Assessment Report: Department of Dance School of The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Chair: Kevin Warner Assessment Coordinator: Maura Keefe Date of Presentation: October 1, 2013

Student Learning Outcomes Summarize and synthesize concepts regarding history, aesthetics, and culture of dance Create choreography that integrates imaginative and structural concepts Analyze human movement from varied theoretical and experiential perspectives

Student Learning Outcomes Embody consistently clear physical knowledge and technical expertise of modern dance idioms (outcome to be assessed in ) Articulate an understanding of aesthetics and/or the creative process in writing and orally Identify individual interests and abilities and situate within a larger dance field Outcome assessed in : Demonstrate artistry through qualitative and rhythmic phrasing, dynamic range, and individual expressivity*

What was assessed? In what courses? DNS 205 Learn full-bodied, complex movement phrases over multiple class periods. DNS 306 Choreograph, rehearse, perform two solos. Differentiate between individual aesthetics in performance. DNS 424/425 Participate as a collaborating dancer in a semester-long re-construction of an existing dance work or in the creation of a new dance work.

How was the assessment accomplished? DNS 205: Learn full-bodied, complex movement phrases over multiple class periods. BENCHMARK: 80% will receive a B or better Students learned, investigated, and executed a movement phrase. Assessment included, faculty observation of basic movement principles of weight, level, and moving through space, and integrated use of the body. Self assessment. Total number of students assessed in the course – all sections (n):_50 Percent exceeding: 82% Percent meeting: 16% Percent approaching: 2% Percent not meeting: 0% Did you meet your benchmark? Yes

DNS 306: Choreograph, rehearse, perform two solos. Differentiate between individual aesthetics in performance. BENCHMARK: 80% will receive a B or better Perform two solos. Assessment included peer evaluation and feedback. Faculty observation. Demonstrated understanding of difference choreographic perspectives in performance. Manifested change to performance over the rehearsal period. Total number of students assessed in the course – all sections (n):_43 Percent exceeding: 83.7% Percent meeting: 6.9% Percent approaching: 9.3% Percent not meeting: 0% Did you meet your benchmark? Yes How was the assessment accomplished?

DNS 424/425: Participate as a collaborating dancer in a semester-long re- construction of an existing dance work or in the creation of a new dance work. BENCHMARK: 80% will receive a B or better Participation, progress, and performance of faculty choreography. Assessed for physical accuracy and qualitative embodiment. Final written self assessment of class objectives. Total number of students assessed in the course – all sections (n): 27 Percent exceeding: 96.3% Percent meeting: 3.7% Percent approaching: 0% Percent not meeting: 0% Did you meet your benchmark? Yes How was the assessment accomplished?

How the department has or plans to “close the loop” based on these results. DNS 424/425 faculty are discussing whether to increase the rigor of the measures of evaluation and/or add additional tasks to the course. No resources were requested or used to “close the loop.”