Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies

Assessment Report, 2013-2014

CLASS, Africana Studies

Assessment Identifiers

College / School
CLASS

Department
Social and Behavioral Science

Program / Major / Certificate
Africana Studies

Assessment Coordinator(s):
Dr. Cornelius St. Mark

Has there been a change to the Assessment Coordinator(s) since the last assessment plan?
No

Person(s) responsible for writing and/or submitting this report:
Dr. Cornelius St. Mark and Christina Davis

Program Mission Statement

The Africana Studies Program at Savannah State University seeks to provide students with opportunities to explore the African and African American (Africana) experience. The program is designed to provide a well-rounded, vigorous, cross-disciplinary curriculum that exposes majors and other interested students to an accurate, realistic, objective, and holistic analysis of the significant current and past events in the Africana experience. The program’s mission also aligns with the university’s mission statement as well as SSU’s most recent strategic plan. As a Historically Black University, Savannah State represents a key site for students to discover the rich history that profoundly affects the lives of our diverse student body.

Has this mission statement been revised since the last plan?
No

PSLOs

1. Students will be able to demonstrate a general understanding of the experiences of people of African descent in the United States from the slave trade to the Civil Rights Movement.

2. Students will be able to identify, present, and discuss, in writing, the historical development of the discipline of Africana Studies in the United States.

3. Students will be able to identify the major foundational intellectuals and theories that frame Africana Studies.

4. Students will be able to trace the history of the African American experience by identifying significant events, eras, and personalities throughout United States history.

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2013-2014 – Supporting Documents

Assessment Results (PSLOs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PSLO	Semester	Professor	Courses	Assessment Artifacts and Instruments	Target Levels	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	1. Students will be able to demonstrate a general understanding of the experiences of people of African descent in the United States from the slave trade to the Civil Rights Movement.	Fall 13	C. Davis	AFRS 1501 (08) Survey of the African American Experience	Multiple Choice Quizzes - Africana Studies PSLO #1_Quizzes	At least 60% of students will score at level 2 (satisfactory) or above.	TARGET 1 NOT MET Students did not reach the 60% target. Only 35 % of students (11 out of 31) averaged an 80 or above on the two quizzes assessed.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: TARGET 1: Since 60% of students performed unsatisfactorily on the quizzes that tested their knowledge on discrimination and civil rights, additional quizzes earlier in the semester will be given. Review sheets will also be administered. TARGET 2: Since only 25% of the students reached the acceptable level an analysis of the questions on the exam will be made to determine which areas of instruction need to receive more attention in class instruction.
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Fall 2013	C. St. Mark	AFRS 3301 African American History to 1877	Multiple Choice Final Exam (African American History)	At least 70% of students will score at level 2 (satisfactory)	TARGET 2 NOT MET Only two out of 8 students (25%) reached level 2
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Students will be able to identify, present, and discuss, in writing, the historical development of the discipline of Africana Studies in the United States.	Spring 2014	C. Davis	AFRS 3111 The Africana Woman	Final Paper	At least 70% of students will score at level 2 (acceptable) and 10% will score at level 3 (exceptional)	TARGET NOT MET 15/23 (65%) students reached level 2	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Students will be required to take drafts of their essays to the Writing Center for development.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Students will be able to identify the major foundational intellectuals and theories that frame Africana Studies.	Spring 2014	C. Davis	AFRS 2000 (01) Intro to Africana Studies	Final Exam	At least 70% of students will score at level 2 (satisfactory).	TARGET MET Students exceeded the target of 70% at or above the satisfactory level. Only 21% of students performed under target.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: The program will continue to use the free textbook and incorporate additional readings to add depth to theories of the field.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Students will be able to trace the history of the African American experience before and after 1900 by identifying significant events, eras, and personalities throughout United States history.	Spring 2014	C. St. Mark	AFRS 3312 African American in the 20^th Century	Multiple Choice Final Exam	At least 70% of students will score at level 2 (satisfactory).	TARGET MET 100% of students reached the target.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Students will continue to be given a study guide before the final exam for future targets to continue success.

