supersede the formal responses to the CP requested from sector groups by July 11, but would be a brainstorming effort to assist MDHE staff to the best that they can as MDHE goes forth with establishing benchmarks and baseline trend data for the CP.  Commissioner Stein and Deputy Commissioner Wagner thanked the group for their work and effort in assisting MDHE with this initiative.

Commissioner Dr. Robert Stein and Deputy Commissioner Paul Wagner departed the meeting

IV. Institutional Specific Measures (2 chosen by Institutions) Agenda Item 1D-  Discussion was introduced by Delores Honey- MSSU on the topic of what institutions had put in place on the item of institutional measures.  Steve Beal- Lincoln University presented that Lincoln University (LU) had developed measures for access, success and total degrees awarded and enrolled by ethnicity. He also pointed out that these were also measures in the CP and in LU's Institutional Plan. Ron Pennington-St. Charles Community College stated the two best measures that they chose were: developmental and student success measures.  The success measure take into account transfers and graduation rates.  SCCC is looking for improvement and what can be benchmarked.  This then brought SCCC to define what their peer group is which they did this through National Community College Benchmark Project (NCCBP- www.nccbp.org) 

V. Statewide Assessment Conference (Proposal)- Agenda Item 3A- Cindy Heider- Missouri Western State University brought up for discussion the proposal for a Statewide Assessment Conference.  Is this something that MAC can support and how can we expand on this? This would be a good way to raise awareness throughout the state regarding what assessment is and the work that they do.  Attendees agreed that this was a good idea and could this be something we get started by including or tagging onto the Transfer Conference in January 2009.  Jeremy Kintzel-MDHE replied that there is roughly $15,000 in the account for Assessment granted by the Kauffman Foundation held in an account located at Missouri Western State University.  These monies may be the funding that could be put forth to do something of this nature.  Ms. Heider-MWSU stated that she would look into this and then report back to MAC on her findings.  Dr. Honey-MSSU noted this should be included on the next MAC meeting agenda.

VI. Jointly Sponsored Assessment Journal On-line (Proposal)- Agenda Item 3B- Cindy Heider- MWSU presented to the group a need that is out there for  a formalized way to report and publish what Assessment Professionals do in their line of work for higher education throughout the state, and that Missouri Western was exploring initiating a peer-reviewed annual publication in this area.  Discussion was held and the consensus from the group was that this would be of a benefit to have and that although it may take time to develop the platform to do this it would be advantageous to implement. Larry McDoniel- St. Louis Community College brought to the table that there was a precedent set for this type of professional journal many years ago, and mentioned the Colloquium on Writing Assessment, which was now largely defunct, but some of whose members might assist with the new journal. A motion was made for this to be included on the next MAC meeting agenda.  

VII. Development of Policies related to Institutional Data Access (Proposal)- Agenda  Item 3C- Cindy Heider-MWSU brought up for discussion to the group the institutional policies that are in place that directly address what types of data that are available at one's institution and what safeguards and security are in place for them.  From her findings it is something that is not as coherent as one would think and mostly on a case by case basis.  Dr.  Honey- MSSU stated that they had to develop such policies and guidelines at MSSU.  Dr.  Honey-MSSU noted this should also be included on the next MAC meeting agenda for further discussion.  

Future Agenda Items- Statewide Assessment Conference, Jointly Sponsored Assessment Journal, and Development of Polices Related to Institutional Data Access.

Next Meeting- Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:00am-1:00pm at the MDHE.Mike Grelle was tentatively "volunteered" to Chair the meeting.  Cindy Heider- MSWU to take notes.  No host was identified.

MAC meeting was brought to conclusion and adjourned at 12:50pm