Review Assessment Report

Part 1: Contact & Program Identification

Report Year and Contact Information
Academic Year	Modified By	Date Modified
2022-2023	[email protected]	2023-10-13T22:01:54.310Z

School	Name of Program	Courses
MSE	ASTR Science Gen Ed	ASTR 1010,ASTR 1010L,ASTR 1110,ASTR 1110L

Part 2: Program Summary

Provide a high level review of the program to include highlights, successes, challenges, significant changes, and significant resources needed to support the program
Our general education program aims to develop scientific habits of mind and scientific reasoning in our students. Mastery of the skills assessed as part of our general education assessment program are part of a larger framework we have designed to help students become proficient in basic scientific inquiry and reasoning, as well as critical consumers of science journalism and media. Our astronomy students enjoy laboratory experiences that include access to both our own telescopes and those of our neighbor, UNM. They gain insight into how professional astronomers take and analyze data through direct observations as well as use of realistic simulations of larger telescopes.

Provide a high level review of the program to include highlights, successes, challenges, significant changes, and significant resources needed to support the program

Our general education program aims to develop scientific habits of mind and scientific reasoning in our students. Mastery of the skills assessed as part of our general education assessment program are part of a larger framework we have designed to help students become proficient in basic scientific inquiry and reasoning, as well as critical consumers of science journalism and media. Our astronomy students enjoy laboratory experiences that include access to both our own telescopes and those of our neighbor, UNM. They gain insight into how professional astronomers take and analyze data through direct observations as well as use of realistic simulations of larger telescopes.

Part 3: Data Review

	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023
Annual number of graduate awards is greater than 10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Number of declared majors	n/a	n/a	n/a
Average Class Size	26.3	18.6	21.3
Annual Average Class withdrawal rate is 30% or below (SAGE 35%)	13%	16%	15%
Annual C-Pass rate for coursework is 60% or above	69%	77%	76%
Average class fill rate at 60% or above capacity within a term or over a year	80%	57%	69%
Graduate Transfer to 4-year Schools	n/a	n/a	n/a
Full-time Faculty Coverage by Section	94%	74%	27%

Summarize how your program met or did not meet the target measures based on the data above
In 2021-2022 our fill rate dipped slightly below the 60% threshold. Our decreased fill rate was temporary and was due to our decision to let some low-enrollment courses at Montoya and Westside run as we navigated the slow return of students to face-to-face classes.

Part 4: Program Learning Outcome Analysis

Learning Outcome	Population or Course(s) Assessed	Description	Summary of Assessment Results
2b. Personal and Social Responsibility: Sustainability and the natural and human worlds	ASTR 1010/1010L
2d. Personal and Social Responsibility: Collaboration skills, teamwork and value systems	ASTR 1010/1010L
3a. Quantitative Reasoning: Communication/Representation of Quantitative Information	ASTR 1010/1010L

Interpretation of Assessment findings
We do not have assessment findings to report at this time, as we did not have any assessment activities planned for the 2022/2023 academic year (the above learning outcomes were moved to 22/23 simply to have a cycle plan and a way to complete this report). The absence of an assessment process this term allowed our faculty time to reflect on our assessment program. The coming cycle’s assessment activities will focus on the transition to the Universal Themes Assessment model. With the help of the Senior Director of Assessment, SAAC, and Assessment Coaches, our faculty will engage in a redesign of our assessment program such that it reflects what they want to know about their teaching, students success, and the curriculum.

Interpretation of Assessment findings

We do not have assessment findings to report at this time, as we did not have any assessment activities planned for the 2022/2023 academic year (the above learning outcomes were moved to 22/23 simply to have a cycle plan and a way to complete this report). The absence of an assessment process this term allowed our faculty time to reflect on our assessment program. The coming cycle’s assessment activities will focus on the transition to the Universal Themes Assessment model. With the help of the Senior Director of Assessment, SAAC, and Assessment Coaches, our faculty will engage in a redesign of our assessment program such that it reflects what they want to know about their teaching, students success, and the curriculum.

Part 5: Additional Action Plan in Support of Student Learning (If Appropriate)

Upcoming Year	Changes Planned for the upcoming year	Data Motivating this change
2022-2023
2022-2023
2022-2023

Please select all of the following that characterize the types of changes described in the above action plan

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