Assessment Results (POs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PO Goal	Enabling Strategies	Measures	Targets	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Maintain enrollment in the major	a. Recruitment activities such as participating in Open Campus Day (OCD) in the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014. b. Contacting undeclared majors on campus as well as other students enrolled in introductory courses in the program such as AFRS 1501 and AFRS 2000.	i. Blackboard Analytics ii. Banner iii. Data collected by Instructors in the program at OCD.	Maintain the number of majors to a minimum of 10.	TARGET MET Fall 2013 enrollment = 11	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: After some discussion, program faculty decided to increase recruitment efforts. We will produce updated recruitment materials for 2014/2015.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Maximize course attendance by expanding course time slots and adjusting course scheduling	Scheduling: By reviewing past course schedules faculty will examine course offerings to determine the least congested times when classes have been offered and to schedule classes at those times that will eliminate conflicts for students wishing to enroll in AFRS classes.	Banner	90%-100% course enrollment efficiency rate.	TARGET PARTIALLY MET The targets were met for all AFRS courses except two. One was a special topics course targeted at majors only. The other course was a course that was a replacement course that was scheduled late and students didn’t have sufficient time to register for it.	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of projected use of results from the 2012-2013 academic year that is being addressed in the 2013-2014 academic year: Faculty decided to add to efforts to publicize courses offered by requesting visits to the upper-level classes of fellow SBS faculty to inform students of courses offered. Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2013-2014 academic year: Faculty will use courses they teach one semester to recruit for the next semester. Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Faculty will continue to offer courses during the class times that have been successful in terms of enrollment. The program will adjust scheduling times in low-enrollment courses for the next AY.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Stabilize faculty and faculty scholarship showcase opportunities	a. Work with department chair to secure full-time line. b. Cultivate an on-campus showcase.	HR paperwork, Emails, Promotion materials	i. Promote the part time faculty to a full-time faculty in the AFRS program. ii. Create a campus symposium to feature faculty research.	TARGET MET i. The part time faculty was made full time in the AFRS program. ii. A symposium focusing on the Gullah Geechee culture was inaugurated in the Spring of 2013 to give faculty a venue for scholarly activity.	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: One faculty member will present a paper at a conference in October 2014.

SSU Strategic Plan Goal

PO Goal

Enabling Strategies

Measures

Targets

Results and Analysis of Results

Actions in Response to Results

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Maintain enrollment in the major

a. Recruitment activities such as participating in Open Campus Day (OCD) in the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014.

b. Contacting undeclared majors on campus as well as other students enrolled in introductory courses in the program such as AFRS 1501 and AFRS 2000.

i. Blackboard Analytics

ii. Banner

iii. Data collected by Instructors in the program at OCD.

Maintain the number of majors to a minimum of 10.

TARGET MET

Fall 2013 enrollment = 11

OVERALL: TARGET MET

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: After some discussion, program faculty decided to increase recruitment efforts. We will produce updated recruitment materials for 2014/2015.

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Maximize course attendance by expanding course time slots and adjusting course scheduling

Scheduling: By reviewing past course schedules faculty will examine course offerings to determine the least congested times when classes have been offered and to schedule classes at those times that will eliminate conflicts for students wishing to enroll in AFRS classes.

Banner

90%-100% course enrollment efficiency rate.

TARGET PARTIALLY MET

The targets were met for all AFRS courses except two.

One was a special topics course targeted at majors only.

The other course was a course that was a replacement course that was scheduled late and students didn’t have sufficient time to register for it.

OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET

Description of projected use of results from the 2012-2013 academic year that is being addressed in the 2013-2014 academic year: Faculty decided to add to efforts to publicize courses offered by requesting visits to the upper-level classes of fellow SBS faculty to inform students of courses offered.

Description of any changes for improvements which were made during the course of the 2013-2014 academic year: Faculty will use courses they teach one semester to recruit for the next semester.

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: Faculty will continue to offer courses during the class times that have been successful in terms of enrollment. The program will adjust scheduling times in low-enrollment courses for the next AY.

Academic Engagement and Achievement

Stabilize faculty and faculty scholarship showcase opportunities

a. Work with department chair to secure full-time line.

b. Cultivate an on-campus showcase.

HR paperwork,

Emails, Promotion materials

i. Promote the part time faculty to a full-time faculty in the AFRS program.

ii. Create a campus symposium to feature faculty research.

TARGET MET

i. The part time faculty was made full time in the AFRS program.

ii. A symposium focusing on the Gullah Geechee culture was inaugurated in the Spring of 2013 to give faculty a venue for scholarly activity.

OVERALL: TARGET MET

Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2014-2015 academic year: One faculty member will present a paper at a conference in October 2014.