Resources on Assessment

Focus Group Description

As a happy outcome of its co-sponsorship of the Barbara Walvoord workshops on assessment and the SACS accreditation process in 2009, the CFDE has begun to offer services that will assist departments and units in their assessment of curriculum and departmental cultures, learning goals, and teaching methods.

The CFDE can help you in the assessment of your department in two ways:

1. Conduct an in-person focus group of undergraduates or graduate students (or both) and provide you with a summary report of the findings. The questions for these focus groups will be developed in collaboration with you (and other representatives of your department if need be). Below is an example of a general question rubric used in the past for graduate programs:
   • Graduate Student Focus Group: General
     

     	What works well	What works less well
     Beginning: Coursework
     Beginning: Advising
     Middle: Exams
     Middle: Prospectus
     End: Dissertating
     End: Going on Job Market
     Teaching
     Being an R.A.
     Professional Training for Future Faculty
     Getting a Job outside the academy
     Communicating Guidelines
     Communicating Expectations
     Feedback on Research/Writing
     Feedback on Teaching
     Resources to complete degree
     Work/Life Balance Atmosphere
     Acceptance of Non-Traditional learners

   • Undergraduate Student Focus Group: General
     

     	What works well	What works less well
     Beginning: coursework, advising, access to info re: major
     Middle: discipline specific courses, guidance, choice of electives, advising
     End: 300/400 level options, research opportunities, honors program
     Clubs etc.
     Career opportunities
     Guidance re: grad school
     Interacting with Professors
     Class sizes, office hours, help sessions
     Feedback on Professors Teaching
     Resources to complete degree
     Overall department Atmosphere
     Inclusivity in department

2. Develop an online survey using many of the same topics as found in the rubric above using Survey Monkey and administer the survey to students in your department. The responses will be provided to you (maintaining the confidentiality of your students) along with a summary report prepared by the CFDE.

You may also choose to capture the largest number of students possible and use the online survey to capture those students that are unable to attend an in-person focus group.

For more information on setting up a focus group and/or online survey for your department, please contact Dr. Donna Troka at dtroka@emory.edu or call 404-727-5791.

Support for the Assessment Process at Emory

• The Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness
• Assessment Resources in the CFDE Resource Hub