Assessment Grant Aids in Continuation of Student Advisory Committee in Religious Studies - Assessment in Action

Assessment in Action

Understanding Student Learning

Assessment Grant Aids in Continuation of Student Advisory Committee in Religious Studies

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To see more funded grants or apply for a grant, go to our Assessment Grant webpage.

About the Project

In Fall 2018, Dr. Stephen Berkwitz, the Department Head of Religious Studies, received an Assessment Grant. His proposal, Program Assessment through a Student Advisory Committee, outlines a plan to obtain feedback from a committee comprised of current students who are majoring or minoring in Religious Studies. This feedback from students will add to the assessment information collected by the department. Participating students will provide the department with a written self-assessment on the experience.

Dr. Berkwitz explains, “The faculty in Religious Studies have come to value the student feedback from our assessment program in our efforts to respond to concerns and improve our degree programs. The formation of an undergraduate student advisory committee represents an attempt to build upon the process by which we obtain student views and ideas about the major and minor degrees in Religious Studies… [I] will consult with the committee throughout the year in meetings and by email to solicit student feedback on subjects including program requirements, curricular matters, student concerns, and social media. It is anticipated that maintaining a core group of undergraduates in an advisory committee will produce more meaningful and thoughtful responses that can be used to assess the student experience in Religious Studies.”

The Office of Assessment appreciates the work of the Religious Studies Department to involve students in the process of assessment.

Impact on Student Learning

After the completion of his project, when asked what contributions his project had on student learning, Dr. Berkwitz explains, “When asked how students felt about serving on an advisory committee, they responded by asserting that they have developed a greater appreciation for being in our program, and they have become more reflective about their learning at MSU. The advisory committee yielded information about student preferences about assignments and grading. Their answers indicated some surprising information about students’ desires to have more diverse courses, fewer online courses in the major, and the importance of personal interactions with faculty for student learning.”
As of January 14, 2020, Dr. Berkwitz and his colleagues are continuing this student advisory committee and are assessing feedback from students in the department.